The Christmas season is a time for celebration, reflection, and community — but for churches, it’s also one of the busiest times of the year. Volunteers are essential to creating a welcoming and organized environment for holiday services and events.

However, coordinating a large team of holiday helpers—many of whom are balancing their own busy schedules—can be challenging. This is where Gloo+ can step in, offering powerful tools to streamline volunteer communication, recruit more people, and build a stronger, more responsive volunteer network. 

In this blog, we’ll explore how Gloo+ Groups and Texting can make a difference in volunteer management for your church.

Recruiting More Volunteers with Gloo+

Every church sees increased attendance and events during the holidays, from nativity plays and choir performances to Christmas Eve services. This increased attendance means your church needs support from more volunteers to keep things running smoothly. But during this high-demand season, how can you recruit more volunteers—especially when your church members are also very busy with Christmas shopping, party planning, end-of-school coordinating, and other holiday-related tasks?

All these things can make it tricky to get people’s attention at this time of year—here’s how Gloo+ lets you break through the noise to reach them. 

Using Gloo+ Texting for Recruitment

Texting is the communication method your people prefer. Texting is the most convenient and ubiquitous communication method of 2024—and the most popular by far. By adopting texting as a primary communication method, you show your congregation that you care about their preferences and are committed to meeting them where they are.

Texting is especially useful for church leaders looking to recruit more volunteers and helps you cut through the Christmas chaos. By running a texting campaign for recruitment, you can inform people of opportunities and get excitement flowing through your congregation. 

Volunteer Text Campaign: Get started by crafting short, inviting messages that convey both the need and the joy of serving. For instance, a simple message like “We’d love for you to join our Christmas volunteer team! Reply YES if you’d like to help create a warm, welcoming experience for all this season,” can make a big impact. You might also try multiple messages in a campaign format: start with an invitation, follow up with a reminder, and close by sharing stories of past volunteers. This approach not only informs but also inspires, building excitement and making it easy for members to step forward when they feel ready.

Segmenting Volunteers into Groups for Effective Management

Targeted group management in Gloo+ allows church leaders to connect with each volunteer segment effectively, ensuring every team member feels informed, appreciated, and motivated. Here’s how to make the most of Gloo+ for segmenting and managing your volunteer groups this holiday season:

Gloo+ Groups Make Recruitment and Retention Easy 

In Gloo+, you can create unlimited Groups. Groups allow you to connect with specific audiences in your congregation with personalized messages—to new visitors, parents of young children, or, in this case, volunteers. 

When you segment your audience into groups, you can connect with your people in ways that will resonate specifically with them. For example: 

• Organizing Volunteer Groups: Set up specific groups within Gloo+ based on roles or interests, such as welcome team, childcare, worship, hospitality, etc.
• Expanding Outreach: Send targeted group messages to existing church members and invite them to join a volunteer group or contribute a few hours during the holiday season.
• Re-engaging Past Volunteers: Create a group specifically for past holiday volunteers, reaching out with a personalized message to re-invite them to join the team this year. This can make volunteers feel valued and appreciated, encouraging them to step up again.

Identify Key Volunteer Segments

Recognizing the unique qualities of each volunteer segment helps ensure everyone is aligned and supported in their roles. Here are some typical segments:

• Core Volunteer Team: Those who serve consistently; they may be ideal for leadership roles.
• Seasonal Volunteers: Members who join in for specific seasons; they might be ideal for flexible roles.
• Youth Volunteers: Engage younger members for roles like greeting or handing out programs.
• New Volunteers: People interested in short-term commitment; often ideal for simple, less intensive tasks.

• Worship Team: Your worship team, including musicians, singers, and AV support, plays a central role in creating a meaningful and inspiring holiday experience

• Welcome Team: The first faces your visitors see on Sunday; send reminders about arrival times, updates on seating arrangements, and any special roles they’ll play for holiday events

Creating Targeted Groups in Gloo+

Gloo+ enables you to create specialized groups for each volunteer segment, making communication easier and more effective. For each group, you can customize messages that speak to their specific contributions, experience level, and availability. Here are some examples:

• Instant Broadcasting: Once groups are established, Gloo+ lets you send instant broadcasts to each volunteer segment, ensuring everyone receives the same information simultaneously. For example, if there’s a last-minute schedule change or an urgent need for additional hands, you can quickly inform the right group without sending multiple individual messages.

• Regular Updates and Encouragement: Keep each volunteer segment engaged by sharing progress updates, success stories, and milestones that highlight the positive impact of their work. For instance, a message to seasonal volunteers could read, “We had an amazing turnout last night! Thanks for making every guest feel welcome.”

• Sample Message: Personalize your messages for each group to reflect their unique roles. For example, “Hi [Name]! We’re so grateful for your help this Christmas season. Could we count on you for [specific event]? Let us know if any schedule adjustments are needed.”

Getting Started: Sample Texts

Getting started with texting in Gloo+ is simple and intuitive, making it easy for church leaders to reach out and connect with volunteers effectively. With Gloo+, you don’t need to be a tech expert to craft messages that resonate; it’s designed to help you send impactful texts quickly. 

The sample messages below are ready to use or customize, so you can get started right away. Each message is crafted to inspire and engage, helping you keep your volunteer team motivated and informed as they help make Christmas special.

• Shift Reminder: “Friendly reminder: You’re scheduled for [specific role] this Sunday at 9 AM. Thank you for helping make Christmas special for everyone!”
• Volunteer Appreciation: “You’re a star! Thank you for volunteering your time and talents. Together, we’re making this Christmas season one to remember.”
• Last-Minute Request: “Urgent: We need a hand with [task] tonight at [time]. Can you help out? Your support would mean a lot!”

• Training or Orientation Announcements: “Join us this [day/time] for a brief volunteer orientation! We’ll go over tips to make each guest feel welcome this Christmas.”
• Event Updates: “Hey [Name], a quick update: we’ll be starting at [new time]. Thanks for your flexibility!”

By using these sample texts, you’ll have a solid foundation for keeping volunteers engaged and on schedule. Each message is designed to help you save time and reduce stress, giving volunteers the guidance and appreciation they deserve.

Make Volunteer Management as Easy as Pressing a Button

As the Christmas season approaches, managing volunteers doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. With Gloo+, church leaders can simplify volunteer recruitment, ensure effective communication, and keep their teams engaged—all with a few easy texts. By using Groups and Texting, you’ll be able to organize volunteers into meaningful segments, provide tailored updates, and send reminders that make each volunteer feel valued and prepared.

Whether you’re reaching out to regular volunteers, welcoming new helpers, or coordinating last-minute shifts, Gloo+ empowers you to make every role clear and every volunteer appreciated. With less time spent on logistics, you can focus more on what matters most: creating a warm, welcoming environment for your congregation and sharing the true joy of the season.

Ready to streamline your holiday volunteer management? Sign up for Gloo+ and enjoy 40% off this Christmas season. Let’s make this Christmas one to remember for all the right reasons!