I know the struggle that comes with volunteers. Looking back, after seven years in youth ministry, it wasn't what I thought it was. I thought that it was my job to do all of the work of the ministry and if I could get some help then I would take it, but still try to be in charge. Let me be clear, your leadership role in whatever ministry you are leading is extremely important, but it was never designed to run this way.
I know the passive-aggressive comments, begging people to help out while they "pray about it," and communicating clearly so the youth committee doesn't get upset with you can be discouraging, but you should not bear the weight of the success and health of the youth group.
Your volunteer leaders are the ones who are to help you carry the weight. When you lead them well, it is a glorious thing to be a part of. I want to offer a couple of suggestions mainly from mistakes that I have made in my past ministry, and how I learned from them.
One thing to note is that all contexts are going to be different. You may be the full-time youth pastor, the part-time youth pastor, the youth director that molded into the position in someone else's absence, or a parent who just kind of ended up where you are. All of these are okay and each has their own unique struggles that come along with them.
God has put you in this position to lead this ministry so do so well. Let the Bible be what guides you as you lead the ministry. Let the Bible rule the context of your Wednesday nights, your Sunday School, your mission statement, your logo, your budget, and your calendar.
Be on the Lookout
When it comes to volunteers, you want much more than a warm body in your ministry. You want someone who is passionate about the ministry God is using in your church. You want someone who truly cares about investing their time and energy into the students and their spiritual growth.
Look for people who are already involved — who show up, who engage with students naturally, who ask good questions. The best volunteers are rarely the ones who respond to a general announcement. They're the ones you approach personally and specifically because you've watched them and you believe they're right for it.
Be honest with your volunteers about what the role requires. Don't sugarcoat the hard parts to get someone to say yes. A volunteer who knows exactly what they're signing up for is far more likely to stick around and grow into the role.
Cast Vision Constantly
Volunteers stay when they believe the work matters. Your job as a leader is to never let them forget why it matters.
This means talking about the mission — not just the schedule. It means celebrating the wins, even the small ones. It means telling the stories: the student who opened up for the first time, the conversation that happened on the van ride home, the text you got from a parent saying their kid came home different.
Vision is the fuel that keeps volunteers going when the work feels invisible. Give it to them regularly and generously.
Invest in Your Volunteers Personally
Your volunteers are not just people who help you run programs. They are people God has placed in your life to walk with. Know their names, know their families, know their struggles. Pray for them. Check in on them when nothing is on the agenda.
When volunteers feel known and cared for — not just deployed — they become deeply loyal. They become advocates for the ministry. They bring their friends. They recruit the next generation of leaders.
One of the best things you can do for your ministry is to build a culture where volunteers love being there. That starts with you loving them well.
Take Them on Mission Together
One of the most powerful things you can do with your volunteer team is take them on a mission trip together. Serving alongside each other — outside the walls of the church, in a city like New Orleans — creates a shared experience that bonds your team in ways that no training session or retreat can replicate.
At MissionLab, we've seen volunteer teams arrive in New Orleans as a collection of individuals and leave as a unified ministry family. The shared work, the shared worship, and the shared conversations in the field change something. Bring your team. Let God use it.