Enlistment

February 24, 2016

Having More Volunteers Than You Need

It’s not impossible. It’s not easy either, but it is possible that you might get to a point in your ministry when you have enough volunteers.

At almost every kids ministry conference, breakouts on recruiting and keeping volunteers are almost always full. Many key voices in ministry have written books on the topic. My hope is that you find something new in this post that you’ve never seen before. I also hope that you might find the formula that works best for you in your church. Aim high and trust God. His resources are limitless.

My hope is that you have more volunteers than you need.

Let’s start with this; Volunteers Make Things Click. It’s a truth as well as an easy way to remember these four values. Take the first letter of each word in the phrase and use the following foundational values for the volunteer process in your church. Try to hit each one of these or the system gets wobbly. V. M. T. C.

Vision

This is critical. What’s this look like on the other side? Do you want one leader for every kid? Isn’t that ideal? Maybe. What if you had one leader for every 10 kids? Seems low. But what if those leaders are the “I’m all in” kind of leaders that show up early and leave late for everything you do? Only you can determine what you need, or better yet, what God can use. Cast this vision. Be reminded that God normally accomplishes His will with much less than we think is necessary or even possible. Write down HOW MANY volunteers you need and WHEN you need them. Ask others to pray for these specifics. Utilize students. Consider putting new or even non-believers in non-teaching roles. Before you over spiritualize only using believers, consider the multiple people that Jesus used during His ministry to do profound things.

It’s also important to remember that people don’t follow people, they follow vision … or people WITH vision. Continually share it and recruit for it.

Mission

If I lived in your neighborhood and you asked me to help you cut your yard, I would be reluctant. What’s in it for me? You might say that I get to live next to the prettiest yard around? Ehhh. I’d find a reason not to help you. What if you said that our neighborhood might get a free cookout if your yard wins a yard-beauty contest? Well, maybe, but still, I’m not into cookouts. But what if you changed your question? What if you asked if I would mind helping you cut the yard of the lady next door … the single mom who barely gets home before dark each day? That’s a mission! I’d jump in. I’d want to see that mom’s face the first time she pulls up in her driveway and her yard is finely manicured!

Don’t merely call on the people in your church to serve in your ministry because a need exists. Don’t even bait them with the cool factor. Call them to go on a mission with you to serve families in great need. Call them to go on a mission trip without leaving the walls of your church building. (That might come later!) Kids need Jesus. Families need faith. We all want to see the faces of those families that God has used us to reach when they enter into eternal life.

People are more likely to walk with you on a God-sized mission than to step into a church-sized ministry. Don’t be afraid to ask for more. Most people want to be asked. BE the “crazy kid person.”

These next two will help you to RETAIN the volunteers that you recruit.

Thanks

Express gratitude consistently and constantly. Take a note from the apostle Paul and thank God for those with whom you serve. Do it publicly. Do it personally. Do it en mass, annually. Remind them that we are all serving the Lord together. Tell stories. When a leader knows that they were part of a child or family’s eternal transformation, they will be back for more.

Communicate

Leave no room for surprise or expectations in your volunteers. Even if you, like me, are not the most organized leader, your volunteers need to feel like they are of prime importance to you and are not only “in the loop,” but “insiders” in your ministry. Let them take the lead. Let them be the stewards of the ministry that God is doing.

Test question for whether you are on track; If you left your church next week, would your volunteers carry on every component (at least for a season) without you? That’s what we’re going for here.

Oh yeah; wash, rinse, and repeat. Don’t ever stop this process. Don’t make recruiting a seasonal occurrence. Make it a permanent passion.

Jeffrey Reed serves as a Kids Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. He has served as a worship leader, director of children’s ministry, and on the executive leadership in several growing congregations. He, his wife Katherine, and their four kids live in Spring Hill, Tennessee where they serve each week in their church’s Kids Ministry.

Enlistment, Kids Ministry, Leadership

January 18, 2016

Are You Recruiting Volunteers or Leaders?

By Jana Magruder

One of the biggest problems we face in ministry is volunteer recruitment. In fact, if you are in Kids Ministry, you probably feel this need on a daily basis.

That said, it might be time to ask yourself a few questions:

Am I merely trying to fill the time slots I have open?
Am I settling for anyone to come help?
Am I looking for volunteers or leaders?

If you answer yes to questions one and two, then your answer to question three is “volunteers.” In some circumstances, a vetted and willing church member is exactly what you need—a volunteer. However, if you are seeking a committed and called person to serve alongside you in ministry, then you are looking for a leader.

Leaders are distinctive from volunteers. Leaders have a bigger vision for your ministry and their roles within it. They are with you for the long haul and desire to see kingdom outcomes. Your volunteers are important but they will come and go; leaders are your partners, co-laborers, and encouragers. Surround yourself with these people so that you can be who you need to be, which is ultimately a leader of leaders.

So, how do you recruit leaders?

Identify people in your church that have potential skills, gifts, talents, and passions to serve in your ministry.
Invite them to coffee or lunch.
Cast the vision that God has given you for the ministry you steward.
Purposefully ask them to serve alongside you.
Promise to prepare them, pray for them, and serve them as they are faithful to their commitments.

Continue to pray that God would provide not only the volunteers you need this year, but servant leaders to co-labor alongside you in ministry.

