How to Recruit Volunteers (Without Begging From the Stage)

Sunday is approaching, and several positions still need to be filled. You’re operating with a bare-bones team for yet another week, and the stress of wondering which positions will be empty is starting to get to you. If that sounds familiar, you may be considering a desperate plea for volunteers from the stage.

I get it. I’ve been there too.

When I became the Next Steps Pastor at my church, I didn’t yet have access to the stage, so I had to get creative. I developed a simple recruiting system that began growing our teams. When I eventually gained access to the stage, I used it alongside that system to grow our church’s volunteer base by 38% for two consecutive years—and another 18% over the following six months before I moved into a new role.

For a church our size, that amounted to approximately 250 new volunteers in two and a half years.

How did we do it? We used three simple recruiting tactics.

1. Tap Someone on the Shoulder

The shoulder tap is one of the most effective ways to recruit volunteers. It’s called a “shoulder tap” because that’s essentially what you do: approach someone personally and invite them to serve.

But there’s a little more to it than simply asking.

I begin by telling the person what I see in them. It may sound something like this:

“Hey, Jim! I really appreciate your willingness to help others. I often see you guiding people to the Kids’ Wing, welcoming new guests, and holding doors for people. It’s clear that you have a servant’s heart.”

Then I connect that strength to a specific opportunity:

“I’m looking for someone to serve on our Welcome Team, and I think you could be a great fit. Would you consider meeting with me over coffee this week so I can tell you more about it?”

This approach is as powerful as it is simple. You’re not approaching someone merely because you have an empty position. You’re identifying something God has placed within them and offering them an opportunity to use it.

Keep the initial conversation brief, make the invitation specific, and offer to explain the expectations later. Your goal isn’t to pressure them into saying yes on the spot. It’s to help them see a meaningful way they could contribute to the mission.

2. Empower Your Volunteers to Invite Others

There are only so many people you can shoulder tap on a Sunday. After all, you’re only one person.

But what if your entire team helped recruit?

Tell your volunteers what qualities you’re looking for and encourage them to identify people who might thrive on the team. Then teach them to use the same process: tell someone what they see in them, connect that strength to a specific role, and invite them to learn more.

For example, a Kids volunteer might say:

“You’re so patient and encouraging with children. I think you would be great on our Kids team. Would you like to shadow me one Sunday and see what we do?”

Make this kind of invitation a normal part of your team culture. Once volunteers understand the ministry and experience its impact, encourage each of them to invite someone else to explore serving alongside them.

When your volunteers become recruiters, team growth no longer depends entirely on you.

3. Celebrate From the Stage

The first two methods are effective on their own, but a public invitation from the stage can significantly expand their reach—if it’s done well.

So how do you invite people to serve without begging?

Instead of begging, celebrate!

When I recruit from the stage, I talk about what our volunteers are accomplishing. Sometimes I celebrate an entire team. Other times I tell the story of one volunteer whose service is making a difference.

For example, Tim oversees production at our youth ministry. He has recruited and developed a team of seventeen students who help run production each week. Whenever they serve, he reminds them that their work contributes to everything God is doing through the ministry. Because of Tim’s leadership, students aren’t just completing tasks—they’re excited to serve God and make a difference.

Stories like that help people see what volunteering really is. It isn’t merely filling a position; it’s participating in God’s work.

You can also celebrate your café team for creating a welcoming environment for guests, your Kids team for discipling the next generation, or your safety team for creating an environment where families can worship without distraction.

Once you’ve shown people the impact, give them one clear next step:

“If you’d like to use your gifts to make a difference, you can sign up on our app or visit the table in the lobby after service.”

You’re still asking people to serve - but you’re inviting them into the mission rather than guilting them into filling a vacancy.

Start With Three People

Hopefully, you’re breathing a little easier knowing you don’t need to beg for volunteers this Sunday! But there is still work to do.

This week, identify one person you can tap on the shoulder, one volunteer you can empower to recruit alongside you, and one person or team you can celebrate publicly.

Make those three practices part of your regular rhythm, and over time, you can build a culture in which people aren’t simply filling positions - they’re using their gifts to accomplish the mission together.