Archive for enlistment

Enlist Teens to Serve as Class Leaders in Student Classes

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Tuesday, November 1st, 2016

volunteerWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV), Paul encourages Timothy, a young pastor to be strengthened in Christ “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Teens communicate, care, and reach out to teens best. Enlist, train, and mobilize them to carry out the work of the group.

WHAT DO I DO? Take these steps:

  1. ask God to send teen workers (Matthew 9:38),
  2. observe what students are saying and doing,
  3. take students with you (in pairs) for life and group ministry,
  4. ask them questions to reflect upon their experiences,
  5. when you are sure the teen is the one, ask him/her to pray about joining the team to carry out group work,
  6. provide a simple job description and continue to give on-the-job training,
  7. continue to encourage and coach the student, and
  8. encourage the student leader to go through the same steps to enlist an apprentice.

Following these steps will help teens gain confidence and competence so they will say yes to you and God when you ask them to join you. Don’t try to do the work alone. Prayerfully enlist, develop, and mobilize teens into service. Guide them to be fulfilled and fulfulling as they carry out the work of the group!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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Pick up the Training Pace after Enlistment

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Thursday, September 8th, 2016

PaceWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? You asked God to send a leader. You began to look around for the leader God sent. You began observing the life of the leader and spending time with the leader doing life and class ministry together. When you were sure the leader was ready, you asked him/her to join you. When the leader said yes, that is a teachable moment. There is openness to learning and being led. Take advantage of the interest!

WHAT DO I DO? Consider the following:

  • pray for and with the leader,
  • write out a list of the major areas of responsibility,
  • share the list with the leader,
  • work through each item on the list (do them),
  • after carrying out each item on the list, ask questions and debrief the experience,
  • make assignments to the leader, asking him/her to enlist someone to help with each,
  • debrief the assignments, who helped, and how he/she did,
  • listen well, be generous in your affirmation, and offer ideas for next time (when there are areas for improvement),
  • increase the frequency of assignments, and
  • encourage taking initiative to carry out the assigned area of responsibility.

EXAMPLE. For each area of responsibility, the above list will look different. For instance, when training an apprentice teacher, you will focus conversation and practice on teaching, reaching, and caring duties. And you might give them one Sunday per month to teach at first but work toward 3-4 weeks per month before sending them out to teach their own class.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Training
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3 Ways to Get to Know Potential Leaders

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Monday, August 8th, 2016

FishingTogetherWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Too many potential leaders run away scared because we enlist them poorly. After praying for leaders, observe potential leaders and then get to know them before enlisting them. Doing so will produce greater likelihood of enlistment success.

WHAT DO I DO? Consider these 3 ways to get to know a potential leader.

  1. Spend time together. Gather away from class. Visit in the leader’s home or yours. Eat a meal. Talk. Get to know each other. Share your vision and hopes for the class. Ask questions. Be interested. Listen.
  2. Do life together. Go to a ball game. Watch a movie. Take a walk, hike, or run. Take a class together. Meet a need. Serve together. Pray together. Read a book and discuss it. Study a Bible book or passage together. Go fishing. Observe. Share. Learn.
  3. Do Sunday School ministry together. As you get to know the leader, begin to ask him/her to help you with class ministry. Ask for help in making a visit. Don’t assign the visit. Go together. Ask for help in planning a fellowship. Don’t assign a task. Do it together. Ask for help in preparing a lesson. Study and talk together.

When you spend time, do life, and Sunday Sunday School ministry TOGETHER, you will discover evidence of potential leaders’ strengths and attributes for joining you as class leaders. This evidence will come in handy when you ask them to join you. Your prayer and observations can give them courage to say yes.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Prayer
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The Right Way to Ask a Potential Leader to Join You

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 6th, 2016

NeededWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Too often the right people say “no” to us and to God when we enlist them. Sometimes it is our fault. How can we avoid this?

WHAT DO I DO? First, make sure you have prayed (Matthew 9:38) and observed them before asking them. When you are sure this is the one God desires to join you, then ask them this way:

  • set up a face-to-face meeting that won’t be rushed,
  • tell the potential leader you have been praying for someone to help you with ____ and why ____ is important,
  • tell the leader that God has brought him/her to your mind and as a result you began watching what God was up to in his/her life (give examples of what was observed),
  • tell the leader that because what you had observed confirmed that they were the right one, you began spending more time with them (in life and class ministry–remind them of some shared experiences),
  • tell the leader that you are convinced that he/she is the right leader to help you and the class, and
  • ask the leader to pray for up to a week about joining you in this work (set up a time to get back together for an answer).

In my experience, many good leaders will give excuses for not serving if we do not pray and give them evidence of how God is at work in them. Help leaders say “yes” to God by praying, observing, and spending time together before enlisting them.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership
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3 Things to Observe When Enlisting a Leader to Help You

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 4th, 2016

BinocularVisionWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Most teachers can only care well for about 5 people. Often teachers are good at one or two of the following: teaching, member care, and outreach. To care well and grow a class requires teachers to surround themselves with other leaders. But how do I find the right one?

WHAT DO I DO? First, pray and don’t rush! Then determine the greatest need you and the class have. With the specific need in mind, begin to observe these three areas:

  • Testimony. Listen. Listen to what is said about life, God, and the Word. Look for clues about what God is doing in a potential leader’s life. Is spiritual maturity expressed? What do you learn from the potential leader and others about the leader’s character?
  • Interactions. Pay attention to how the potential leader relates to others. Are good people skills used? Is care expressed? Does the leader listen well? Is there a concern for discovering and meeting needs? Are the fruit of the Spirit evident?
  • Opportunities. Do life together. Eat a meal. Go to a game. Make a visit or plan a fellowship together. Make assignments. Talk. Get to know each other. Debrief experiences to gain further insight.

Patiently pray. God will send the laborers (Matthew 9:38). Seek His leadership. Focus on one need. As you pray, observe how God is at work in the potential leader’s life through testimony, interactions, and opportunities. When you are sure of God’s choice, ask the leader to join you!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership
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