One thing that every children's ministry needs is dedicated volunteers. However, we all struggle with how to get volunteers and how to keep them. This will be part 1 of 2 posts about recruiting and appreicating vo1unteers.
1.Safety First: I know the general idea in most churches is, "I already struggle to get volunteers, why limit my pool?" You do not want the responsibility of finding out after you have allowed them to come into your ministry that there is a safety issue. Before you even begin recruiting, come up with a process to screen your volunteers. Screening should involve a written application (You want a file on each volunteer) with questions that focus on spiritual maturity, experience with children, references, and questions about their criminal record. Too harsh you say? You don't want to be the church accused of having a volunteer molest a child and just hold up your hands and say "I didn't know he had a record!" Leave a paper trail to document that your ministry does everything possible to keep children safe. Background screenings are not overly expensive if you go through Lifeway Christian Resources; they also show parents and volunteers that you are concerned with safety. Interview each potential volunteer to find out where they would best fit in the ministry.
2. What jobs are available? Have some job descriptions for volunteers. This prevents them coming in to be trained and just sitting around. Also, your volunteers will know what is expected of them. Have a variety of job descriptions. This makes it easy for a volunteer to plug in and be comfortable. Maybe Mary isn't comfortable teaching, but she would love to be able to help prepare snacks. Lisa may be a great teacher, but hate cutting things out. James may teach school and only be available during the summer. John can only serve once a month, but Josh is available every Sunday. Make sure your job descriptions are specific.
3. Start with parents. Parents typically enjoy a break from their children, so they may not be willing to serve every week. However, if you can find a job for them every six weeks or so, they will probably love to see what happens in your ministry. (Added bonus, if Mom likes what she sees she will recommend your church to her friends.)
4. Keep an eye out for people who are not currently involved in other parts of the church. Many of these people are just waiting to be asked personally to help in a ministry. (Hint: Don't forget the men in your church!) Many of us complain about the 20/80 rule: 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. Try to discover the gifts of the other 80% of your church! Remember though, not everyone is called to children's ministry. (It's a shock I know!)Don't take a no as personal rejection!
5. Got a new members class? Try to get children's ministry information in their hands. Maybe they will want to plug in. *It is a good idea to not allow new members to serve until they have been members of the church for at least 6 months.
6. Consider asking people to be willing to serve at special events. This gives a new volunteer a chance to experience the ministry without making a big commitment. A good mix of new and experienced volunteers can be a great bonding experience at an event.
7. Give breaks! To prevent burnout, consider giving your regular volunteers a break sometime during the summer. Use school teachers and other people who may not be available during the school year to fill your positions. Most of your volunteers will miss the ministry and will be ready to start back fresh.
8. Don't forget jobs that don't involve children! Maybe you need someone to shop for supplies during the week. Maybe someone needs to prepare snacks. VBS is coming? Have someone be in charge of organizing church members as they save recylced bottles for craft time. These behind the scenes people are a great asset to any children's ministry.
Here are a few suggestions for getting volunteers. Remember, don't just look in your normal pool of volunteers, there may be someone on the outside who is looking for a place to serve.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Easter (and Annie!) is Coming!
As I was wandering through CVS this weekend the message was clear, "Easter is coming". Between Cadbury eggs, white chocolate bunnies, Reeses Eggs, Jelly Beans (my personal favorite!), and egg dying kits the message was clear, Easter is indeed coming. Valentines day has barely passed, but retail is getting ready for their profits. If the retail stores have figured out they have to prepare for the temporal parts of the holiday, shouldn't we already be preparing for Easter?
As churches this gives us the opportunity to share with our children the good news of Christ's birth. It also gives us the opportunity to promote North American Missions with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
As you prepare for Easter, think about the opportunities. What will your church be doing?
First, egg hunts are not a bad thing, but PLEASE don't let your egg hunt be your only Easter focus. Even the youngest kids in your ministry can hear that Jesus rose from the dead!
I can hear you now, thanks Jenn, you just took away my Easter Sunday (or Saturday) idea. On the contrary! I am an advocate for egg hunts, they are fun. Consider using your egg hunt as a time to also present the gospel. Ressurection Eggs are a great way to share the gospel with Egg Hunt attenders. You can decide, do you want to hide the ressurection eggs with the others or keep them to the side...either way, kids love discovering what is inside the egg.
If you want you can buy the eggs ready made, but if you want to save a little money, you can make them yourselves. Just take 12 plastic Easter eggs and put them in a carton. Some people match colors with the eggs, that is okay, but I am just going to tell you what goes in the egg. The verses beside the item are the verses you can use to tell the story.
1. Bread: Matthew 26:26 Jesus gave the disciples bread at the last supper.
2. Coins: Matthew 26:14-15 Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
3. Purple cloth: Mark 15:17 The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus.
4. Thorns (be careful with these, you may want to consider a plastic version): Matthew 27:29 The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
5. Small piece of rope or thick string: Mark 15:15 Barabbas was freed and Jesus was whipped and handed over to be crucified.
