This past Monday night we kicked off our Frontline Feedback series with our first session. A great mix of current volunteers and volunteer team leaders showed up to offer their thoughts on taking our volunteer programs to the next level.

We prayed, ate, discussed and had fun for a little over an hour. It was a positive group that offered some solid thoughts on why they volunteer. We also talked about how we can move forward to serve God by better serving the people who walk through our doors.

Here are a few things we talked about:

• Communicating the need for volunteers throughout the church needs to be ramped up. How we do this without appearing desperate (which we aren’t) is the concern.
• Because people don’t see the “glitches” they don’t feel they are needed.
• How can we change the culture so people realize that serving in the church is something we are called to do once we accept Christ?
• How can we encourage families and spouses to volunteer together? Once they are volunteering how can we coordinate schedules so it doesn’t become a burden every Sunday?
• Use video testimonials to encourage people to volunteer/serve. There are a lot of great stories about how volunteering has helped grow people in the faith.
• Volunteers need to understand that eating, drinking and talking to friends while volunteering on Sunday morning is a distraction. It keeps them from focusing on our guests.
• Shoulder tapping is the best form of recruiting volunteers. While we need to continue using the regular communication venues of the church, volunteers inviting others to volunteer has been proven to work the best.

There are three more Frontline Feedback opportunities over the next several months: May 16, June 10 and July 18. We want to hear from those of you who are serving on the front line week after week, you are the experts on what is happening. You can go here for more information and to let us know you are coming.