KidMin 2015Deeper Learning Track: S.E.R.V.E.Dale Hudson

Session One – SELECT

Overview: Everyone has a place to serve within the Body of Christ. And as Children’s Ministry leaders, we are called to be “placement coaches” who help others find their next step to grow through serving. Discover the best practices for inviting and onboarding new volunteers.

“The success of your ministry depends on the strength of the volunteer team you build.”

“Great players win games. Great teams win championships.”Michael Jordan

“It’s not what you can do…it’s what you can empower others to do.”

As a children’s leader – irony is that is just as much about adults as it is children.

Must be able to build a team of volunteers

If had to be good at one thing in children’s ministry – it would be this

Can be great with kids but if can’t build a team you’re in trouble (1=10)

There is no children’s ministry without volunteers

1. See the big picture.

See the big picture

How do you see your volunteers?

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.Matthew 28:19

You are called first and foremost to make disciples…not volunteers.

A key component of being a disciple and growing in your faith is serving. When we invite people to serve, we are helping them become disciples.

Ephesians 4:11-16Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

You can’t be a growing disciple without serving. Must realize that serving is a vital part of spiritual growth.

Everyone is called to serve –

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

100% of believers are called to serve

Faith without works is dead

You are not bothering someone when you ask them to serve. You are blessing someone when you ask them to serve.

Get right mindset – not bothering them, you are blessing them

Helping them grow in their faith

It’s important that they serve not just for the kids, but also so they can grow in their faith.

Never more like Jesus than when you are serving – came not to be served, but to serve.

“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” Dr. ML King Jr.

Serving animates faith, serving grows faith

Don’t just see getting them in a classroom to fill a spot. See helping them become closer followers of Christ.

2. Why not what

Invite to the “why” not the “what”

People will line up to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

People won’t line up to change a diaper, but they will line up to change a life!

People won’t line up to corral 3rd grade boys, but they will line up to impact the next generation

People won’t line up to stand at the door and say “hi” 100 times but will line up when you tell them people decide in 8 minutes if going to return.

The “what” comes after the “why.” Make sure inviting to the why.

3. 1-1.

Most effective way.

That’s how Jesus did it.

“As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow Me,’ He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.” Matthew 9:9 (NLT)

Pray for divine appointments.

The Journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. The journey of _______ volunteers begins with 1 volunteer.

Make a dream list of volunteers.

Hold yourself and your team responsible for asking people each week. Don’t depend primarily on big pushes, ministry fairs, stage announcements twice a year. It’s about asking people week in and week out. 52 weeks a year.

We make excuses many times when we are simply not asking.

When was the last time you personally asked someone to join your team?

4. Duck in water

-may be desperate but don’t appear desperate

Titanic or Carnival Cruise Ship?

Titanic Signs• You place ads in the worship guide that uses the word “need.”• You guilt people into serving.• The only time you connect with parents is when you are asking them to serve.• You ask the Pastor to beg for volunteers for you from the pulpit.

Carnival Cruise Ship Signs• People are joining your team because a friend who loves serving invited them.• People are joining your team because they see an opportunity to make an impact with their life.• There are lots of smiles and laughter.• Volunteers are forming small groups and meeting together for Bible study and prayer during the week.• Volunteers go home energized and excited

People aren’t drawn to need – but to vision and something bigger than themselves.

5. 1 time = full time

Latch onto the momentum of the entire church when there is an ask for volunteers for Christmas, Easter, Fall Festival, etc.

encourage your volunteers to come alongside them and encourage them as they serve

follow up with them and ask them how they enjoyed the experience

ask to come back

6. Hot spots Places like new members class, new converts, etc.

7. Students

Kids look up to teenagers! That’s whom they want to be like. They can make a huge impact on kids! Some of best cm volunteers are students.

Students are one of the greatest places to find children’s ministry volunteers.

How to partner with student ministries: Build a relationship with student ministry staff and

volunteers. Share with them the vision of students growing through serving.

Go to them. Be yourself. They want authentic relationships. Don’t try to be

cool. Share the vision. Challenge students who are currently serving to share the

vision with their peers. Students usually come to serve in groups.

Make sure they stay connected to student ministry. Set clear expectations, structure, and guidelines. Involve their parents.

