Need Nursery Volunteers? Sometimes guilt is the only method that works.

At a small church, many times nursery workers are unpaid volunteers. At our small church, nursery volunteers are hard to come by. At a recent Christian Education meeting, my pastor literally said to me: “Presbyterians are a little lazy. The general idea is to pay someone to do the work they don’t want to do.” Well, I think paying someone is a great idea, but one person isn’t going to cut it. We still need volunteers. One person can’t tend to four screaming babies, change one smelly one, and get snacks and juice for the remaining six. So, what’s a nursery coordinator to do? Here’s some techniques I use.

1.       Create a nursery schedule naming each family in the church, and assigning them a week to work.

Now, keep in mind people with disabilities, the elderly, people on worship team, and people that just don’t like children. Don’t assign them! An elderly couple will have a difficult time taking care of 10 toddlers. Singing Sally is going to have a hard time getting into the nursery in between worship songs, and well, Disgruntled Dan is just going to end up making the kids cry. Be considerate, but also assertive. Not everyone has these excuses.  

2.       Once a schedule is in place, be assertive!

 You are the boss here. I have had to go up to someone sitting in the back of church and have this conversation. She did not have any excuses: not disabled, elderly, on worship team, and for crying out loud, she’s a TEACHER! I know she likes children!

 I walked up to her and this is what transpired:  

“It’s not my week…”

“Karen (***names have been changed to protect the innocent... or not so innocent), it is your week. It’s a one time a year thing. We need you to work in the nursery today. If no one shows up in the next fifteen minutes, you are free to come back into the sanctuary."

“Can’t I pay someone else to do it?”

Now, I’m not sure what made her change my mind, but my mother always told me you can tell exactly what I’m thinking by the look on my face. She promptly decided to go check into that nursery and watch those little darlings.

3.       Guilt:  Have no shame and just guilt them into it!

If  you have tried everything, and still receive phone calls on Saturday nights with people refusing to work, or you get to church Sunday morning only to find out there isn’t anyone watching the 4 toddlers loose with crayons, you need to get some help. Let your Christian Education committee know. Write a letter to the entire church noting the importance of helping watch these youngest members of our church family. Get your pastor involved. At our church, babies are often dedicated. When dedicated, the congregation is asked if they will promise to take an active interest in the child. Know their name, talk to them in the hall, help them as they grow in their Christian walk. Sometimes church members forget about this. Ask your pastor to make an announcement reminding church members of their promises and responsibilities as Christians.  Have him/her hold up one of the babies that has been dedicated. Unless your pastor is like Disgruntled Dan, if this is the case, the baby might cry, having the opposite effect you desire.  Do you have any other ideas for getting people to work in your church nursery?

Drop me a line!