One of the biggest issues in sidewalk outreach is recruiting and keeping volunteers. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. This is perhaps true in every ministry but I believe it doubly true in such a difficult ministry as sidewalk outreach in front of abortion centers; however, there are some strategies that I believe are effective in volunteer recruitment.
Personal Touch and Relationship
One of the greatest recruitment tools is talking to friends and church members of your own church. I believe this is probably the single most effective measure we have in Charlotte in recruiting volunteers that stick with us. If we have a faithful, committed sidewalk volunteer, it is often likely that his or her friends are of like mind. One of the best recruitment tools is to encourage every single volunteer to bring at least one friend with them one day, at first just to pray. That would be less threatening than having them sign up immediately. Oftentimes, when people come to pray and see what happens in front of an abortion center, they are more inclined to take action and join a team.
Social Media
Every single morning, I create a Facebook post to my friends and groups about what happened the day before on the sidewalk along with a Bible verse and a picture. Most times, I also include a link for people to volunteer with Love Life. This is a very effective way of positively portraying the ministry and communicating specific needs. Overall, it’s a good recruiting tool.
Stories
When talking to potential recruits, I have found that one of the most compelling draws to sidewalk ministry are the stories from the sidewalk. Of course, we love to relate the stories of saved babies and the stories of salvation are powerful. The stories of post-abortive moms who return sobbing and overcome by the enormity of their transgression against God are also powerful stories. I tell every Uber driver the story of the Uber driver who took our literature which resulted in not only two babies saved, but two salvations of two different mothers. Stories are Jesus’ main mode of communicating God’s truths. He was a master of storytelling.
Prayer Walks
When people come out to pray and can see for themselves what happens at an abortion center, it can propel some to further action such as sidewalk outreach; however, I do believe requests specifically should be made because sidewalk outreach is probably the most threatening ministry associated with Love Life’s mission. Having a sidewalk counselor present in front of a prayer march, even just for two or three minutes, telling stories and expressing specific needs, is a GREAT recruitment tool. Mentioning the fact that experienced counselors will train the new recruits is useful in allaying the very common fear that they cannot possibly sidewalk counsel.
Specific vs. General Needs
People definitely respond better to a specific need as opposed to a just a general plea. For example, saying we really need sidewalk counselors is not as effective as saying we need two more sidewalk counselors on a Monday from 9 to 12 to ensure that every mother is reached with offers of help and hope. Whenever possible either in newsletters, social media, or personal contact with people, express a specific need and ask if they might be able to fill that need.
Persevere
Sometimes I will have put out social media requests for months and not have a single response. I continue to do it anyway. Most of our counselors have come to us either through a personal request or social media. Sometimes they have told me it has been months or years of seeing my posts before they finally took the plunge even though they felt God had been tugging at their hearts for a long time.
That was my own story. I had seen posts from a fellow homeschooling friend for years before I finally decided I wanted to find out what sidewalk counseling was all about. As in so many aspects of sidewalk counseling, persevere. Never give up.
Specifically Pray for Volunteers
For some reason this is an area I forget. This is God’s work! We should be calling on God regularly and specifically that he would bring us more sidewalk counselors for this specific needs that we have in our area.
The First Training Session is Key
New volunteers often fear sidewalk counseling; however, if they are reassured that nothing is expected but observation and prayer for the first few times they are out, it helps them decide to return a second time. Also, I believe it is critical that first session be spent in targeted and intentional training. Training must cast the vision of why we’re there, as well as give some very practical and simple how-to pointers. Layout and demonstrate the basics similar to what we do in our 101 training. When they see a car stop for you because you have followed the exact steps you have outlined to them, it is reinforcing and affirming. When they hear you call out and see a mom pause and look at you or walk over to you, it is validation that we can teach them how to do what we are asking them to do.
Praise God, No Matter What
It is very easy to fall in the trap of bitterness, disillusion, or discouragement because the laborers are few. That is not what God would have us do. God would have us rejoice in every small victory and look for the positives. Rejoice that you have a team no matter what that team size is. And if you don’t have a team yet, rejoice that God is in you and this is His work and He will bring the increase.
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