Lesson 97

OVERSEER COURSE LESSON NINTY-SEVEN
TOOL BOX FOR THE GENERAL OVERSEER AND

HIS MINISTERS
MODULE EIGHT
How to enlist volunteer workers
Henry Epps
HARVEST LIFE founder
GLOBAL NETWORK
Overseer Course Lesson 97
Lesson Ninety-Seven
How to enlist volunteer workers
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA
How to Enlist Volunteer Workers for Your Church

In most churches, enlisting workers (especially Sunday School teachers) is one of the most dreaded
tasks. Pastors and nominating committees approach enlistment with the mind-set that people really
don't want to do these things and we must talk them into teaching these classes.
I am convinced that your church can find every worker God has for you if you follow these 10
simple steps in enlistment. If you take shortcuts along the way or skip some steps, the guarantee is
null and void.
1. Pray.— In Matthew 9:38, Jesus said, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send
forth labourers into his harvest." That prayer at the beginning of the nominating committee meeting
is nice, but it's not enough. Ask each member of the nominating team to take a portion of the
positions to be filled and pray each day for a week. Ask God to show you the one person in the
church He would have teach the class. Yes, even pray about the teachers who have been teaching
the same class for 20 years. It will be a blessing to go to them and ask them to teach again with
confidence that God has confirmed their being in that position.
2. Make a list of needed workers.— Include every position to be filled.
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3. Make a list of potential workers.— Include every church member who is capable of serving and
acceptable to the church. Many nominating teams say no for people. Someone suggests a person,
and another member of the team says: "He won't do it. We asked him last year, and he turned us
down." Don't do that! You don't know what God may do in their lives. Your job is to pray and
contact the person God leads you to contact.
4. Make a list of training opportunities.— Include the following.
National training opportunities (Glorieta and Ridgecrest).
Training offered by your state convention.
Training offered by your association.
At least one training event offered at your local church.
Individual training opportunities designed for self-study.
Include dates and times for each. Don't take a shortcut here! Put these training opportunities on
paper.
5. Pray again.— Ask God to lead you to the one person in all the church to teach this class or
accept this ministry position.
6. Decide on one person.— Often the nominating committee prays for the leadership of God,
decides on a person to contact, and then decides on a backup, just in case the answer is no. Think
about that practice. Why do we need a backup? The only reason is we started the process too late,
and we don't have time to pray again. Decide on one person. If he or she says no, pray again, "Lord,
who is the one person in our church you would have teach this class?"
7. Make an appointment.— This is important. Make a commitment that no one will be enlisted in
the hallway or on the parking lot. When we enlist without an appointment, we are saying: "This
ministry isn't very important. I didn't even take time to arrange a time and place where we could
discuss it." Consider meeting at the church in the room where he or she would teach or minister.
8. Make an enlistment contact.— Tell prospective workers about your prayer and that you feel
God has led you to invite them to accept this ministry. Take the teaching materials with you and
walk through preparation of a lesson. Don't take a shortcut here! Ask them to pray.
9. Contact potential workers for their reply.— Give them a week to pray. This contact can be made
by phone.
10. Follow up.— Invite workers to sit in on a class similar to the one they will be leading. Check
with the worker after a month to see how things are going. Make sure those training events really
happen.
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How to Motivate Volunteer Workers
The work of the church would be impossible without volunteers. Yet serving as a volunteer in the
church can be discouraging at times. What can we, as leaders, do to motivate them?
Effective leaders are motivators. Here are a few tips to help you motivate the volunteer workers in
your church.
Guide Leaders to Understand the Mission of the Church
If the church has purpose or vision statements, these will help. In addition, people need to hear the
pastor reinforce the mission from the pulpit. They also need to see the mission statement
interpreted in print. Plan the ministries and activities of the church in accordance with the mission
statement.
Reinforce a compelling vision for the future.
Focus on the future rather than the past.
Enlist Workers Who Have a Heart for God and for People
Use a spiritual gifts inventory, and guide workers to grow in their areas of giftedness.
Delegate Responsibility and Expect Accountability
Help workers understand the meaning of their job description. Assist workers in becoming more
competent in their work.
Create an Atmosphere in Which Service Is Seen as Valuable and Significant
Sensitize church leaders to the time constraints of volunteers. Generate a feeling of excitement
about what God is doing in and through the church fellowship.
Guide Leaders in Their Ability to Accept, Attract, Reach, and Assimilate New People
Continually adding new people will add excitement to your organization. And adding new people
will also ensure that new workers are available for training, and then they are available to begin
their work and ministry in leadership roles.
Help Volunteers Increase Their Willingness to Accept and Deal Positively with Change
Change happens. Often change is good. Even small changes can add energy to a program. If you
listen to your workers, get their input for change, and try to offer options whenever possible, most
of the time workers will be more receptive to change.
Keep Volunteers from Taking on Too Much Responsibility
Monitor what leaders are doing. Be sensitive to signs of burnout. Provide enrichment training,
renewal opportunities, and encouragement.
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Provide Reinforcement and Affirmation Through Meaningful Celebrations
Recognize workers before the people they serve. Recognize leaders on Worker Appreciation Day.
Be alert to opportunities to express appreciation and commendation.
How to Conduct a Worker Commitment Service
Conduct a worker commitment service.
Lead workers to feel that they are a vital part of a significant mission.
Provide each worker with a vision of the mission of the church.
Recognize all workers and their leadership positions.
Develop unity among the workers.
Encourage workers as the church body commits to pray for them as they seek to carry out their
responsibilities.
Bring about a deeper commitment among the church family as members become more educated
about the work of the church.
Consider elements that contribute to an effective commitment service.
Worship leaders.— The worship leaders should include the pastor, music director, and minister of
education (if the church has one).
Welcome.— This part of the service indicates the reason for this service. Ask the minister of
education or chairman of deacons to lead this part of the worship and to include a brief explanation
and welcome to guests.
Music.— Select a theme song or a familiar hymn that can be used throughout the year. Then,
anytime it is sung, it can serve as a reminder to church leaders of the focus for the year, and
encourage them in their work.
Prayer of commitment.— Consider having all workers come to the commitment, asking God for
His direction and committing the leaders to a year of ministry.
Responsive reading.—For the workers, pastor, and members to read responsively is an excellent
way to provide focus and unity for workers and members. Select key passages that remind readers
of their responsibilities.
Worker Commitment Service
Welcome
Theme Song
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Prayer
Special Music
Message by Pastor
Commissioning and Response of Workers:

