1. Don’t wait till the last minute. Begin early with your recruiting for several reasons. Most adult volunteers have full time jobs so they need to know in advance if time off from work will be required. If you wait until the last minute those who assist you may feel rushed to make the decision, or they may feel unprepared to do a good job. Also, if you wait till the last minute the person you think would be best for the position may already be assigned by another ministry. Look over next year’s schedule and mark the events that need volunteer assistance and start recruiting now.
2. Recruit in person. It’s a poor idea to ask for ministry volunteers with a general plea from the pulpit unless you want a lot of “generals” in your ministry. Typically, unqualified people sign up when it’s open to everyone, which can result in an embarrassment to the person, the ministry, and yourself.
Make a list of prime candidates and solicit them in person. By hand picking volunteers, you ensure getting the ones you feel are best for the job.
3. Provide adequate answer time. Give volunteers at least a week to pray and think about the role you are asking of them before they have to make the decision. Never push for a quick answer.
4. Be up front. Let your volunteers know what you expect from them even before their ministry begins. Let them know how much time and energy it will require, what their job will entail, and how you expect excellence. Volunteers may quickly feel overwhelmed, or ineffective if they don’t know exactly what to do. You don’t have to hold their hands, but do hold their hearts.
5. Let volunteers help develop their ministry role. Point your volunteer in the direction you want him or her to go, then ask that they share their vision for the ministry. Give them hands on experience in designing and growing their portion of the ministry by allowing them to submit their ideas to you and take risks.. It’s a fact that people are more committed and do a better job when they share ownership.
6. Let volunteers know they are not alone. Volunteers need the assurance that they will not be in for a struggle alone. Offer your support and guidance from the moment they accept responsibility. Provide your home phone number to let volunteers know you are available for them at all hours.
7. Check in, but don’t check up. Call all volunteers once a week to make sure everything is going well in their ministry, and reassure them of #6. Use questions that probe for any help they may need, such as: “Is there anything I can do from my end to help your ministry?” or “How are you dong spiritually?”
Avoid using language or questions that indicate you are unsure about the job they are doing. Such as: “Are you sure you don’t need some help? This project really needs to go well.”
8. Demand an uncompromised lifestyle. Enlist volunteers who are talented, motivated, and joyful, but most of all godly. The biblical precedents set for leaders go for volunteers as well.
Create your own commitment contract for your volunteers based on your church’s tradition, and expect your volunteers to sign it before they can go into action. Here are a few things that should be on your list no matter what your fellowship:
· Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life.
· I refuse to participate in gossip.
· I will always uphold the values of this ministry.
· I will love each teen without partiality.
· I will commit for _________(length of time).
Spend an afternoon writing your volunteer contracts. A contract helps the volunteer know the expectations that come with the position, and will serve as a constant reminder of the oath associated with their ministry.
9. Praise Privately. Don’t just catch volunteers doing something right, catch them doing lots of things right. Keep a stack of thank you cards handy to send when you witness or hear about a volunteer’s good work. Keep a set of postcards nearby as well to send during the week as thoughts of encouragement. Place a sticky note on their car door that simply says “Thank you” and don’t sign it. Pour on the praise without reservation in as many ways as possible.
10. Praise Publicly. Once a year hold a volunteer appreciation banquet to honor all your ministry servants. If your church prints a bulletin or service sheet, publish the names of all volunteers along with their area of service. If you can, bring them on stage during a service so the entire congregation can thank them.
Praising publicly not only helps you hold on to the volunteers you have, it helps you recruit. Who wouldn’t want to become part of a youth ministry where they are actually appreciated?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Monday, December 25, 2006
Youth Ministry Monday MAXimizer
Blessings on this Christmas day!! Enjoy your time with your family and friends. Celebrate the gifts the Lord has brought to you this year. Mathew 1:21... "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Your Partners in Ministry,
Paul & Al
P.S. ZONE members. We added the last 2 lessons from Nehemiah. Get the link below.
P.P.S. Next week we'll bring you an article and MP3 about staying focused and on fire in 2007! We will also begin our annual January ZONE Drive!
Members: Login to your account for access to this week's updates. http://www.teenlifeministries.com
Lesson of the Week: Study of Nehemiah : Lesson 7 : Staying on Task Lesson 8 : Celebrating completion
The series of 1 John is available. Click Here to Download
January 2006 was a huge sign up month. This is a reminder that all subscriptions are recurring. If you joined in January for one year, your membership will automatically renew on the same date.
Current ZONE Members, your rate is locked. We may adjust the membership rates in February, but you are locked in for as long as you remain a member. We have an exciting 2007 planned here at Teen Life including a couple of software releases that will bless your ministry.
In February, we will be releasing an Audio Software tool to enable you to record audio, add a background music track, and create an MP3 with flash audio buttons for play online. You can also email the MP3 or let your group download it.
