When you peek behind the curtain of a vibrant and growing congregation, you will see a strong and passionate army of people who are committed to strengthening the vision and mission of their church and its leader.

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the Church as a living, active, healthy body made up of connected and functioning parts.

“Just as our bodies have many parts, and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body” (Romans 12:4-5, NLT).

“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT).

Paul’s message is clear: God designed each person — as a part of the Body, the Church — to have a role in making the Church function. The truth is, people are what make a church flourish and come to life!

The question is, how do we, as leaders, develop a culture where people want to fully connect to the church and use their gifts, talents and time to further the Kingdom — embracing their role and purpose in the body of Christ?

I serve as an associate pastor and oversee the atmosphere and hosting department at James River Church (Assemblies of God) in southwest Missouri. In my role, I oversee 765 volunteers across four campuses. During my nine years on staff, I have identified several key principles for developing a thriving volunteer culture in the church.

1. Lead With Passion and Clarity

People will follow a clearly defined vision. Leaders who know where they are going attract committed followers. As the leader of your church, you are the one who sets the direction. If you do not know where you are going, it will create uncertainty in those who are following you. Proverbs 29:18 says, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed” (The Message).

The primary responsibility of spiritual leadership is to see what God is doing, sense where God is leading, and motivate people to follow in that direction. Clear vision creates a culture that attracts followers who want to be committed and involved.

Passion follows vision and motivates people to participate. Enthusiasm is not a byproduct; it is a reflection of what is happening in the leader’s heart. As people see the passion in a leader, they will feel that excitement and gather around the leader’s vision and help carry it out.

2. Remember That It Takes More Than You

Capable leaders don’t allow the gifts and strengths of others to intimidate them. As the saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” We need people to help us carry out the vision God places in our hearts, because none of us can build the Church on our own.

It can be hard to delegate aspects of ministry we feel are especially important. But a wise leader understands that often the underlying problem isn’t the capability of those we are leading, but our own personal insecurity. What if someone can do that ministry better than we can? Ouch! The bottom line is this: No leader can lead well from a place of insecurity. Insecurity sees others as competition, and competition is the death of a strong and vibrant volunteer team.

3. Call out the Potential in Others

Leadership at its best has a prophetic element. It calls forth the potential in people and helps them understand their purpose and place of service in the Body. God wants to use everyone, no matter where they came from, what situation or circumstances they were in before salvation, or how long they have been a part of the Church.

The apostle Paul writes: “God is building a home. He’s using us all — irrespective of how we got here — in what he is building. He used the apostles and the prophets for the foundation. Now he is using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together” (Ephesians 2:19-22, The Message).

Leaders see the big picture. They see the Church as made up of many parts, each one important to the health and vitality of the Body. With that in mind, they embrace the responsibility to encourage people to be a part of what God is doing in the local church.

How do we do this? First, we help those we are leading see that God created them on purpose and for a purpose. God has designed each one of His children with unique gifts and talents for the purpose of building His Church.

Secondly, we must be willing to meet people where they are in their journey. Whether they are new converts or have been serving Christ for years, they need to know they have a place and we want them to be a part.

A young woman recently started serving on our church volunteer team. Because of her past experiences, she felt she was unqualified to serve and had nothing to offer. She believed everyone could make a difference — except herself. However, once she got ahold of the revelation that God wants to use her and she has something to offer, this young woman couldn’t wait to start serving. Since then, her life has totally changed. She wakes up each Sunday morning filled with excitement, knowing her life has meaning and purpose.

4. Invite, Invite, Invite!

Sometimes people aren’t serving simply because they feel no one needs them or because no one has invited them to step up. To the casual observer, it could seem that the church has volunteers filling every role. A personal invitation can change that perspective and let people know there is a place for them. It’s as simple as saying, “We would love for you to be a part of what God is doing here at the church!”

A healthy church creates a culture where both the leader and every volunteer actively invites others to serve. In fact, people who are currently serving make the best recruiters. Their personal invitation for others to serve alongside them is one of the most influential recruiting tools for ministry involvement.

5. Strategically Position People

Placing people in the right positions is one of the most effective ways to retain volunteers. Various resources are available to help assess an individual’s strengths, personality, and spiritual gifting. These assessments are valuable, providing both the leader and the volunteer with insight into specific areas of ministry where the volunteer can flourish.

A person who is friendly and outgoing will likely make an excellent greeter to those who are entering the church. Someone who is passionate about working with children will be a great fit for your kids’ ministry. An individual who can carry a tune and enjoys singing might be a great addition to the worship team.

Sometimes people aren’t serving simply because they feel no one needs them or because no one has invited them to step up.

It is no accident that God creates people with unique gifts and talents. He does it for a reason: because He wants to use those talents to strengthen the Church and further the Kingdom.