Students want to serve and make a difference in the lives of kids. Just waiting for you to give them the opportunity.

Call up not out

8. – Parental involvement.

Partner with parents.

Encourage but don’t require parents to get involved in their child’s experience at church.

Make sure it’s not the only time you connect with them.

9. – Enlist senior adults.

Silent Generation (born 1925 - 1945 / currently 69 - 89)

First coined in the November 5, 1951 cover story of Time to refer to the generation coming of age at the time

Born during the Great Depression and World War II - Children of the Great Depression and World War II

Their “Silent” label refers to their conformist and civic instincts. It also makes for a nice contrast with the noisy ways of the anti-establishment Boomers.

Baby Boomers (born 1946 - 1964 / currently 50 - 68)

Born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the 1960s and 1970s.

Don't think that Baby Boomers have the "I've done my time and now I'm resting" attitude. They currently have the highest volunteer rate of any age group.

“The Boomer wave signals one of the largest opportunities the nonprofit sector has ever had to expand its pool of resources.

America’s Baby Boomers are an untapped resource of extraordinary proportions. They are the largest, healthiest, best-

educated generation in history – and they can leave an incredible legacy through service to others. Only the nonprofits that retool their ability to engage citizens will reap that reward. “

David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service

Analyze your current volunteer team. How many of them are Boomers? How can you more effectively bring Boomers to your team?

Look for Boomers who are only working part-time. Almost half of Boomers who work part-time also volunteer.

Appeal to Boomer men. 29.4% of them volunteer which is higher than any other age group of men.

The biggest single inducement for Boomers to volunteer is being asked by someone with whom he/she has an established relationship. They are more attracted to social

interaction than to duty or obligation. We have to go to where they are and build relationships with them. This may look like being involved in the women’s and men’s ministry in your church, leading an adult Bible study, or hanging out after service in the lobby of the adult auditorium.

Build a bridge to them.

Boomers are achievement-oriented, dedicated, and career-focused. They welcome exciting, challenging projects and strive to make a difference. Cast vision and challenge them to step up and have a part in making the vision a reality. They will respond.

Boomers want higher-skill assignments to keep them engaged. Provide them professional development opportunities just like you would for your staff. Give them opportunities to be promoted in their leadership responsibilities as well.

Boomers grew up in an era of reform and believe they can change the world. They questioned established authority systems and challenged the status quo. Show that you value them by asking for their input and feedback on how to improve the ministry. When you are able to incorporate an idea, inform them of the changes.

Ask for a minimum of a three-month commitment. Stats show if they serve for at least three months, they are most likely to continue serving year after year. In fact, when they serve for at least three months, the retention rate goes up to 79 percent.

In some cases, you will be partnering with them as the parent. The latest census shows that over 2 1/2 million children are being raised by their grandparents in the US. We have a lot of kids being brought to church by their grandparents and I'm sure you do as well.

"The baby boomer generation gives our nation an unprecedented opportunity to increase the breadth and the

scope of volunteering. If we use the right approach, this population will continue their service and change the face of

volunteering in America."

Robert Grimm Jr., Director of the Corporation's Office of Research and Policy Development

10. Volunteer multiplication.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ.”) Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”.) John 1:40-42 (NLT)

“When you bring a new volunteer on the team it’s volunteer addition. When your volunteers bring new volunteers on the

team it’s volunteer multiplication.”

1 person bringing a new volunteer each month = 12 new volunteers each year.2 people each bringing a new volunteer each month = 24 new volunteers each year.3 people each bringing a new volunteer each month = 36 new volunteers each year.

How to Multiply: Emphasize it. (talk to them about it) Pursue it. (ask them for names) Ill. of man this past weekend Honor it. (honor those who bring others on the team)

No matter how good you are personally at adding team members, your ministry will benefit more from others adding team members at the same time.

11. – Give families opportunities to serve together.

Encourage families to serve together when possible.

Greet togetherServe in café’ togetherWork in preschool together

Pass out bulletins together

Are separated most of week – give them opportunities to serve together and you will see families step up together

Great because kids see their parents modeling serving together.

12. More opportunities = more volunteers.

Not everyone is going to stand up and teachNot everyone is going to sing

Entry Level Positions

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT)