Recruiting: It’s Not What You Know

My first summer leading children’s and student ministries was painful. School ended the week after we taught on Exodus…and, no kidding, then all my leaders left for vacation! Some of the kids and families headed out of town too, but most stuck around week in and week out. It was hard to find help and fill holes on such short notice.

They say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

So, what do you do when you hardly know anyone or your connections come to an end? Being new to the church and community, I needed to expand my recruiting network fast to survive summer and be ready for fall. Fortunately, I discovered four relational lifelines for reaching fresh recruits.

Four Relational Lifelines for Recruiting

1. Pray for help.

Then [Jesus] said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 ESV

It may seem simple, but asking God to send people with a heart to serve children and youth is essential. Taking time to pray is a recruiting strategy that strengthens the relational lifeline between you and the Lord. He cares for kids and families deeply, and He’ll make sure you have the passionate and gifted volunteers you need. Prioritize the importance of finding leaders will honor God and the people He sends your way to serve.

2. Poll your team.

Asking volunteers who else they know is an invaluable relational lifeline to cultivate. You might not know a lot of people or maybe your radar needs widening. Networking through existing leaders is key to generating leads. However, this presumes the leaders and ministry you currently have are doing great. Before asking your team for leads, ask them what’s going great (and not so great) in your children’s and youth ministries. Is the purpose of each ministry crystal clear? What positive character traits are present and missing on our team? When you’re serving kids and families, it needs to be fun and friendly. It also needs to be centered on God’s truth and tied to godly community. Once you have a healthy picture of what makes for fantastic ministry with kids and families, ask your team to start spreading the word and being on the lookout for new recruits. Most likely, they will come up with ideas and names you’ve never considered.

3. Phone a friend.

Similar to polling your team, you can reach out to someone you trust as an additional relational lifeline. Start building friendships with people who care about you and your ministry. Meet over a meal to discuss what makes your heart beat fast about serving alongside kids and families. Share stories of how God is changing lives through Christ. Invite your friend to pray with you for new recruits, ask him/her to help you evaluate what you’ve learned recently from your team, and encourage this person to advocate on behalf of the children’s and youth ministries. You need support as a leader, especially when the going gets tough. Include your friend(s) as part of your recruiting strategy to keep discouragement at bay and to help get word out about the need.

4. Party with purpose.

Which do you think brings in more new leaders? Walking through the church lobby with a “Help Wanted” sign or throwing a “Kidmin Celebration” party? If you’ve never tried hosting a recruiting party, it’s an excellent relational lifeline – with a two-fold purpose. First, your current leaders deserve to be recognized for a job well done. This is the main reason for gathering. They serve so selflessly; take time to celebrate their faithfulness. Second, your current leaders have connections with people who might be interested in serving. Throwing a party where you and the team can rub shoulders with potential volunteers is a win-win. You get the opportunity to interact with prospective recruits and they have a chance to see if your team is a good fit. Remember: the primary purpose of the party is to celebrate your leaders…recruiting is an added bonus. If anyone is interested in signing up to serve, set up a time to meet with them the following week to discuss next steps. (Gotta give Pastor Steve Carter credit for this gem!)

What other relational lifelines can you dream up that will help you build a broader recruiting network? We’d love to hear your ideas. Share them in the comments below or Tweet @Awana.