Tag Archives: Volunteer Recruiting
Requiring parents to serve: Conclusion
Posted on 06. Aug, 2009 by Kenny.
This little series turned out better than I planned. The feedback was incredible with lots of good stuff to think about. The funny thing is that none of this was planned. Coming back from vacation, it’s been a little harder to get back into a blogging routine. My post on Monday was a last minute idea and more of a short and simple post just to get one out on Monday. Funny how your involvement turned this into quite an engaging conversation.
Before all of this started (before I got the email asking for my advice) I found this blog post by Tim Stevens. Tim addresses this very same subject we’ve been discussing all week. If he were a children’s pastor, he suggested that he would get rid of any volunteer who were not passionate about serving kids. He recognized that it would be a dificult time as there wouldn’t be enough people, but you’d have a much more exciting base of bought-in volunteers.
I agree whole heartedly with Tim. There are plenty of parents I don’t want in my children’s program. However, I think there is room for a middle ground. I’m going to actively recruit parents who are willing. Some of those parents will do what is needed of them and then go back to something else. Others may discover a passion they never knew existed.
So in my book, requiring parents to serve is a bad idea, despite the handfull of cool results. As a leader, recruit some willing parents who are interested in joining the team. Oh, and whenever you do come across those “called to kids,” snatch them up before anyone else can get them! 
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Requiring parents to serve: Called to serve?
Posted on 05. Aug, 2009 by Kenny.
I’ve been enjoying the conversations with several people about the subject of requiring parents to serve in the children’s ministry. Several of you all shared your opinions here. I shared my opinion here.
Several of you had some amazing comments. However, one thing I kept hearing over and over again was this idea of calling. Several people said that if a parent isn’t called to be in the room, they shouldn’t be in there. This intrigued me and I knew I wanted to discuss it further.
So, let me set the stage. Let’s take the idea of requiring parents off the table. Let’s also not talk about parents we’d all agree don’t need to be in our classrooms. Do you feel the only person who belongs in a children’s ministry environment is a parent or volunteer who feels called it it? Really?
This afternoon I got this in my facebook inbox in regard to the comments on my first post:
“This “Only Serve Where You are Passionate†band wagon has got to stop.
Our desire for people to be “fulfilled†or more honestly, self-fulfilled, has back fired.
It is a superficial high, it is a false Happy Place.
True serving is a state of heart and mind. Not always warm and fuzzy.
It is often a sacrifice where we truly have to lean on God and go beyond our natural human selves.
Self-fulfillment is not what we should be seeking but is often where we find our greatest passion.”
What do you think about this idea of “called” volunteers? What about this idea of self-fulfilled volunteers? I’m really eager to see what you’re thinking.
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Requiring parents to volunteer: My thoughts
Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by Kenny.
Yesterday I wrote this post about parents being required to volunteer. I asked what you thought about it. More people than I expected responded and it seems that most people were against requiring parents to volunteer.
What I found intriguing was Holly’s comment. They attended a church where serving was required and it eventually led to her and her husband going into Children’s Ministry full time. Surprisingly I’ve actually met a handful of long-term volunteers who came into ministry that way.
My opinion is similar to what many of you said. I worked at a church where my boss highly encouraged me to make this requirement. I respectfully declined and he didn’t press the matter. I remember having the conversation with him asking him if we were going to be the nursery Gestapo. “Am I going to stand in the hallway with my clipboard and deny the nursery to children who’s parents aren’t serving.” It’s a ridiculous image, but I actually think it’s a real issue some ministries face.
I know the situation. You don’t have enough volunteers. The same volunteers you have are overworked and on the verge of quitting. The only sensible option seems to be to require the parents to serve. I believe with all my heart that once this requirement is in place, your ministry will no longer be a culture of growth, excitement and energy. Although you may feel the weight lifted of a quick relief, it’s a system that cannot thrive. It will only continue to exist.
My encouragement to anyone in that position of hopelessness is to not resort to requirements, but dig down deep for a vision, a God-sized vision for what he wants to do in the lives of these children. Vision is contagious. Vision is exciting. People respond to vision. Chances are that the same people who would have reluctantly agreed to serve in the ministry out of requirement would probably respond to your visionary invitation, even if just for a short season. Partner with your lead pastor. Get his help in proclaiming this vision and start moving things forward.
Many of your comments got my mind thinking. I have a post tomorrow questioning some of the things you said. Stay tuned.
BTW, for the Gateway folks who read this blog, don’t worry, we won’t be requiring anyone to serve.
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Requiring parents to volunteer
Posted on 03. Aug, 2009 by Kenny.
While I was on vacation, I got an email from another church asking me the following questions:
1. Do you expect or require parents to volunteer?
2. If so when do you start expecting them (when they become members?
after attending 3 months?)
3. How is it working for you?
I’m going to post my answer tomorrow. Before I do, I’d like to hear what you think. Have you had success with serving requirements?
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My first guest blogger
Posted on 10. Feb, 2009 by Kenny.
Okay, from the day I started this blog, I thought I’d open it up to writers other than myself. I thought that it would make this blog more well rounded and fun. My intern from this past summer will be guest blogging at some time, he’s already promised to write about his experience in Burkina Faso over Thanksgiving.
However, I’m honored to have a very special guest blogger today. I have amazing respect for this person as we’ve been very close friends for over a decade now. I can honestly say that this person’s influence has significantly influenced my career and I’m way better at what I do because of this person. Who is this special blogger?
Sara Conley, my wife. Yes, that’s right. In an hour a posting from my wife will publish on this site. You may be thinking, “Why on earth would you let your wife write on this blog, other than the fact that it’s cute or fun?” Well, there’s something you need to know about my wife. Although she has many passions and many accomplishments, she’s also the best volunteer recruiter I’ve ever known. No joke. Ever sit down in front of the phone with a list of cold “recruiting” calls? Yeah, shoot me now. My wife, she eats it up. Big time. I’m telling you, there is a lot we can all learn from her. So, enjoy her first post on Children’s Minsitry Online.
Oh, and she also has her own blog. It’s about food, travel and family from the perspeciteve of a sothern wanderer.
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Volunteer Video
Posted on 19. Jul, 2008 by Kenny.
So, my team had an interesting idea for a video. We had been talking over the summer about how we continue to get the word out about volunteer opportunities. One day my team sat around and threw out all these ideas for a funny recruitment video. A few weeks later, they put this together. Tell me what you think. We’re pretty sure the opening scene is too long, but the second half is where things get pretty funny/cute. Any thoughts?
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