Jaclyn is a young woman who serves in our children’s ministry. She is so full of life and is a kid magnet. Because of her contagious smile and fun personality, kids flock to her. Being part of the children’s ministry is her passion. Jaclyn lights up when she is around kids. It is such a joy as a leader to watch Jaclyn thrive and live out her purpose, knowing she is in the right place.

6. Provide Training

Most people have an innate desire to do things right. But volunteers won’t feel like they are hitting the mark unless we help prepare them for success. An adequate training process should include at least three vital components:

The training manual should clearly define volunteer roles, including responsibilities and expectations. It needs to answer basic questions, such as what time volunteers should arrive, what they should wear (such as a volunteer shirt), and to whom they report. This can be as simple as connecting new volunteers to their team leaders, walking them through the volunteer manual, and giving them time to ask any questions they might have.

Provide all new volunteers an opportunity to shadow and learn from a veteran volunteer before sending them out on their own.

Ensure that volunteers receive proper and thorough training, so they can feel competent and prepared each and every time they serve.

7. Promote Organization and Structure

People feel more at ease when things around them are neat and organized. Having everything ready and prepared for volunteers gives them confidence so they can fully engage in their positions of service. For instance, provide the lesson to the children’s church volunteer in a timely manner so that he or she can prepare. Stock the information center with the appropriate resources so your volunteers can focus on welcoming and serving visitors. These steps are extremely important in creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

Evaluate the needs of the volunteers in the various ministry areas, and create a preparation checklist. This strategy will not only instill confidence in your volunteers, but it will also put you at ease, knowing you have thought through and taken care of every detail.

8. Build Relationships

The Church is not a building; the Church is a family!

It is a community where people support, encourage and invest in one another. Our relationship with those we lead is essential to creating a healthy environment.

As leaders, we must let our volunteers know we love and value them. This can be as simple as writing a note, sending a text message, giving them a call, or stopping to chat with them for a few minutes at church. If we want to build a strong volunteer base, we must make time for relationships.

Making the effort to connect with your team speaks volumes to them. Remind them that they are more than volunteers; they are a part of the church family.

9. Keep Reminding Them

Once people become plugged in to serving, it is important to continually remind them of the why behind the what. All of us benefit from the occasional reminder of why we are doing what we do and the difference we are making.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to hold weekly preservice meetings with your volunteers. These brief meetings are both important and fun as people hear about what God is doing in and through the church and share testimonies of transformed lives. As they hear about the couple whose marriage God restored, the visitor who felt so welcomed that he wants to come back next Sunday, and the child who gave her heart to Jesus, it will remind them how God is at work through volunteers.

They will also realize that their service is about more than just changing diapers, greeting at the door, counting the offering or cleaning the bathrooms. What they are doing is making an eternal difference in the hearts and lives of people.

10. Create an Encouraging Environment

Nothing drives commitment quite like appreciation. If you want people to become dedicated and dialed in to serving, take time to celebrate them. People want to be in environments where others acknowledge and notice them. They want to be in places that are encouraging and honoring.

As you take time to celebrate those on your volunteer team, it will create a ripple effect. Encouragement is contagious. When people feel encouraged, they cannot help but pass it on.

Recently, we started celebrating volunteers on our hosting team with the “Host with the Most Award.” During our preservice meetings, we pick a volunteer to highlight and honor. The recipient of the award receives a Hostess cupcake, along with cheers and applause from their fellow volunteers.

This is one of my favorite things to be a part of! Although it is a very easy way to show appreciation, it makes a big difference. Offering honor and encouragement to your volunteers does not have to be complicated or expensive. It can be as simple and inexpensive as a cupcake, but it will mean the world to them.

11. Communicate the Difference Serving Will Make

When people in your church commit to volunteering, it not only blesses the church, but it also blesses the volunteers. Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

God delights in blessing His children, and He will not allow people to sow into His house without them yielding a return.

One family in our church has been faithfully volunteering for the past three years. Recently, they shared with one of our team leaders how serving has blessed their lives. Through volunteering, they have made many new friends and grown closer to the Lord — and they feel more loved, connected and cared for than they could ever have imagined.

12. Pray

The need for volunteers can sometimes seem overwhelming. It may feel as though your vision outweighs your volunteer resources. Do not become discouraged! If God has called you, He will provide. He knows the number of volunteers you need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Prayer is the key ingredient. Pray specifically for the number of volunteers you need. As you seek the Lord, He will direct you to the right people. You will watch Him order your steps and create divine appointments. Over and over, I have seen God answer our prayers to provide the specific people we need, and I know He will do the same for you.

There is nothing more exciting than seeing the Lord build His Church. It’s God’s heart that every person would not only attend church but understand the purpose for which God created them. He created each of us on purpose, for a purpose, and He equipped us with gifts that will strengthen others and build the Church.

One of the great joys of leadership is seeing God equip those we lead to do the work of the ministry in a way that develops them and builds the Church.

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2018 edition of Influence magazine.