Oh, not the scary kind. Please don’t go to jail. That would be bad for your kidmin career, and well, it would make you pretty creepy. This is part of a a blog series about kidmin recruitment. You can read the other posts here and here.
So how do we stalk (in a non-frightening way) in children’s ministry?
1. Identify the very best people who need to be serving. We are a little snobby. We love our kids and think they deserve the very best volunteers. Pray for God to show you your future team members. He may show you before He shows them! So throughout the year we identify those people, warn them we’re coming, and then invite.
2. Take advantage of the opportunities God puts in front of you. It is funny how when God brings someone to my mind I run into them 20 times more than I ever have. Make conversation. Make connections. I usually say, “I’ve been thinking about you… does that make you nervous?” And usually they will say “Yes”. 
3. Find the balance between being persistent and being annoying. Sleeping on their front porch might be a little much. Chasing them down the church hallway might send them in the other direction. But sometimes because our minds are constantly thinking about placing people we assume that the person we’re asking is thinking about it as much as we are. They have whole other lives and are likely not as consumed by the idea. So reminders are good. Short texts or facebook messages spread out over a week or two are good. Annoying is bad.
4. Give them permission to say no. Just because you really want them doesn’t mean it is the right time or the right thing for them. It takes pressure off of people if they know they can say no without you giving them a guilt-trip or breaking down into sobs. Tell them that it is fine for them to say no and mean it! People are more important than filled spots.
5. Be clear in what you’re asking them to do. Be straightforward. Don’t sugarcoat. Be honest. Treat them like you would want them to treat you.
6. Invite them to come peek at the ministry. I will often say, “No commitment, just come see what we do.” It is amazing how many people really don’t have a clue what you’re really doing. I’ll never forget a friend of mine who came to observe children’s worship and said, “I had no idea that this is what you did – kids really worshiping. I didn’t really know what you did, but I had no idea this was it.”
How do you “stalk” potential volunteers without being creepy?
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