Enlisting and Training Youth Workers-Part 3

(Part 3 of an article contributed by Chuck Gartman, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX and owner of Go To Youth Ministry, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development.)

The Process of Enlistment

Once the needed Sunday School organization is determined, the Sunday School Director and Youth Division Director work together with the church nominating committee to staff the Youth Sunday School. Worker enlistment calls for clear understanding of the job and its requirements.

Enlisting and Training Youth Workers-Part 2

(Part 2 of an article contributed by Chuck Gartman, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX and owner of Go To Youth Ministry, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development.)

What Workers Are Needed? 

An effective Youth Sunday School organization includes the following positions. (As your read, keep in mind that this is an ideal organization. In your church there may not be a need for every one of these positions; or you may need a combination of these. Fit these positions into your church’s organizational structure in the way that best meets the needs of your youth and youth ministry.)

The Future for Volunteers in Student Ministry

(Contributed by Randy Johnson)

What will be needed by volunteers in student ministry as they seek to impact the lives of students? Here is a list, but I am sure it is not exhaustive. Most of what is offered below is happening now or needs to happen soon for volunteers to be the best they can be. Please consider the following as food for thought.

Enlisting and Training Workers-Part 1 (Chuck Gartman)

(This is the first part of an article submitted by Chuck Gartman, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX and owner of Go To Youth Ministry, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development. Additional excerpts will be uploaded regularly.)

Where Are the Workers? 
If you have served on a church’s nominating committee, you have probably asked yourself this question on many occasions. Keep this principle in mind as you think about locating people to work with your youth in Sunday School: Really good Youth Sunday School takes an investment of time! It is a long process. There are no instant answers or pills that you can swallow to make it easy to find and train the workers. You have to work at it. Following are some ways for you to locate potential workers with youth in Sunday School.

Enlisting & Keeping Volunteers

(Submitted by Randy Johnson)

THREE BASIC CRITERIA... We can train folks to teach or to do other things, but they must have some basic characteristics in order to make training worthwhile. Dr. Charles A. Tidwell has stated that there are three major criteria for Youth Leaders:

1. Are they faithful - to the Lord, to their church, to themselves. True to God’s Word and true to their word. 
2. Are they willing - to love, to serve, to be trained, to prepare, to grow, to cooperate, to pay the price.
3. Are they capable - capable of relating, capable of loving, capable of serving, capable of learning, capable of making commitments? 

SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEERS HAVE… 

1. Genuine love for people - acceptance, genuine friendships and relationships, take the role of a mature adult. 
2. Sense of God's leadership and calling 
3. A growing relationship with God - asked about in recruiting and periodically in the ongoing training 
4. A special patience and flexibility 
5. Time to be available for ministry & preparation 
6. A team player approach 
7. An aptitude for commitment and endurance 
8. Ability to teach and equip youth 

ENLISTING QUALITY YOUTH LEADERS BY...

1. Praying for God’s Guidance and Opportunity. 
2. Keeping, Cultivating, and Updating a List of Potential Workers 
3. Working through the Proper Channels 
4. Public Promotion and/or Survey 
5. Providing Potential Leader Training 
6. Personal Interview with Shared Expectations 

KEEPING QUALITY YOUTH LEADERS BY...
“Treating Them Right”

1. Making Expectations Clear 
2. Asking for a Commitment 
3. Providing Regular Training Opportunities 
4. Encouraging Regular Planning and Evaluation 
5. Providing On-Going Encouragement and Affirmation 
6. Treating Them as a Partner in Ministry 
7. Seeking to Meet Their Needs 

Randy Johnson has 36 years of youth ministry experience in the local church. For the past 26 years he has served as the Student Minister at the First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas. He and his wife, Carol, have two adult daughters.