Most people volunteer because…
Their child is a participant.
They believe in the cause.
They feel good about doing something.
They find it’s a great place to make friends.
They feel coerced by others.
Wouldn’t it be great if volunteers joined your ministry because they knew…
Their unique giftedness would be valued and given an opportunity to grow.
Their contribution would make a difference.
Their investment would impact eternity.
Their involvement would give them belonging and purpose.
The task of leading children of all ages to Christ is enormous and requires a large group of people with a variety of gifts and strengths. But where are you going to find those people and how are you going to get them to make the journey with you?
Bill Hybels from Willow Creek in Chicago once said, “The first rule of building a team is affinity.” I was new to ministry, sitting in an audience of thousands when I wrote this down in my notes and I wasn’t even sure what it meant. But over the years, I’ve come to bank on this statement. When building a core team, always think affinity first!
AFFINITY FIRST!
Affinity is defined as having a feeling of identification with; a likeness based upon connection; a kinship; a similarity.
Imagine ministry as a 3,342.4 mile car ride from California to Maine in a Honda Fit. You know where you’re going and you know your mode of transportation is trustworthy although a bit lacking in comfort. You’re inviting companions to join the adventure and travel with you; companions to keep you awake, take turns driving, and help decide where to eat, where to sleep and when to stop for gas. Hopefully you won’t encounter car trouble, but if you do, your companions will help with decision-making and extend the boundaries of your personal resources. You’re pretty sure that along the way you’ll encounter the expected, the extraordinary, the bizarre and the mundane. It’s the shared experience inside that car that will give you camaraderie, create memories, provide entertainment and keep you moving forward in the right direction. From time-to-time constraints of space, finances or other needs may cause frustration, but they will push you toward collective creativity, teamwork and opportunities to extend grace.
Church ministries run on volunteer fuel, and yet rarely does it seem that their tanks are full. Even when momentum is good, energy is abundant and it feels like a well-oiled machine, leaders know that without proper maintenance and a scheduled refueling the engine will soon sputter and die.
The best recruiting campaigns can always tap into new energy sources, but it’s not a quick refueling that we need. Getting new volunteers should not be a quick stop at the gas pump every time we need help, but rather a careful look at the specific design, construction and special features of the person we are inviting onto the track.
Providing resources, downloadable materials and fresh content for children's ministry directors, family life leaders, church staff and volunteers, Stonepile Studios is committed to helping develop the next generation of believers. Stonepile is Paula's vehicle to share and deliver her children's ministry and family life directorship experience with Christian churches locally in Temecula and Murrieta, across California and nationally. Her workshops, coaching services and training programs are all customizable for the specific needs or your church and ministry challenges. Having traveled both nationally and internationally for missions and training, Paula is available to provide in-person training and support for your organization anywhere in the U.S.