A common question I get asked is: How do you build a strong, lasting team of children’s ministry volunteers? It’s a great question—because thriving ministry doesn’t happen alone. It takes a united, equipped, and encouraged team to make an eternal impact in the lives of kids.

Here are a few key ingredients we’ve found essential in building a healthy volunteer team:

1. Know Your End Goal

Start with the destination in mind. What does “winning” look like at the end of the ministry year? Maybe it's every child hearing the Gospel clearly, kids growing in their faith or testimonies of God at work in the lives of kids from parents. Repeat the end goals often, with clarity and passion. When everyone understands the purpose, it gives direction and unity to the team.

2. Equip for Excellence

Don’t stop at recruiting—equip. Set your team up for success with solid training, high-quality Biblical curriculum, supplies, and ongoing coaching. Volunteers feel empowered when they know what to do and why it matters. Excellence doesn’t require perfection—it means giving God our best and helping others do the same.

3. Be Consistent and Follow Through

As a leader, your follow-through speaks volumes. If you say you’ll do something, give it 110%. Your consistency and dependability build trust, and trust strengthens your team. The same goes for your volunteers—encourage consistent attendance and open communication so that kids and fellow leaders can thrive.

4. Celebrate the Wins

Don’t wait until the end of the year to celebrate—look for moments all throughout the year to praise God for what He’s doing! Celebrate answered prayers, kids coming to know Jesus, small spiritual victories, and those everyday moments that remind you God is moving in your ministry.

5. Care Deeply

Great teams aren’t just built on strategy—they’re built on relationships. Take time to personally care for your volunteers. Pray for them, send a thoughtful birthday message, write thank-you notes, and create occasional moments for your team to have fun and connect outside of ministry. A little care goes a long way in building a strong sense of family. I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (NIV)

Let this verse be a reminder: building a team isn’t just about logistics—it’s about people. Keep encouraging. Keep equipping. Keep building. God is using you to shape a team that makes an eternal difference.

Kris Smoll is the founder and Executive Director of Discovery Land Global. She graduated from Moody Bible Institute and has led child discipleship at Alliance Church in Appleton, Wisconsin for over 30 years. She is an international speaker, strategic planner, and consultant. She is passionate about kids knowing the Word of God, boldly sharing their faith, and confidently living their lives for Christ.