Building a Thriving Volunteer Culture: Lessons From Grace Church

In the wake of the pandemic, many churches have faced a significant decline in volunteerism, mirroring the broader trend of reduced attendance and engagement within faith communities. However, some congregations are bucking this trend, experiencing growth in volunteer involvement and commitment.

Among these is Grace Church in Erie, Pennsylvania, led by Derek Sanford, author of Untapped Church: Discovering the Hidden Potential in Your Congregation. Sanford has dedicated his ministry to activating high-capacity volunteerism within his congregation, creating a culture where volunteers thrive and feel valued.

In a recent conversation with Barna, Sanford shared some of what’s working at Grace Church, offering practical strategies other pastors can implement in their context. We’ll look at five key principles that can help churches unlock the potential of high-capacity contributors.

Editor’s note: Church engagement today is just one of many topics Barna is studying in partnership with Gloo through the State of the Church initiative. Read more about how churchgoers are forming connections at church in this article.

The Premise: Understanding High-Capacity Volunteers

In the world of church leadership, Sanford notes that understanding the difference between general volunteerism and “high-capacity” volunteerism is crucial. While general volunteers often seek to contribute as little as possible, high-capacity volunteers are willing to commit at a higher level, recognizing the importance of their involvement.

“When it comes to our high-capacity volunteer leaders, we try to recruit people into roles where their responsibility matches their capacity,” he explains. “We’re all workers in the Kingdom, [and] that’s the kind of culture we’ve created.”

Despite trends in recent years indicating a decline in church volunteerism, Grace Church thrives with a staff that is two-thirds volunteers. Derek notes that this success stems from how they position their “ask” and appeal to the dignity of their volunteers.

The Posture: Casting a Vision for Engagement

One of the common mistakes pastors make when asking for volunteers is approaching the request from a place of desperation or downplaying the need, Sanford observes. He says this perspective can lead to missed opportunities that devalue the Kingdom.

Instead, pastors should present the opportunity as perfect for the individual. Rather than implying that little is necessary, they must make it clear that the volunteer would be an essential collaborator in executing the role.

“I like to challenge pastors. I want them to treat volunteer leaders as they would treat a new staff person that they were trying to bring on the team,” he says, adding that setting a high standard yields high commitment, collaboration and creativity. “People don’t want to get on a sinking ship. They want to hear vision.

The Power of Purpose: Connecting Service to God’s Calling

Sanford outlines three core biblical principles woven into the foundation of Grace Church, which naturally give rise to their collaborative model:

1. The church is a body.
2. Every Christian is a minister.
3. Every leader is an equipper.

He emphasizes the importance of connecting volunteerism to God’s calling and helping leaders recognize they are not making casual commitments.

“No, you cannot do this in your spare time. This is going to take your best time, your best energy, your best thinking—but you’re perfect for this,” Sanford explains.

Grace Church structures their volunteer roles with the same practical considerations as paid positions, ensuring that volunteers feel valued and supported.

Partnership: Valuing Volunteers as Essential Contributors

Creating a culture where volunteers see themselves as integral parts of the church body is essential. Sanford discusses the significance of understanding what he calls “cornerstone callings.”

He says when pastors recognize the unique contributions only they can make, this creates opportunities for others to step in with their gifts.

“God is an expert at making churches; he knows exactly who we need and when we need them,” he encourages. “We just need to look and get more creative about how we’re thinking about the DNA of our church and what God has brought to us.”

He also emphasizes curiosity about how people might serve according to their gifts, creating genuine partnership in ministry.

Possibility: Believing in the Potential of Volunteers

Sanford says believing in the potential of high-capacity volunteers is crucial for church leaders.

“I just want to urge people till my last breath that people will say yes. We have a sinister voice in our head that says ‘no,’ [but] one of the first decisions we [must] make is to stop saying no for people.”

This mindset shift is essential to creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to step into leadership roles. Sanford explains that starting small can create significant impact, following Jesus’ model: “Jesus took his time and invested in a handful of people. He built his Kingdom around that.”

The art of the ask is about recognizing the incredible potential within high-capacity volunteers. By crafting a compelling invitation that emphasizes purpose, partnership and possibility, church leaders can cultivate a vibrant culture of volunteerism.
“People are our greatest resource,” Sanford reminds leaders, and with the right approach, churches can unleash untapped potential within their congregations.

This is an excerpt from a full-length profile in this month’s State of the Church release, which can be found exclusively in Barna Access Plus.