6. Cross: John 19:17-18a Jesus was crucified.
7. Nails: Jesus was nailed to the cross
8. Sign: Luke 23:38 A sign was put over Jesus' head saying "This is the King of the Jews.
9. Sponge: Matthew 27:48 A soldier tried to give Jesus a drink on a sponge, but Jesus didn't drink it.
10. Spear: John: 19:34 A soldier stuck his spear in Jesus' side to make sure He was dead.
11. Rock: Matthew 27:59-60 A huge rock was rolled in front of the grave so that nobody could get in.
12. Empty: Matthew 28:6 When Jesus' friends got to the grave, the grave was empty. Jesus had risen!
I realize these items may not be the same as others you have seen before. Some people incorporate cotton to show that Jesus was wrapped up when he was buried.
This is just one idea for Easter, the important thing is presenting the story as a TRUE story!
Now, what can Annie Armstrong possibly have to do with children's ministry?
Annie Armstrong is a missions offering taken up every year to support missions throughout North America (specifically the U.S. and Canada.) It is important for children to learn about missions and missionaries at a very young age. Consider letting your kids know about the Week of Prayer Missionaries (you can find them at www.namb.net) and giving them the opportunity to give to the offering.
The Week of prayer missionaries this year are from Laredo, TX, Nebraska, Georgia, Indiana, Montreal, Canada, Southern California, New Mexico, and Maryland. They work with a variety of people from cowboys, internationals, those who can't read, college students, and a variety of other jobs.
What an opportunity to teach your kids what is happening in missions right here in North America!
I hope that you will consider making this Easter a time for not only fun in your ministry, but also take the opportunity to make this Easter the time of a life changing decision in your children's lives!
As churches this gives us the opportunity to share with our children the good news of Christ's birth. It also gives us the opportunity to promote North American Missions with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
As you prepare for Easter, think about the opportunities. What will your church be doing?
First, egg hunts are not a bad thing, but PLEASE don't let your egg hunt be your only Easter focus. Even the youngest kids in your ministry can hear that Jesus rose from the dead!
I can hear you now, thanks Jenn, you just took away my Easter Sunday (or Saturday) idea. On the contrary! I am an advocate for egg hunts, they are fun. Consider using your egg hunt as a time to also present the gospel. Ressurection Eggs are a great way to share the gospel with Egg Hunt attenders. You can decide, do you want to hide the ressurection eggs with the others or keep them to the side...either way, kids love discovering what is inside the egg.
If you want you can buy the eggs ready made, but if you want to save a little money, you can make them yourselves. Just take 12 plastic Easter eggs and put them in a carton. Some people match colors with the eggs, that is okay, but I am just going to tell you what goes in the egg. The verses beside the item are the verses you can use to tell the story.
1. Bread: Matthew 26:26 Jesus gave the disciples bread at the last supper.
2. Coins: Matthew 26:14-15 Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
3. Purple cloth: Mark 15:17 The soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus.
4. Thorns (be careful with these, you may want to consider a plastic version): Matthew 27:29 The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
5. Small piece of rope or thick string: Mark 15:15 Barabbas was freed and Jesus was whipped and handed over to be crucified.
6. Cross: John 19:17-18a Jesus was crucified.
7. Nails: Jesus was nailed to the cross
8. Sign: Luke 23:38 A sign was put over Jesus' head saying "This is the King of the Jews.
9. Sponge: Matthew 27:48 A soldier tried to give Jesus a drink on a sponge, but Jesus didn't drink it.
10. Spear: John: 19:34 A soldier stuck his spear in Jesus' side to make sure He was dead.
11. Rock: Matthew 27:59-60 A huge rock was rolled in front of the grave so that nobody could get in.
12. Empty: Matthew 28:6 When Jesus' friends got to the grave, the grave was empty. Jesus had risen!
I realize these items may not be the same as others you have seen before. Some people incorporate cotton to show that Jesus was wrapped up when he was buried.
This is just one idea for Easter, the important thing is presenting the story as a TRUE story!
Now, what can Annie Armstrong possibly have to do with children's ministry?
Annie Armstrong is a missions offering taken up every year to support missions throughout North America (specifically the U.S. and Canada.) It is important for children to learn about missions and missionaries at a very young age. Consider letting your kids know about the Week of Prayer Missionaries (you can find them at www.namb.net) and giving them the opportunity to give to the offering.
The Week of prayer missionaries this year are from Laredo, TX, Nebraska, Georgia, Indiana, Montreal, Canada, Southern California, New Mexico, and Maryland. They work with a variety of people from cowboys, internationals, those who can't read, college students, and a variety of other jobs.
What an opportunity to teach your kids what is happening in missions right here in North America!
I hope that you will consider making this Easter a time for not only fun in your ministry, but also take the opportunity to make this Easter the time of a life changing decision in your children's lives!
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