Supercharge Volunteer Recruitment with Get in the Game

Recruiting volunteers for your ministry can be a challenging process. Because of this, a few of our Life.Church campus teams developed a strategy that supercharges volunteer sign-ups. We call it Get in the Game.

This strategy has transformed what would normally be a regular weekend service into one of our most successful volunteer recruitment efforts of the year. 

And now, we’re offering this strategy as a completely free resource on Life.Church Open Network. This post will show how to implement it effectively at your church.

What is Get in the Game?

Get in the Game is a volunteer recruitment push that typically spans six weeks, with each week highlighting a specific ministry area that needs help. The goal is to get as many people as possible to commit to serving during each weekend’s service. Here’s how it works:

• Six Weeks, Six Teams: Each week, focus on one ministry area such as operations, kids ministry, life groups, host team, or others.
• Announcements from the Stage: During the announcements of each service, invite attenders to “get in the game” by serving in that specific ministry area.
• Pre-Prepared Sign-Up Cards: Cards with sign-up information are printed out in advance and placed on every seat in the auditorium.
• Simple Sign-Up Process: After the announcement, encourage people to fill out the card and either place it in the offering bucket or the giving boxes, or hand it to a volunteer.
• Massive Results: With this method, Life.Church campuses often see a significant boost in volunteer sign-ups, sometimes recruiting 10 to 20 times the usual number of volunteer sign-ups in a weekend.

How to Implement Get in the Game in Your Church

Here’s how you can integrate Get in the Game into your church’s volunteer recruiting strategy.

Week 1: Plan & Customize Your Strategy

Start by reviewing the materials available on Life.Church Open Network, including:

• Slide Deck: Use the pre-designed slides for each ministry area. These slides are ready to go and can be edited to fit your church. We’ve also included an editable file for you to replace our QR code with one that links to your volunteer signup form.
• Editable Handout Cards: These cards are designed for you to easily print and place on every seat. Customize them with your specific volunteer opportunities and team needs.
• Invite Card Templates: These cards are great for handing out in your church lobby or at special events. They’re an excellent way to promote the Get in the Game initiative.

Set aside time for your team to go over the slide deck and handout materials to ensure everything is tailored to your church’s needs. Schedule a meeting with key leaders from each ministry area to get their input on the type of volunteers they are looking for.

Weeks 2 – 7: Promote in Announcements

Each week during the announcement time:

• Highlight the Featured Ministry Area: Take the time to share why this ministry is so important and how it impacts the church. Bonus points if you can share an impact story!
• Introduce the Volunteer Card: Encourage attenders to fill out the handout card during the announcement and submit it either in the offering bucket or to a designated volunteer.

Weeks 2 – 7: Track and Follow Up

As sign-ups come in, it’s critical to follow up with new volunteers promptly:

• Database Updates: Ensure all volunteer sign-ups are recorded in your church management system (ChMS) for easy follow-up.
• Personalized Emails: Send out welcome emails with next steps for your new volunteers. Provide them with additional information about the ministry they’re joining and how they can get involved immediately.

Week 8: Celebrate and Mobilize

Once the six weeks are over, it’s time to celebrate the success of your campaign! 

Recognize all the new volunteers during your weekend services and provide them with a clear next step, such as attending a volunteer orientation or meeting with a team leader. 

Make sure to thank your congregation for responding to the call and getting in the game.

Next Steps: How to Get Started

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—Life.Church Open Network has provided everything you need to implement Get in the Game effectively at your church. Here’s how to start:

1. Go to Life.Church Open Network and download the Get in the Game resources.
2. Customize the materials for your church.
3. Plan your announcement strategy.
4. Begin promoting the campaign with your team and congregation.
5. Monitor results and celebrate your new volunteers!

Ready to get started? Head over to Life.Church Open Network today and download your Get in the Game resources. 

Let’s see how many new volunteers can join your team this season!