Who Do Adult Volunteers Serve?
Adult volunteers are the key to an effective youth ministry. I say this because most youth workers can only have transformational relationships with about 3 students at a time. So in order to reach a group of 30 students we need about 10 adult volunteers to build strong relationship with students. From the statements I have made it’s clear that adult volunteers serve students. We have them in our ministries in order for them to be mentors and spiritual guides for students. BUT is that why they are serving in the ministry? When I ask groups of volunteers I get a very different answer. About 50% of adult volunteers tell me they serve the youth pastor. They are willing to do anything they ask logistically speaking, but they don’t often think serving has anything to do with building a relationship with a student. So is it possible that we actually have half of our adult volunteers serving for a different purpose then we think? Yes. Here are a few signs your adult volunteers are not on the same page with you:
1. They stand along the walls of the youth room talking to each other.
2. They never attend a school activity of students
3. They don’t meet with students outside of youth group
4. They have never called or texted a student
5. They don’t know all the students names
About the Author
Doug Franklin
Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners who never leave their side. Doug grew up in… Read More
