How We Enlisted 7 New Volunteers This Past Week

Do you need more volunteers? Of course you do. Every church in the world needs more volunteers. 

But how do you get them?  What can you do to enlist more people to serve in your ministry? 

I've got some answers for you. The good news is these are steps you can take to enlist more volunteers starting today. 

This past week, the ministry I lead enlisted 7 new volunteers. How did we do it?  Here's what happened.

I went to a hot spot. 

What is a hot spot?  A hot spot is a program, event, class or gathering where people will be there who are prospects to serve in your ministry. 

This particular hot spot was our young adults ministry. They meet on Thursday nights. I went to their meeting and enlisted 5 new people to serve. 

There is a lady who leads the children's ministry at a campus of 12,000 people. I first met her at the church's guest services reception after one of the weekend services.  After the reception, I invited her to see our chlidren's ministry environments. Long story short, she started volunteering then came on staff then was given the opportunity to lead at the largest campus of that ministry. 

Remember this...for most hot spots you are going to need to get outside of your children's ministry area and out in the other events or programs or gatherings. 

Where are the hotspots in your church?  Go there and you can enlist new volunteers for your children's ministry.

We made personal asks.  

This is the best way to add volunteers to your team. 

Personal....1-1 asks. 

This is how Jesus built His team.  He went to the disciples and personally invited them to follow Him.

Will everyone say "yes."  No.  Last night after the service, I personally talked with 3 people about serving with us.  I didn't get any yeses. But that is not going to deter me. I will continue to make personal asks every single week....52 weeks a year.  I have gotten several "yeses" in the past 3 weeks because I ask every single week.  

Here's a big factor when it comes to asking people to serve. Pray for divine appointments. There are people in your ministry that God has already been prodding to serve. Ask Him to lead you to those people.

Here's an example. Two weeks ago, I went into the auditorium and asked God to give me a divine appointment. He directed my attention to a lady who was sitting in the back of the auditorium.  I felt the Holy Spirit say, "there is a divine appointment."

p.s. A great place to meet people you want to ask to serve is in the back of the adult service auditorium. Here you will find some people who are not connected yet and might be looking for ways to get connected. 

I approached her and found out she has been attending our church for a year. She moved here a year ago from California.  I introduced myself, ask her some questions about her family, spiritual journey, etc. 

Then I asked the big question.  I asked her if she were serving anywhere. She replied "no." I shared with her that I was looking for someone to serve in the nursery. Her eyes lit up. She said "yes...I can serve there. I love little ones."  

She is now on our volunteer team. Why?  Because of a personal ask that was a divine appointment.   

93% of people who start volunteering do so because someone personally invited them. 

Make inviting people to serve a top priority on your work calendar. The biggest amount of your time should be spend enlisting and equipping new volunteers.

That's how we enlisted 7 new volunteers this past week. 

Be encouraged. If you are like the majority of churches, you have some gaps on your children's ministry volunteer team.  Don't give up. 

Keep asking people to join your serve team. Week in and week out. Enlisting volunteers is a 52 weeks a year journey. 

As I am typing this out, I am praying for you and your ministry. You got this. God is with you. He told us to ask for laborers for the harvest fields.  May He send people into your ministry even this day. 

p.s. If you haven't read my book "The Formula for Building Great Volunteer Teams" it has lots more ideas and insight on building volunteer teams.  It is available at this link.  

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Top Kids' Streaming Series...Here's What Today's Kids Like

I often talk about how we are missionaries to kids. This means we should understand what kids like and what captures their attention. 

Recently, a report was released that shows the top streaming series that kids like. 

This is valuable data to know. As you read through this, ask yourself these questions...

Why do these series appeal to kids?

What formats are these series using?

What elements do you find in these series that kids like?

How can you bring some of these elements into your teaching series?

These are also great conversation starters. When you talk with kids about these series, it shows that you care enough about them to enter their world. It's helps break down barriers you might face with some kids. 

Take some time to check these out and be familiar with them. 

DISNEY

1. Bluey

2. Spidey and His Amazing Friends

3. Mickey Mouse Playhouse

4.  Phineas and Ferb

5. Puppy Dog Tales

6. Big City Greens

7. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

8. Jessie

9. Super Kitties

10. Wizards of Waverly Place

NETFLIX

1. Cocomelon

2. Gabby's Dollhouse

3. Avatar...the Last Airbender

4. Little Angel

5. Ms. Rachel

6. Peppa Pig

7. Dragons: Race to the Edge

8. Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Car Noir

9. Alvin and the Chipmunks

10. Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

PRIME VIDEO

1. SpongeBob Aquarpants

2. PAW Patrol

3. Peppa Pig

4. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

5. Bubble Guppies

6. Blue's Clues to You

7. Blaze and the Monster Machines

8. Dora the Explorer

9. Dino Dana

10. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

HULU 

1. The Amazing World of Gumball

2. Curious George

3. Gravity Falls

4. Phineas and Ferb

5. Doc McStuffins

6. The Flintstones

7. Yu-Gi-Oh!

8. We Bare Bears

9. Star vs. The Forces of Evil

10. Chowder 

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7 Reasons Why Some of the Kids In Your Ministry Aren't Singing

I have visited a lot of churches over the years and there is something that nearly all children's ministries struggle with. 

