My first breakout, hosted by Brian Vander Ark & Tim Vandlen was about some of the most important and strategic work we’ll do as a leader – duplicating ourselves into others. The fact of the matter is that one day, we will be replaced. One day it’s going to be over for us. It’s like death and taxes. However, there’s two approaches in dealing with this idea of being replaced.

  • We can passively let it happen
  • We can intentionally prepare

Most Children’s and Student workers are focused on what they do. Programs. Worship. Events. Emails. Recruiting. The problem is that most churches are distracted by the urgent and they neglect the important. If we set our sights on the future, what our future needs will be above our current needs, we’ll treat our volunteers differently. Rather than use people, we’ll develop people.

Here are a few ways a church can implement this strategic work of developing people who replace themsleves:

  1. Create the expectation in your volunteer and staff environments. Do this by putting it in everyone’s job descriptions. Do this by modeling it yourself. In addition, create multiple entry points into the ministry.
  2. Mobilize your volunteers to replace themselves. You can only really know 30 people, so it’s essential that you leverage your volunteer’s and their circle of influence. Teach your teams to recruit out of vision, not need. Most importantly, know that leaders aren’t moved by the passionate plea from the stage, they want to be asked. Replacing ourselves is very personal. Entrust this important task to every volunteer to hand select the person who will replace them.
  3. Engage students in serving opportunities as part of their discipleship process. The beauty of this is that students can work out what they’re learning and wrestle with spiritual concepts int he context of serving. However, it’s important to help your adult volunteers know how to work with students. It’s important to give students something significant to do.

It’s time to take a break. It’s time to pause and focus on what’s most important.

Here are some of the resources they recommended: