Children’s Ministry leaders across the country are experiencing the annual “August panic.”. It goes something like this: “Sunday School starts up again in three weeks and we don’t have enough teachers! Eeeeks, what will we do?”
The more complete answer to that question is best sought months before the need, and we will look at those factors to consider in future blogs. But in the meantime, since the clock is ticking, let’s explore some resourceful approaches to finding teachers and helpers yet this fall.
- Ask people who enjoyed serving in Vacation Bible School if they would help once or twice a month (or more!) in Sunday School.
- Locate the names of people who took a break from serving last year and invite them to consider returning to the ministry (even as a sub).
- Ask the church secretary for a list of members or regular attendees committed to your church who are not currently volunteering. Call them and invite them to help. A 10 percent affirmative response may not sound like much return for your time, but you would be further ahead than when you started!
- Ask the secretary to give you a list of “grandma- types” who might consider rocking babies in the nursery. Maybe they miss their out-of-town grandchildren and would be glad to assist.
- Invite parents whose children have a hard time separating from them to be helpers. Start small and ask for short increments of time.
- Approach individuals who you observe positively engaging with children of their own or of others. Tell them what you’ve noticed about how they relate with children and express your need for people with those qualities to get involved in Sunday School.
- Speak to Bible classes or any other church groups you can think of. Tell them positive things about your ministry and how they can make a meaningful impact on the faith lives of children. Ask them to pray for your ministry.
- Tell the high school students about opportunities that could fulfill their need for service hours for school.
- Challenge each person currently serving to find another individual they can tutor to do the same thing they are doing. Replication is great on-the-job- training.
If (and when) your staff is complete, here are a few ideas to consider to find additional personnel that could serve in the future. After all, life brings changes, and a vacancy is sure to emerge. And if God brings more children into your midst, you need to be ready to warmly receive them.
- After a one-time special event such as a harvest festival or family Christmas party, ask volunteers who displayed the traits you need to help again. Tell them what you admired about their work.
- Keep updating your “potential staff” list. For example, if a young mom mentions that she would be in a better position to help when her three-year-old goes to kindergarten, jot that down and call her in two years.
- Hold a Parent Open House to acquaint parents with your program. Invite those who especially enjoy themselves to sub occasionally. Some people are reluctant to help because they fear not knowing what to do.
- Host a tour on a Sunday morning for anyone interested in hearing more about Children’s Ministry. Be prepared to tell any guests about all the serving possibilities, not just teaching roles. Ask them to pray about helping, and tell them you will contact them again in a week.
- Create an annual spring “enlistment campaign” for summer VBS and fall Sunday School. Choose a theme and give creative appeals in the worship services. Prepare handouts or bulletin inserts. Be sure to follow up on all leads. There’s nothing that discourages volunteerism more than not returning calls to prospects.
- Work with other ministries to host a fall or January ministry fair. Set up a display to publicize Children’s Ministry and pass out information and free giveaways.
Yes, enlisting is a year-‘round task. People’s circumstances and church needs always change. Be on the lookout to help people find meaningful service that will make an eternal difference in the lives of children. What an opportunity for you!