Getting kids engaged in worship through singing.  From mega churches to small churches I have seen this play out with very few exceptions.

I am the central children's director at a church with 7 campuses. All of our campuses struggle with this at times and we are looking for ways to do a better job at engaging kids in worship. 

I believe there are specific reasons why some kids don't engage in worship.  Here are 7 of them that I have identified. 

#1 - The songs are too hard or "grown up." 

I often see well meaning churches trying to get kids and parents singing the same worship songs. The thought behind it is valid. We want kids and parents to be on the same page so they can sing the same songs.  

But...many of the songs are too grown up for kids and they seem to disengage when this happens. Just because a worship songs is a fit with adults doesn't mean it is a fit for kids.  Kids are made to move...move...move. They need songs that capture their attention and engages them with movement. 

Doesn't that mean kids can't sing slower, meditative songs? No. But songs should be age-appropriate.   

#2 - Kids...especially pre-teens...are self-conscious.

Often you will see your 4-6th graders standing back and not engaging.  Watching the worship but not getting involved. They don't want to appear "babyish" or "uncool."  They are very conscious of their peers and what they will think if they openly and freely worship. 

#3 - No one is leading them. 

If we expect kids to worship, then we must lead by example. Volunteers should engage in worship. The kids will see this and be more likely to engage in worship.  The good news...volunteers don't have to have the voice of Celine Dion to help lead kids in worship.  It says to make a joyful "noise" to the Lord.  If you are like me, it is definitely a "noise" that comes out. 

The main thing is for volunteers to demonstrate a heart that worships God. Instead of sitting in the back on their cell phone during large group time, they are up with the kids...encouraging them to join them in worship. 

Worship should be lead not only from the front of the room, but also by volunteers who are among the kids.  

#4 - There are too many motions. 

If you are not careful, focusing on the motions more than the words of worship can cause kids to not engage. Should we do motions...of course. But the motions should be there to help kids gain meaning and understanding of the words they are singing. 

Motions should not trump words of worship. Balance is the key for this.  

#5 - You don't have any guys leading. 

This is especially true when it comes to pre-teen boys. If they only see girls...especially younger girls...up front they will usually not engage. 

If you want to engage all the kids in worship, then you need to enlist some high school boys to help lead. 

#6 - You are not targeting the oldest boys in the room.

Aim high. You should be targeting the oldest boys in the room. If you can engage your pre-teen boys, you will engage all of the kids.  "Little kids" look up to the older kids. That's who they want to be like and want to emulate. 

When you don't target the oldest boys in the room and the songs are not age-appropriate for them, they will see your music and worship as too "babyish' for them and they will not engage. This will then affect the entire group of kids. 

#7 - You aren't teaching kids the importance of worship. 

Kids need to understand the "why" of worship. On a regular basis, take some time to explain why we worship God with our voices.  Help them see that worship is not just a fun thing to do, but first and foremost it's a way that we can express our love for God and bring honor to His name and who He is. 

Those are seven reasons why some of the kids in your ministry aren't singing during worship time. I am working on engaging kids more in worship in our ministry. Join me for this mission. It is vitally important as we raise up the next generation of kids who will worship God not only through music but also with all their heart and being. 

p.s. Have you checked out the original worship songs for kids that were written and produced by my friend Travis August?  They are available at this link.  All songs come with worship videos with and without motions.

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5 Things You Should Do For Your Volunteers Every Sunday

The most important part of your children's ministry is your volunteers. 

You don't have a children's ministry without them. 

It's important to take care of them, shepherd them, make them feel appreciated, and invest in them. 

What does that look like practically? Let's talk about 5 things you should do for your volunteers every Sunday.  

Say thank you. 

Walk around and personally say thank you to every volunteer. I use the words "thank you for serving and making a difference."

65% of volunteers say they have never been thanked. Don't be that kind of leader. Regularly thank your volunteers for serving. 

Provide them with a drink and snack. 

One of the best children's ministry leaders I know has a list of her volunteers' favorite snacks and desserts. Every week she makes one of the snacks and brings it for all of her volunteers. Needless to say, they love her.  

Turn the lights on in the rooms and pray over the leader and kids who will be in that room.

Get to church early. Take time to go into every room where the kids and volunteers will be. Turn the light on and pray for them. It means a lot when your volunteers come into their room and the lights are already on and they know it means you stepped into their room to pray for them. 

Have a huddle. 

Meet with your volunteers for a few minutes before they start serving. Encourage them. Share a short devotion or training with them. Pray for them. Share any highlights or announcements they need to know.  

Brag on them.

Look for opportunities to brag on volunteers to parents and people in the church. Anytime the Pastor is around our volunteers, I brag on them to him. This helps volunteers feel appreciated and increases their confidence as a children's ministry volunteer. 

Do these 5 things and your volunteer retention rate will increase.  

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