“If recruiting volunteers is a nearly universal problem for the church, what can we do about it?”

I was a member and deacon at a church where about 2/3 of the adults were working happily in the nursery, and I attribute that to the fact that the pastor's teaching had let the congregation know how important it was that young mothers be able to hear a sermon.  Motivation matters.  If it's just about "obedience", you're going to get one reaction, but if people see what they're trying to achieve in ministry, it's a night and day difference.