“But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.” Ephesians 4:15-16 HCSB

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. Jana brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and curriculum writing. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children attend Forest Hills Baptist Church where she teaches The Gospel Project to preteen girls.

Kids Ministry, Leadership

July 10, 2014

9 Principles for Enlisting and Recruiting Great Volunteers

By Bill Emeott

It’s that time again! The most wonderful, exciting, and rewarding time of the year — ENLISTING and RECRUITING fall leadership (do you hear the sarcasm?).

KidMin leaders share with me all the time how frustrating and discouraging enlistment can be. Regardless of the size of your church, we all seem to need more workers. Just when you think you’ve finally filled all the vacancies, someone resigns. What do you do?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a “magic potion” that will discover and develop leaders, but I do think there are some good principles to be reminded of that will help us recruit well and retain those we recruit.

God is in control. Pray! God wants your ministry to be a success! Start the enlistment process in prayer, asking God to lead you as you seek leaders and touch the hearts of those whom He desires to serve in KidMin. Basic, yes. Do I need to be reminded, definitely! Pray!
Organization is your friend. Get organized. Know what you need and create a spreadsheet to help you visually see where you are and the progress you’re making. I find it rewarding to “fill in the blanks” as God lead folks to volunteer.
Share the joy. You don’t have to do all the enlistment yourself. Use the current leadership to help you. Together we’re much more effective than trying to attempt as a “solo” act.
You have not because you ask not. When enlisting leadership I’ve had people say to me, “I’ve just been waiting for someone to ask.” (At that point I have to hold myself back from physically shaking them and screaming, “Didn’t you know we were in need?”) Don’t assume that everyone will answer God’s still small voice. They may be waiting on you to express the request audibly.
Be enthusiastic. No one wants to be part of something that not exciting. Share enthusiastically the opportunity your church has to minister to young families. Enthusiasm and excitement are contagious!
Don’t forget the men. Men are great assets in a kid’s classroom. Don’t assume they don’t want to serve. If you have wives who regularly serve alone consider asking the husband to join them.
Consider the “buddy system.” Good friends are more apt to say yes when asked to serve together. Think buddies … think friends … think about pairs of volunteers.
Equip your volunteers. Tell them you’ll provide them with the resources they’ll need to be successful — then DO IT!
Support and appreciate your workers. Make sure they see you when they’re serving and make sure they know how much they are appreciated. Consider working with your Senior Pastor to create a thank you card and small token of appreciation for those who volunteer. Everyone likes to feel appreciated.

I’d love to hear what you have found successful when it comes to enlisting leaders in your Kids Ministry. Comment and share!

Bill Emeott Since 2003 Bill Emeott has served as a Kids Ministry Specialist for Lifeway. His passions include childhood ministry leadership training and development, leading children’s Bible Study, and being an Uncle! Bill has been teaching children at First Baptist Nashville for ten years.

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!

Networking

January 28, 2010

Saddle Ridge Ranch moves to Nashville

By Bill Emeott

Today we begin the beginning of the end of this portion of our Saddle Ridge Ranch training tour. It’s been a blast.

I love VBS and I love all the training that happens for Lifeway’s VBS during the month of January. But you know, it doesn’t stop there. Over the next 4 months over 80,000 people will be trained to be better VBS leaders. They will learn how to use the Saddle Ridge Ranch curriculum, be trained in enlistment, finding prospects, following up, and so much more. God will use this training to transform the lives of thousands. We are blessed to be a part of this great program, VBS.

Here’s a few pictures of the set up for today:

This is the 3rd and 4th grade version of the Bible Study Bunkhouse!

And here is the 1st & 2nd grade version of the Bible Study Bunkhouse:

We are so blessed to have such creative people working on the VBS team here at Lifeway. The next pictures are those designed by our creative team (headed up by Mrs. Pam Goodwin). They are really outstanding:

Here is the "Mustang Mountain"

And Here is the the "Firefly Cavern"

And finally, Pam’s version of the "Bible Study Bunkhouse"

Over the past couple weeks I shared with you 10 enlistment principles. I wanted to share with you a couple enlistment ideas. I asked some of my twitter followers (Bill_Emeott) to share some of their best ideas… here’s a couple.

Ginger Butts from Georgia shared that every February her church has a VBS Enlistment Fair. During the fair adults see sneak previews of the VBS crafts, games, snacks, Bible study sessions, etc and decide where they would like to serve. I can see this being very successful at the end of Adult Sunday School/Bible Study. Have all the adult classes dismiss early to the VBS fair. Not only would you enlist workers, it would create a lot of excitement and interest for the upcoming VBS.

Debra Wolfrey from Arizona shared that each year she goes to the children’s classes and ask them who they would like to teach them this year in VBS. The children vote and she shares that vote by approaching the selected adult and saying, "The 4th grade voted and they want you to teach them in VBS!" She says it works every time!

Bottom Line: VBS is the largest outreach event in a churches year. We should take serious the opportunity to create excitement and share the love of God with boys and girls and their families.

What great enlistment idea do you use for VBS?

Having More Volunteers Than You Need

Are You Recruiting Volunteers or Leaders?

9 Principles for Enlisting and Recruiting Great Volunteers

You’re Never Finished!

Saddle Ridge Ranch moves to Nashville

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