You've got a volunteer who shows up every single Sunday. They set up chairs, run sound, maybe serve in kids' ministry. They never complain. They never ask for anything.
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And somewhere in your head, you think: "At least that role doesn't cost us anything."
But here's the thing—it's costing them $36.14 an hour.
That's the national economic value of a volunteer hour in 2025, according to Independent Sector's latest research shared by MinistryWatch. And honestly? This number stopped me cold.
This isn't about paying volunteers—we're not going there. It's about recognizing what they're actually giving up to serve with you. And when you start to see volunteer time through this lens, it changes everything about how you recruit, equip, honor, and retain the people who make your ministry possible.
The Number That Changes Everything
When someone volunteers two hours on a Sunday morning, that's a $72 investment.
When they prep mid-week? Another $36.
When they show up for training? You're asking for real sacrifice.
And yet most of us—if we're being brutally honest—treat volunteer time like it's free. We operate from what I call a scarcity mindset instead of a stewardship mindset.
What We Get Wrong About Volunteers
Let me paint a picture you might recognize:
We recruit volunteers like we're doing them a favor. "Hey, we've got this gap—can you fill it?"
We train them poorly because, well, "it's just volunteers." We'd never say that out loud, but it's there in our heads.
We cancel on them last minute. We don't show up when we said we would. We let them serve in chaos because we didn't plan ahead.
And here's the quiet part—the part we really don't want to admit:
We get frustrated when they don't show up. We're annoyed when they quit. We talk about "commitment issues" in staff meetings and wonder why we can't get people to volunteer.
But we never ask: How are we stewarding their time?
Now listen—I know you care about your volunteers. I know you're not trying to take advantage of anyone. But if we're honest, most of us have defaulted to seeing volunteers through the lens of scarcity (we never have enough!) rather than stewardship (look at what they're giving!).
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." — 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
What Changes When You See the Real Value
When you shift from scarcity to stewardship—when you start truly valuing church volunteers as people making a significant investment—everything changes:
You Recruit Differently
Instead of "We need help," it becomes "Here's the impact you'll make."
You're not filling slots—you're inviting investment. You're casting vision for how their gift of time will actually change lives, build the kingdom, and make an eternal difference.
You Prep Better
Because wasting their time is wasting $36 an hour.
You don't wing it. You don't leave them guessing. You show up ready. You honor their "yes" with your preparedness.
You Communicate More Clearly
No more last-minute "Hey, can you cover this?"
You plan ahead. You give notice. You respect their calendar. You treat their time like the valuable resource it actually is.
You Equip Them Well
Training isn't optional—it's essential.
If volunteers are investing $36/hour, they deserve to succeed. They deserve clear expectations, excellent training, and the tools they need to make their service meaningful and effective.
You Celebrate Publicly
Not just once a year at volunteer appreciation Sunday.
Regularly. Specifically. By name. You let the whole church see the value you see in their service.
You Stop Guilt-Tripping
This might be the biggest one.
Guilt is a terrible foundation for a $36/hour investment. When you recognize the real value of what volunteers give, you stop manipulating and start inviting.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." — Colossians 3:23-24
The Staff Culture Shift You Need
Here's where this gets really practical: This isn't just about volunteers—it's about how your staff views them.
If your team treats volunteers like free labor, you'll burn through them.
If your team sees them as partners making a real sacrifice worth $36/hour, everything changes.
Start asking in staff meetings: "How are we stewarding volunteer time this week?"
Make it a metric. Make it matter.
When you're planning an event, ask: "Is this worth what we're asking people to invest?"
Because honestly—not every idea is worth $36/hour of somebody else's time. If it's not, why are we loading up on volunteers?
When a volunteer steps down, don't guilt them—thank them. They volunteered. Honor that investment. That leaves the door open for future service.
Questions for Your Next Staff Meeting
- Are there areas where we're unconsciously treating volunteers like "free labor" rather than valued investors?
- What systems or processes do we have that might be wasting volunteer time? (Unclear communication, last-minute changes, poor organization, unnecessary meetings?)
- If we truly believed each volunteer hour was worth $36, what's one thing we would START doing, STOP doing, and do DIFFERENTLY?
- Which volunteer or volunteer team needs to hear "thank you" from us this week—and what's the most meaningful way to express that?
Your Bottom Line
Volunteers are not free.
Volunteers are incredibly generous. And you should lead like you realize that.
Valuing volunteers isn't soft leadership—it's smart leadership. When you steward their time like the gift it is, they'll stay longer, serve better, feel more fulfilled, and invite others to join them.
This mindset shift—from scarcity to stewardship—isn't just good for your volunteers. It's good for your ministry culture, your staff health, and ultimately, for the mission God has called you to.
Take Action This Week
Calculate your volunteer value: Determine how many volunteer hours your ministry receives monthly and multiply by $36.14. Share this number with your team to help them understand the investment being made.
Identify one area of waste: Where is your ministry unintentionally wasting volunteer time? Create a plan to eliminate it within 30 days.
Say thank you: Identify 2-3 volunteers to personally thank this week with specific recognition of their impact—not generic appreciation.
Let's Keep the Conversation Going
How is your church doing at valuing volunteers? What's one shift you need to make in how you recruit, equip, or honor the people who serve alongside you?
I'd love to hear from you. Send your thoughts, questions, or stories to podcast@chemistrystaffing.com.
And if this perspective was helpful, please share it with your team. Sometimes the most transformative changes come from seeing familiar things through a completely different lens.
This post is based on episode 684 of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get daily encouragement and practical wisdom for church leaders.
