In this episode, Kenny Conley shares five hacks for how to effectively recruit and retain volunteers through a next-level onboarding process. Within many church ministries, there is always a need for more volunteers, and this episode focuses on how to create momentum for your teams through successful orientations.
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Episode Extras
- Stop recruiting
- More orientations
- Utilize texting
- Automate texting/messaging
- Host a “Volun-tour”
***For the full detail on these hacks, please download the PDF below.
Why Volunteer Onboarding Matters More Than Recruiting
Most ministry leaders spend the majority of their energy on recruiting volunteers, but the real leverage point is what happens after someone says yes. A strong volunteer onboarding process is the difference between a revolving door and a growing, committed team. Kenny Conley has spent years refining these systems, and the five hacks in this episode give you a practical framework to start implementing immediately.
As Nick outlines in The Volunteer Playbook, onboarding is not a single event — it is a sequence of intentional touchpoints that help a new volunteer feel welcomed, equipped, and connected. When you get onboarding right, retention follows naturally.
The 5 Volunteer Onboarding Hacks Explained
- Stop recruiting. This sounds counterintuitive, but Kenny's point is powerful: when you shift from recruiting to inviting, you change the entire dynamic. Instead of filling slots, you are inviting people into something meaningful. Pair this with well-written volunteer job descriptions so people know exactly what they are being invited into.
- Run more orientations. Instead of one big orientation per year, run smaller, more frequent ones. This removes the bottleneck and gets new volunteers serving faster. Monthly or quarterly orientations keep the pipeline moving.
- Utilize texting. Email open rates in churches are declining. Texting gets immediate attention and creates a personal connection. Use texts for reminders, encouragement, and follow-up during the critical first 30 days.
- Automate your messaging. Set up automated text or email sequences that trigger when someone signs up to volunteer. This ensures no one falls through the cracks during onboarding, even when your staff is busy with weekend preparation.
- Host a “Volun-tour.” Give prospective volunteers a behind-the-scenes tour of your ministry. Let them see the rooms, meet team leads, and experience the culture before committing. This lowers the barrier to entry and increases confidence in their decision to serve.
How Onboarding Connects to Volunteer Culture
Onboarding is not a standalone process — it is the front door to your volunteer culture. The first few weeks of a volunteer's experience set the tone for everything that follows. If those weeks are disorganized or impersonal, you will lose people before they ever find their rhythm.
Combine these onboarding hacks with consistent volunteer appreciation and you create an environment where people want to stay and invite others. Understanding your staff to volunteer ratios also helps you know when your onboarding pipeline needs to accelerate.
Related Resources
- Volunteer Onboarding for Churches — A complete guide to building your onboarding process
- The Volunteer Playbook — Nick's book on building volunteer culture
- How to Recruit Volunteers
- 31 Volunteer Job Descriptions for Family Ministry
- Building a Volunteer Culture at Your Church
Action Items
- Download the 5 Onboarding Hacks PDF
- Start a volunteer orientation
- The Volunteer Pipeline
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