enlisting volunteers

January 24, 2014

Enlist and Equip People to Use their Gifts in Kids Ministry

There is nothing in the world more fulfilling than using your gifts and passions to serve the Lord. But there are probably many people in your church with gifts and passions who may not be sure how to use them to serve God.

Many times, if an adult doesn’t feel like they can successfully teach a Sunday School class or lead Arts and Crafts at VBS, they don’t think they are suited to serve in children’s ministry at all. Yet, wouldn’t you love to see an influx of volunteers who can’t wait to get involved and develop discipleship relationships with the kids in your church?

Here’s a way to make that happen whether you are using VBS, Zip for Kids, writing your own curriculum, or just flying by the seat of your pants.

First, get out a sheet of paper. Write down the first 10 people in your church that you think of who are gifted at specific things. Maybe they’re great at coaching, art, dance, singing, or crocheting. Now, go back through that list and write down one way that they could use that skill to connect with kids. See how easy that was?

Now consider talking with those folks about ways that they could use what they are passionate about to serve. You can ask these leaders to teach the skills that they already have to kids in a non-threatening environment, for both the teacher and the kid. They can share applicable Scripture while on a soccer field or in an art studio, where they feel most at home.

Zip for Kids is a fun way to make that happen. It’s a new customizable event that can be used as a day camp, overnight camp, Mom’s Day Out, Wednesday nights, or any other event that you can imagine! They can share applicable Scripture while on a soccer field or in an art studio, where they feel most at home.

Here are a few ways to equip these new volunteers in your kids ministry:

1. Train these leaders in how to communicate with kids. Offer ways to share the Gospel in kid-friendly language. It can be tougher than you think. Practice doing it.

2. Role play with these new leaders about questions kids may ask about faith or the activity and practice answering on their level.

3. Give these adults questions to ask kids that will help build relationships like:

Tell me about your family?
What is your favorite thing about your life?
What is the hardest thing for you about your life?

4. Let leaders know that kids mainly want you to love on them and are not concerned if you don’t always know the answer. Be available for leaders when they need help.

There are many other ways to enlist and prepare volunteers who may have never worked with kids before. Check out Zip for Kids Essentials to see more training help and to get everything you need to prepare for a great event that utilizes the gifts of those in your church. What are some tips that you would add to train new leaders?

Mary Wiley serves as a Content Editor for VBS, Zip for Kids, and Discipleship in Context. Mary teaches kids and helps her husband, John, with youth ministry at Restoration Church. She is passionate about discipleship in the home, ministry to kids through creative arts, and coffee.

Leadership, Networking, Sunday School, Training

September 23, 2013

6 Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

By Cristy Whitlock

It’s a recurring issue: Where will we find enough volunteers to intentionally impact our kids ministry this year? Fresh out of college, I have 6 tips for recruiting those 18 to 24-year-olds full of energy, charisma, and passion for servanthood:

1. GO. Go to a college service, small group, or BCM and get to know your audience.

2. ASK. Stand up in front of this group and ask. Include a number of volunteers needed so they feel challenged. College students won’t know the need unless you explicitly ask.

3. QUOTE. Name dropping will captivate your audience. “John Piper puts it this way…” “Remember when Platt talked about radical living?” “Jon Acuff says to be awesome, and THIS is awesome.” Seriously, quote these guys. You’d be surprised how many times David Platt means Open Sesame on someone’s will to serve.

4. SHOW. Every time our preschool ministry at my college church showed pictures of the children, my friends and I would talk about “that CUTE headband” or “those precious eyes!!!” The following Sunday found us holding 3 and 4-year-olds at children’s church.

5. SEEK. College’s job is to prepare students for careers, and there’s an abundance of students pursuing degrees in early education and childhood development. Some of these students are in your church. Find them. Most need hours of service to count towards their degrees.

6. APPRECIATE. If you treat your volunteers with love, they’re going to recruit their friends. Word of mouth marketing can locate plenty of willing hearts.

These tips seem obvious enough, but they aren’t always utilized. I hope this post has given you the push to go to next week’s Paradigm, Kairos, or The Bridge (wherever your college students are worshiping Christ), and to build up your children’s ministry. After all,

“We all get our own oceans, never trade yours for a pond.” – Jon Acuff

What’s worked for you? Add your tips in the Comments section! And make training these new leaders easy with Ministry Grid!

Encouragement, Leadership, Networking, Special Needs, Sunday School, Training, Vacation Bible School

September 4, 2013

You’re Never Finished!

By Klista Storts

Enlistment can be a four letter word – H.A.R.D. It’s kind of like that bunny that just keeps going and going and going and going. It’s one of those projects that never gets finished. In fact, truth be known, it’s probably the top reason that kid ministers leave the ministry.

Sadly, I remember a time when I couldn’t even share the joy of one of my teachers who excitedly told me she was expecting. All I could think was that in about nine months, I was going need to find a new teacher! Now, that’s bad.

So what do you do? Here are a few suggestions that might help.

• Ask someone in person.
• Ask someone face-to-face.
• Ask someone eye-to-eye.
• Ask someone toe-to-toe.
• Ask…

Hmmm. See a pattern? While there are tons of different ways to bring the need to light through bulletin inserts, pleas from the pulpit, bulletin boards, flyers in the bathroom, etc., that’s just advertising. (Shout out to Kim Harris for that statement!) THE number one way to get the teachers you need is to ask personally. Otherwise, people assume that they’re not capable, not called, or not needed. They’re waiting for you to ask! Invite them to join your exciting team of leaders that get to impact a child’s life forever! Let them know that you don’t accept just anybody. You’re asking them for a reason! You know they love kids; they’d be a great example; they’re energetic; they’re ___________! (You fill in the blank!) Be picky and make sure they know it. Make them feel blessed just knowing you believe they’re worthy to teach!

And, you don’t have to do it all yourself. Put together a team and break the task into smaller chunks. The whole pyramid idea works in this case. You ask two people, then they ask two people and so on and so on and so on. A great part of sharing the blessing of enlistment is that you have a larger pool of people to ask!

Remember to think outside the box:

Senior adults (missing their grandchildren!)
Empty nesters
College students
Men
VBS leaders
And, outside your circle of friends!

So, pray about it. Ask God specifically for the people you need. Go and find those people — take them to coffee, maybe even lunch! Then…ASK!

Enlist and Equip People to Use their Gifts in Kids Ministry

6 Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

You’re Never Finished!

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