Pastor: God in His wisdom gave each one of us gifts to carry on His work. "It was He who gave
some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"
(Eph. 4:11-12, NIV).
Workers: We thank God for the gifts He has given us.
Pastor: Our community offers untold opportunities to share the gospel of Christ, to reach out to
each person in love, and to share the message, "that God was reconciling the world to himself in
Christ, not counting men's sins against them. An he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:19, NIV).
Workers: We thank God for the message of salvation found in Jesus Christ and for the opportunity
to share it.
Pastor: The bible is the inspired Word of God and our guide for living. "All Scripture is God-
breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, NIV).
Workers: We thank God for His Holy Word.
Pastor: As leaders in our church, you have a sacred responsibility to reach, teach, equip, and
minister to those assigned to you in whatever role you have. Whatever your responsibility, it is a
sacred trust from God. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2, NIV).
Workers: We recognize our great responsibility and commit ourselves to be faithful in it.
Prayer of Commitment by Pastor
Depart to Serve

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OVERSEER COURSE LESSON NINTY-SEVEN

TOOL BOX FOR THE GENERAL OVERSEER AND

How to enlist volunteer workers

HARVEST LIFE founder

How to enlist volunteer workers

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

How to Enlist Volunteer Workers for Your Church

Commissioning and Response of Workers:

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