Bull ˇs-Eye

Recruiting

Bill Anderson

The bulk of the actual ministry that happens in our ministries

isn't something you and I do as leaders

-it's what the people

we've carefully chosen, equipped, and placed do. There's no

doubt that these people are critically important to our

ministry's target and direction.

I love Proverbs 26:10: "An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at

random." This verse captures the essence of a situation most leaders recognize: A promising new

volunteer turns out to be...well, not so promising. Recruiting errors can be time, energy, and ministry

draining. The key, naturally, is to avoid them. Here's how to proceed wisely in all recruiting situations so

you find the perfect fit for your ministry.

Lay a foundation of prayer.

You know recruiting is a year-round endeavor, so don't limit your prayers for

volunteers to once a year during your big recruiting push. Continually ask God to send people-and look

for their potential-all year long.

Do your homework.

Have an application process in place, even if your new recruit has been with the

church for 50 years. The reality is, it's just not enough for someone to want to minister to children in

today's world. You've got to have an easy-to-navigate, non-threatening process that allows you to find out

more than the name and address of a person. At minimum, ask for a brief history of faith; personal,

professional, and ministry references; and a background check. These three "gatekeeper" areas will help

alert you to any need for further questioning.

Prepare new volunteers.

Lay down your expectations before the person starts. Whether it's in a class or

a meeting with you or the ministry leadership team, every new volunteer must understand your overall

philosophy of ministry and how it fits in the larger vision of your church.

Make your expectations clear.

Be very upfront about the responsibilities of the position and how your

ministry operates. Be open about your leadership style-if you're very hands-on, like one-to-one

communication, or have a specific philosophy about kids, share it.

Emphasize training and development.

Recruit people who want to learn. Train new volunteers on nuts-

and-bolts processes and expectations-don't just expect them to figure it out. And continue developing

your team by taking them to conferences, sharing information and articles, and having one-to-one

conversations.

You may not hit a bull's-eye every time you recruit, but these principles will get you closer.

{Excerpted from

Children's Ministry

magazine}