It starts with one decline… then another… and suddenly you’re wondering how Sunday is going to work.

You send out the schedule, and the notifications start coming in.
“My kids are sick.”
“I completely forgot we had plans.”
“Sorry, can’t serve this week.”

And then Sunday morning arrives… and someone just doesn’t show up.
Now you’re standing there watching the check-in line grow, kids pouring into classrooms, and you’re thinking, I cannot do this alone.

But at the same time, you know your volunteers are tired too.
They work full-time jobs.
They have families.

They’re juggling busy schedules and real life just like everyone else.

And the last thing you want to do is push people so hard that they burn out and quit completely. So you end up stuck in this tension.

You need help… but you also don’t want to burn out the people who are already showing up. If that’s where you are right now, take a deep breath.
You’re not failing.
You’re leading in one of the hardest spaces in ministry.

Here are a few things I’m currently learning that are helping me protect our volunteers while also protecting my leadership team, who carry so much of this ministry with me...
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1. Stop Pretending You’re Fine When You’re Not
Kids ministry leaders are famous for this.
We smile.
We make it work.
We jump into classrooms.
We cover the gaps.

But if we always quietly fix the problem, no one knows there is a problem. Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is be honest with your team.
Not dramatic.
Not guilt-filled.
Just real.

You might say something like:
“Hey team, the last few weeks we’ve had several open spots on Sundays, and it’s been a little tough to cover everything. I never want anyone to feel pressured or burned out, but I also want to make sure our kids are cared for well. If you ever have friends or family who might want to serve with you, let me know!”
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When leaders are honest, it creates ownership.

People usually want to help, but they just don’t know help is needed.

2. Protect Your Faithful Volunteers
Every ministry has them.
The people who always say yes.
They show up early.
They stay late.
They step in when someone cancels.
And if you’re not careful, those same people will carry the entire ministry.

Here’s the truth:
Your most faithful volunteers are the most likely to burn out.
So sometimes the best thing you can do is actually tell them no.
“Hey, you’ve served the last four weeks in a row. Take this one off.”
They may argue with you.

But deep down, they’ll know you care about them as a person, not just as a helper. Healthy leaders protect their people.

3. Build Teams, Not Positions
Burnout happens fastest when someone feels like they’re the only one.
If a classroom has only one consistent volunteer, that person carries the full weight every week. Instead, try building small teams around each area.

For example:
Nursery Team
Preschool Team
Elementary Small Group Team
Pre-Teen Team
Check-In Team

When volunteers see themselves as part of a team, the responsibility feels shared instead of heavy.
Plus, friendships form, and people stick around longer when they feel connected.

4. Give Volunteers Permission to Take Breaks
Sometimes volunteers don’t quit because they’re tired.
They quit because they feel like the only way out is to leave completely. What if we normalized rest?

Imagine telling your team:
“After serving a full year, we encourage everyone to take a month off.” Or:
“If life gets crazy, just let me know. We’ll take you off the schedule for a while.”
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When people know they’re allowed to breathe, they don’t feel trapped. And people who rest… usually come back stronger.

5. Keep Recruiting (Even When You’re Tired)
This is the part no one likes.
Recruiting feels awkward sometimes.
But the truth is, healthy ministries are always inviting new people in.
Not because the current team isn’t good enough — but because ministry grows. Kids grow.
Families show up.
And one or two more volunteers can completely change the pressure level on a Sunday morning.

Even small invitations matter:
“Hey, have you ever thought about helping in ________Kids Ministry once a month?” You might be surprised how many people say yes when simply asked.

6. Remember — You’re Not Meant to Carry This Alone
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or discouraged… You are not the only kids pastor who has felt that way.
Kids ministry can be one of the most joyful callings, and one of the loneliest at times.

But here’s the truth:
God never designed the church to run on one leader’s shoulders.
Ministry is a body.
A team.
A family.

So if this season feels heavy, don’t give up.
Keep loving your team.
Keep inviting people in.
Keep protecting your volunteers from burnout.

And remember — the work you’re doing matters more than you know!
Because every Sunday, every story, every prayer, every silly game… God is using it to shape a child’s faith.
And that is worth the effort.

Sarah Petrokovich is the Kids Pastor at River Church in Alton, IL. Married to an amazing man, Joe, they are the proud parents of two wonderful adult children, Halee and Daniel. Sarah has been dedicated to serving in kids ministry since her teenage years. Her passion for nurturing children's spiritual growth and creating engaging, faith-filled experiences has been a cornerstone of her ministry work. She also invests in developing other kids' ministry leaders, pouring into them with guidance and support to strengthen their ability to positively impact young lives.