Book your personal/group travel online www.5TalentsTravel.com
If you or your group travels extensively, consider becoming a referring agent. www.5TalentsBiz.com
Not a Member of The Zone? Get the details here
|
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Planning for Success in Youth Ministry
Success is one of those odd church topics. Some feel that it's an ugly word that reeks of the flesh. Others feel it's our right as God's children.
The Bible has a lot to say about success and one of the most quoted passages is Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed."
The strange thing that I've noticed among a lot of youth workers is that they have NO plans. They have a schedule of events, but no plan.
What are your plans that you are going to commit to the Lord?
We're not saying don't leave room for the Spirit to move, but God can work among plans as well. Chances are greater than good that no plans lead to no successes ~ or accidental success at best.
Make a plan. What are God's goals for your ministry? Who do you want to see come to Jesus in the next six months? How many teens will you contact this week? What time do you have purposely set aside for personal Bible study?
Make a plan. Commit it to the Lord. You'll have success.
Your Partners in Youth Ministry,
Paul & Al
Your Partners in Youth Ministry,
Paul & Al
Saturday, December 23, 2006
10 Goals for Youth Ministry
1. Do whatever it takes to get teens to heaven. Paul wrote that he became all things to all people so that some might be saved (II Corinthians
Ministry has its own set of pressures. We have to worry about what the leaders, parents, and members will think about a program or event. By doing whatever it takes to get teens to heaven, you will endure your share of criticism about your approaches, but keep the goal in focus. Keep everyone involved aware that you are not using a certain technique just to be different, but to bring teens to Jesus.
2. Help teens develop a personal relationship with God. While second-hand faith is better than no faith, there's no doubt that first-hand faith wins the prize. Help teens develop a faith that says, "I believe in God, not because my parents say so, or because my youth minister or preacher says so, but because I have experienced and know God in my life."
3. Involve teens in daily Bible study and prayer. Instead of simply asking your group to read the Bible and pray daily, provide the opportunity and tools to make it possible. Develop a daily Bible reading schedule for your teens. Supply information on Bibles designed for youth so they can get a grip on the Word in a way relevant to them.
Form prayer groups of three that meet at school, or that call each other daily for prayer requests. Challenge your group to pray before getting out of bed and before going to sleep. Have teens set their watch alarms for a certain time each day to signal prayer time. Create as many tools as needed to get them into the Bible and prayer on a daily basis.
4. Build a Christ-like attitude and spirit into the youth group. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus," Philippians 2:5. This means more than just asking, "What would Jesus do?" It calls for a clear-cut lifestyle of surrender. What is the attitude of Jesus?
· Attitude of a Servant (v. 7)
· Attitude of Humility (v. 8)
· Attitude of Obedience (v. 8)
If every teen becomes a servant, how many things will get done? If every teen becomes humble, how much arguing will take place? If every teen becomes obedient to God, how much better could the youth conventions be? Of course, developing a Christ-like attitude in your group begins by displaying a Christ-like attitude in your life.
5. Develop quality leadership among the group. Jesus called His followers with, "Follow me." By the end of His ministry He had trained them to lead. Paul even said, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1). Give your teens the responsibility and let them lead. Dust them off when they fall down and encourage them to keep going.
Here are a few ways you can let teens lead: Devotionals, teaching class, heading up a service project, forming prayer groups, etc.
6. Parental support and participation. Believe it or not, There are some in your congregation who see youth ministry as a divider of parents and their children. Prevent this by creating a high level of parental involvement.
Have your parents teach for a quarter, host devotionals in their homes, chaperone trips, etc. Check out Group Publishing's 130 Ways to Involve Parents in Your Ministry for more great ideas.
7. Develop evangelistic teens. Redirect the vision of your group by training them to see each classmate, each neighbor, each family member, each clerk, each waiter, just fill in the blank, each ____________ as an opportunity to share the Lord.
Jesus left the message in our mouths and lives. Help your group become evangelistic by creating an atmosphere that makes guests want to return. Go out to the school campus and meet kids on their turf. Be available, open and loving.
8. Establish positive relationships with other youth groups in the area. If we are not careful ministry can become a competition where the leader with the most teens wins. Because of that, we may be afraid to do things with other groups for fear that our teens might spot something "cooler" than what we provide. Don't forget #4 and build a Christ-like attitude by doing things with other groups like retreats or prayer nights. One of the easiest ways to establish positive relationships is by participating together in community events such as the March for Jesus, or collecting food and toys for needy families during the holidays.
9. Include teens as part of the congregation. Have you ever felt the perception that there is the church, and then there is the youth group? Integrate the group into the congregation by getting the teens involved in praying, scripture reading, or whatever format your church follows. Most churches let teens participate on youth days. But encourage your leadership to include teens on a regular basis, not just special days.
10. Equip teens to go into all the world and teach the Gospel. While every teen has the responsibility to evangelize around them, a few feel the call to literally go into all the world. Prepare them for that future by encouraging and praying for him or her. Help sponsor teens on a yearly mission trip to gain experience. Provide contacts through special mission organizations to get teens involved. Who knows how many will come to know the Lord as a result of your ministry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
