When inviting someone in to play a role in ministry there are a few key elements you should think through first.
1. Know what you’re inviting people into.
If it’s all foggy and undefined, tell them. If it requires a lot of time and is complicated, be straightforward. If it’s mapped out, but has limitations, restrictions and deadlines, let them know upfront. Honesty is always the best policy and it helps others make good decisions. When possible, offer a clearly defined job description as well.
2. Cast vision. Explain the eternal impact of each job.
Whether it’s a core team member or one of the many others who will hold a specific position or serve on the front line, state the kingdom impact clearly and repeat it often.
Volunteers who care for little ones in the nursery subliminally teach children that God cares for their needs, loves them and is trustworthy. They also grant each child one of the best gifts possible—designated weekly time for their parents to focus on their own relationship with God. Remind volunteers that the best thing you can give a child is a parent who is learning to fully depend upon God for wisdom, direction and strength.
3. Pre-plan the volunteer experience.
Think through each step along the way. Once a volunteer says, “Yes” “Maybe” or “I’ll check it out,” know what experience will follow. How will you welcome people at the front door? Who will answer their questions, offer training, listen to concerns and suggestions, offer belonging, recast vision, provide timely encouragement and express appreciation? How will you further develop the relationship and give them a sense of belonging? How will you ensure that the environment in which they serve will offer growth opportunities, emotional support, training and further discovery of their spiritual gifts?
If the attempt at joining your team doesn’t work out, consider the experience a person will have as they decline. Will you graciously walk them out the back door? Will they leave with new connections knowing that opportunities will always be open, customizable and available to them? Or will they conclude that serving in ministry is just not their cup of tea?
Your invitation and the engagement process will speak volumes about your ministry and organization. It will either re-emphasize your core values, discredit them, or present undeclared alternatives. You will only get one shot at a first impression or sneak peak behind the curtain. Be sure it’s a favorable look that can open up a world of discovery into who God intended each person to be.
Don’t prepare alone. Gather all those who will assist you in offering the experience. Dream together. Create a common vocabulary and clarify the steps needed to make it happen. Each member of your team will need to have complete buy-in. You will need to reconvene frequently to continually improve the process and keep the experience vibrant.
To make it easy for our team, we used the core values of our children’s ministry and paralleled the volunteer experience to that of our children. It looked something like this:
|
Children’s Ministry |
||
|
Core Values |
For Children |
For Volunteers |
| Safe-Keeping | Maintain a thorough application process that includes background checks and personal references. Continually update classroom policies such as adult/child ratios, check-in/out procedures, diapering and bathroom rules, food allergies, rules of conduct, etc. | Offer a safe environment, which encourages personal growth and gift discovery. Provide opportunities for training and advancement with constructive feedback and coaching. Support each individual as he/she learns from failures. Celebrate successes. |
| Knowing & Loving | Each child should be known by name on their first visit and be connected to a small group leader who will make an effort to remember them by name when they return. Set kids up for success by making accommodations for individual strengths, personality traits and behavioral needs. | Connect every volunteer to a team. Provide team leaders who will get to know each member, establish a relationship and offer prayer support. Provide training, coaching and encouragement when members are ready to explore new opportunities. |
| Teaching God’s Word | Teach children God’s Word in a fun, creative and engaging manner that is age-appropriate, comprehensible and applicable. Check for understanding and identify life-application steps. |
Keep the teaching conversation going among team members. Send out text messages regarding weekly key points. Share life-application stories and prayer concerns in a weekly huddle. Maintain a focus on individual gifts discovery and personal growth. |
Prayer and the gathering of information are essentials to the creation of any new experience. Couple that with hours of preemptive conversation, strategizing and packaging and you’ll be ready to invite others in. But don’t stop there. It’s also important to walk along in the experience so that you may continue to evaluate and refine the process. Remember: beyond your need for volunteers and your desire to provide them with a positive experience is the fact that…
YOU are welcoming ordinary people into an extraordinary life.
YOU are inviting them in to discover and develop their own unique giftedness.
YOU are engaging people in an opportunity of service
that furthers the kingdom of God
and brings glory to His Name.
Share Your Thoughts