I get asked all the time, “How many full time staff do you have at Brand New Church?” The answer is “very few”! Yes, I would love to have resources to bring on more full time leaders, but I am finding visionary volunteers can do more than we ever thought within the local church framework. Full time ministry is such an incorrect term for “the call” of God, so we get mixed up with vocational and volunteer. An effect church will have both leading their share of life changing ministries and missions.
Last night we had over 340 seventh-twelfth grade students attending with NO FULL TIME STUDENT PASTOR on our roster. We do have two great leaders, Richard Jones and Joe Chapa, that were paid “part time” in 2009, but now receive no pay due to 2009 lay offs. (They are REAL LEADERS…pay was not the object for them and I commend them!)
You too, can lead an effective student ministry with equipped volunteer leaders. Here is what you need:
#1 A large team of recruited adult leaders! (Your student ministry will only be as strong as your adult leaders.)
#2 A point man or woman to lead the games, events, fellowships, calendar etc.
#3 Great communication…I teach our students via satellite to all campuses. Your pastor may not have the time to shuck the corn, but resources abound here. (download a few)
#4 Communicate to students CONSTANTLY via Twitter, Facebook, text and email. (It works!)
#5 Plan ONE BIG EVENT a month and small community opportunities regularly.
#6 Keep your adult leaders involved and in the know.
Let me know if we can serve your church with student ministry vision. You can contact the real leaders on twitter for info Richard Jones @richardjones_ or Joe Chapa @chapabnc or Tony Knight @2knight
Bill (cycleguy) says,
Shannon: almost finished (about 10 more pages) with your book. It is really really good. Wish I had had it back 30 years ago. But I can use it now! I saw how important volunteers were to you as I read it and you have really reinforced that. We are much smaller than you but face the financial crunch as well. The church is in the 2nd poorest county in Indiana. After losing our youth/worship pastor last February, we have had to use more volunteers in both youth and the music area. I love it that they are taking ownership of it! Thanks for sharing your experience.
on 06 May 2010 / 1:04 PM
Matthew Nelson says,
As a worship ministry consultant, I’ve discovered that many church leaders are guilty of epic failure when it comes to recruiting, mentoring and empowering volunteers. I’m always surprised at the number of paid worship volunteers many have on the payroll!
I’m not against having paid staff—but, often having teams mostly composed of paid positions are a sign of an unhealthy attitude. It’s a dynamic that can result in an environment where there is greater focus on performing tasks as opposed to doing ministry.
Part of our responsibility as pastors is in equiping and empowering the body to do ministry. We cheat the body of growth and maturity when we as leaders fail to recruit, mentor and equip the body to do the work of ministry. It’s our responsibility to call the body into deeper levels of service as they grow and understand their role in becoming fully developing followers of CHRIST.
Once the call to service has been embraced by volunteers, casting a clear vision of the work GOD has called us to is key. A clear mission and vision will transform a simple volunteer in to a person who embraces ministry as a calling.
on 06 May 2010 / 2:55 PM
Shannon O'Dell says,
Great word Matthew!!
on 06 May 2010 / 3:28 PM
money says,
2. an idea for a popular tv show that you feel would be searched for on Youtube
on 11 June 2010 / 11:09 PM
Brad Dick says,
This is great. When we came to the church here in Rogers, AR in July 2009, there were no youth, no kids, etc. Well we brought a teen, a preteen, a 8 year old, and a toddler to the mix. WOW, there’s overnight growth. LOL! Anyway, there was no vision here for youth or kids, so my wife and I had to hone in on our children and youth ministry skills and get to work. We too, lead the majority of this area of ministry and are seeing lives changed and reached for Jesus. It takes a little work and lots of prayer but God will bless and the rewards of transformed lives are priceless.
on 25 June 2010 / 8:51 AM