Cleaning out my phone yesterday and found this text from Jennifer, who used to help with 2nd and 3rd graders. "Hey I don't think I can keep doing this anymore. Just not working out."

That was it. Gone.

Today we're talking about why good volunteers really quit - from treating them like unpaid employees to only texting when you need something to throwing them into situations without preparation. Plus what I wish I could tell Jennifer now and the volunteers who stayed versus the ones who just faded away.

If you're tired of watching good people walk away and ready to learn from mistakes that cost you amazing volunteers, this one's for you. Fair warning: you might realize some departures were more your fault than you want to admit.

For ministry leaders, volunteer coordinators, and anyone who's learned that people don't usually quit suddenly - they quit after months of feeling undervalued.

Check out KidsMinistry.Blog for more ideas, tips, and resources to help your Children's Ministry thrive!