Getting your congregation engaged in serving is one of the biggest struggles many pastors face. The old cliché about the 20/80 rule still applies. In many churches, it seems that 20 percent of the people are doing 80 percent of the work. Healthy churches, however, have found ways to get more people from their seats to a place of service.

Here are four simple ways to get your whole congregation involved in serving. Remember that the task is not to berate them for sitting on the sidelines, but to incentivize those who join the ranks of volunteers. Always keep a positive mindset when starting any volunteer recruitment.

1. Get the Word Out

Instead of highlighting a need, spotlight the opportunity. Regularly give updates on each area of service in your church. Not everyone understands what’s involved in a specific ministry.

For instance, unless a member has a school-age child, he or she probably doesn’t know what the children’s ministry is up to. Getting the word out creates a natural connection point for service.

Two ways to solidify this are ministry fairs and big Sundays, like Easter or Christmas. First, think of ways you can spotlight all the ministries in your church in one place, and encourage those without a place of service to find one. And on large event days, recruit temporary volunteers who might become permanent volunteers in the future.

When we shift from an obligation to an opportunity mindset, people will be more likely to find a place of service.

2. Increase the Opportunities

Church-wide and citywide campaigns are great tools for recruitment. Once or twice a year, you can turn a Sunday into a special service project. Each member will show up expecting to volunteer in some area of need.

Because it’s not every week, more people will likely step up and serve. And once they realize the impact their talents have on the whole church, they might just want to keep helping weekly.

3. Connect It to Growth

Do you make finding a place of service in your church part of your discipleship pathway? If not, you should. Using one’s time, talent and treasure for God is a key responsibility of spiritually mature Christians.

While you guide your members through spiritual growth, take some time to have them find their spiritual gifts and determine how they can serve in the church.

4. Showcase Key Volunteers

When you see a member performing at a high level in a volunteer area, it’s vital that you let others see them too. A testimony video about how much serving means to that individual is a great recruitment tool.

Create enthusiastic supporters among your volunteer base, and send them out to get others involved. Soon, the minimum expectation in your church will be finding a place to serve each week.

Remember, it’s not about how much you need them but how much they are getting from serving. When we shift from an obligation to an opportunity mindset, people will be more likely to find a place of service.