Too Many Volunteers?

For some of us, finding enough volunteers is a yearly struggle, but others might find themselves with too many volunteers. No one wants to turn away a willing, excited volunteer from VBS, but you also don’t want to have people standing around with nothing to do. That’s a guaranteed way not to see that person sign up next year.

So what can you do if you have too many volunteers?

Smaller Groups

If you have a lot of kids, make slightly smaller groups of kids (instead of 15 in each group, have 10). Additional volunteers can act as group guides. You can also add extra rotations to your schedule to accommodate additional volunteers. Maybe you offer games in two places at once rather than just one. Or maybe you can now do crafts in two areas.

Prayer Team

We know the power of prayer, so why not create an in-house prayer team? This role is great for older workers who may be a little less mobile than some of your younger crew. Each day, give them the names of the children attending and any specific prayer requests (gathered the day before). Ask this group to bathe each child in prayer. They can write out a Praying for You card to send to the child they pray for.

Memory Verse Checkers

Depending on the number of volunteers you have available (and the number of children in attendance), designate volunteers as memory verse checkers and position them at various spots throughout your VBS. Give them something distinguishable, such as a silly hat or a special sign, along with a bucket of candy. Whenever children see these people, they can say their memory verse for a piece of candy. Snacks, recreation, and crafts are great places to position your verse team (after the lesson, of course).

Security Team

There’s no downside to having extra security, especially if children are crossing a street or playing outside. Enlist more people for your security team in designated areas, such as crossing guards, recreation monitors, or external door holders. Door holders? Yes! Keeping outside doors locked is a great policy, especially for an event as big as VBS. Having a security team member at locked doors adds an extra layer of safety that can prevent potential problems.

Greeters and Official High-Fivers

Children want to feel welcomed at VBS. Gather a team of greeters and high-fivers to greet kids, welcoming them into VBS. Take it a step further by positioning these team members in various rotation areas to connect with children. You might be surprised how many kids will want to sit and have a snack with their new friend who greets them at the door each morning/night.

Gifts and Talents

Take a look at the people you have volunteering, see what their gifts and talents are, and consider what jobs can be delegated.

Do you have an amateur photographer in your church? Make it an official position.

People with musical skills? Add them to the worship team or music rotation.

Detail-oriented people? Enlist them to keep records, count the mission offering, or get a head start on follow-up postcards or emails.

Take a look at the people you have volunteering, see what their gifts and talents are, and consider what jobs can be delegated.

Set Up for Success

Whatever roles you create, or however you plug in extra volunteers, make sure to set them up for success. If you have too many volunteers, how you set them up to succeed will determine whether you have too many or too few next year. Think about it. If a new volunteer comes in and feels underprepared for their role and without purpose, they won’t be back next year, no matter how much they believe in the mission of VBS.

People Want to Be Needed and Not Have Their Time Wasted

Make sure to train your volunteers, clearly showing what is expected of them, and ensure that every volunteer knows the purpose of their role, even if their purpose is to connect with children and share God’s love.

Cast the VBS vision, create purposeful roles, pray about where volunteers can serve, do your background checks (of course), train your volunteers, remind them of the details, and reinforce the why of their role and VBS.