In my time serving as a children’s minister and family pastor, perhaps nothing tested my faith in God’s provision like recruiting volunteers. I once participated in a conference call with a group of children’s ministry leaders in my church’s denomination. The topic of conversation was—you guessed it—recruiting Sunday school teachers. The moderator asked, “What have you found to be most successful?” One pastor spoke up quickly: “I find the most success when I’m the most passionate and prayerful.” I’ll never forget those last three words.

For many church leaders, summer has been a time of comparable rest, but the fall ministry season is right around the corner. It’s wise to think now about who will be on your ministry team come September. Here are three principles that have helped me recruit in a way that’s prayer-filled and passionate.

1. Recruit to vision.

It’s tempting to look at a ministry roster, see needs for the upcoming season, and then rush into filling the gaps with anyone available. But it’s better to stop and consider why each volunteer role is important. Before you make a phone call to a prospective worker, meditate on the importance of reaching children with the gospel (Matt. 19:13–15; Ps. 78:3–4). Remember that each role on your volunteer roster is essential to your ministry’s mission. Then you’ll be ready to share your passion with potential volunteers.

Before you make a phone call to a perspective worker, meditate on the importance of reaching children with the gospel.

I’ve found it helpful to ask the “why” question about every role in the ministry. For example, why is teaching toddlers important? Toddlers’ language abilities are exploding. Most 2-year-olds can say around 200 words, but by their 4th birthday, they’ll know 1,500. I want teachers for toddlers to be passionate about teaching important words like “Bible,” “prayer,” “sin,” and “Jesus” to 2s and 3s.

If I’m recruiting volunteers to work with toddlers, I keep these developmental realities in mind. I pray the Lord will bring people to mind who are particularly gifted with children at this developmental stage. Then I’m ready to share my passion for this age group with potential volunteers.

2. Recruit to relationships.

During an early stage in our church’s life, a young couple volunteered to coordinate the nursery during our Sunday evening service. As long as Dan and Jessica were in leadership, I rarely had to think about finding a nursery volunteer. Why? They also led a tight-knit small group, and several members of that group were always ready to serve with them. Dan and Jessica’s example helped me to examine my own recruiting practices. Was I inviting people into relationship as well as service?

When recruiting, invite potential volunteers into a discipleship relationship. Paint a picture of the training, growth, and fellowship opportunities afforded by serving in the ministry area you lead. If you can’t commit to having a personal discipleship relationship with the volunteer, identify the leader serving in your ministry with whom this prospective worker will have the closest relationship. Then, as you lead, follow through and commit to building that culture of relational discipleship.

3. Be honest about your need.

You’re inviting new people into serving because you can envision a place for them in your ministry. Can they envision it too? If a new volunteer doesn’t immediately see she’s needed or how her role aligns with your church’s other volunteers and teams, she can feel, as Danny Franks notes, like “a cog in a wheel.” If we’re too proud to admit our need or deceptively paint our ministry to be a well-oiled machine, we shouldn’t be surprised when people think, There’s no way they can use me. But when we honestly admit we need all church members to use their gifts, God’s people will be able to see the importance of their service.

When we honestly admit we need all church members to use their gifts, God’s people will be able to see the importance of their service.

Be clear about your needs, and make sure you communicate the next steps each prospective volunteer should take. Here’s some language I’ve used in the past: “Fill out a Sign-Me-Up card and drop it into an offering basket, or give it to someone with a children’s ministry T-shirt or lanyard. Within one week, we’ll contact you and schedule a face-to-face chat with a children’s ministry leader before or after a worship service.” When you meet with prospective volunteers, be up-front about your screening and training requirements too.

As you communicate about your children’s ministry with potential volunteers, know that God wants you to communicate about the ministry with him too. In Matthew 9:37–38 (NIV), Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Ask God to put names of individual people on your heart so you can pursue them. Ask him for clarity of vision and boldness to ask. Plead with him to move the hearts of his people toward service, and be assured this is a prayer he loves to answer.