There is more work to do in your group than you can accomplish alone. Mobilize your group to fulfill the potential of group members and your group!
Why Is This Important?
In a busy week, the teacher must focus on the lesson. That means that reaching and ministering often get neglected–because every week is busy! Teachers need a team because the care ratio is 1:5 (one leader to five members).
In the smallest groups, teachers need outreach leaders and member care leaders. These leaders help groups extend care to prospects and members. For job descriptions, check out Important Sunday School Leader Job Descriptions. As a group grows, the addition of an apprentice teacher, secretary, greeters, and others can help maintain high levels of care and effectiveness.
Enlisting a team also grows them as leaders. A banana left on the counter too long rots. Avoid leader rot by mobilizing them for service in your class.
How Do I Enlist and Mobilize My Team?
The first step is the most critical: pray to the Lord of harvest that He would send workers (Matt 4:19). As you pray daily, begin to observe those in your class. How is God at work in their lives? As God lays someone on your heart, look for ways to spend time together (to get to know him/her better) and ask them to help you with some small tasks related to the role that needs to be filled.
When you are convinced that he/she is the one, tell them that you have been praying and observing. Share what you have seen. Ask them to pray for a few days about “joining you” in carrying out this important work. Follow up. When they accept, continue to coach them. After enlisting the team, meet with them as a team. Pray together. Set goals. Make plans. The job of the team is to get everyone in the group involved in carrying out the work of care.
A final critical step in organizing your group for care is to set aside time during group time each week for your leaders to make/check on assignments and announce plans. Establish a regular time early in your session. Keep the time allotted brief so the focus can remain on Bible teaching/learning. Doing this demonstrates how important this work is to the life of your group.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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Darryl Wilson serves as the Sunday School & Discipleship Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He is the author of Disciple-Making Encounters: Revolutionary Sunday School and the Sunday School Revolutionary blog.
