Recruiting Like Jesus
I’ve talked to a lot of people about volunteers and finding help to accomplish the work of the ministry. A lot of times, I hear that no one wants to work. No one has time. There are just not enough people.
Then the inevitable happens. Someone makes a suggestion as to what can be done to get more volunteers.
They say things like:
- “We should make a bulletin announcement.’
- “We need a verbal announcements during regular service.”
- “We just need to require people to help.”
- “If the Pastor would just say something. we would get a lot of people.”
- “Let’s go tell them it’s their duty, then they’ll help!”
Unfortunately the statements made in one through five rarely, if ever work. Sure you might get one that shows up for a week or two then leaves. They hardly ever stick. The only recruitment method that really works is the personal one on one invite.
Here’s the cool thing, Jesus did it.
Don’t believe me? Read Matthew 4:17-25, and John 1:41. Each time Jesus made a personal invitation. He didn't end the Sermon on the Mount with “Hey by the way if you could help pass out the baskets for the offering that would be great.” He didn’t run an ad in the Temple Times for new disciples. Jesus went to where the people are and invited them to join him.
If Jesus did it, then we should too.
But how? We can look at Matthew 4:17-25 and discover just how Jesus did it.
In verse 17, we see that Jesus realized he needed help. If you've been in your ministry for any length of time, you know that you could always use more help. Your volunteers may be saying they need help!
The first step has been taken.
In verse 18, notice that Jesus recruited in ones and twos. He didn't recruit all 12 disciples at once. He went to Peter and Andrew and recruited them. You don’t need to recruit 30 new volunteers at once. You just need to recruit one or two. Then find someone else.
In verse 19 and 21, we see how Jesus asked his disciples to follow him. In fact, he didn’t ask at all. He told them and they followed! Jesus knew these guys were hungry and wanted to do something. He knew them. He went where the people were and learned what they liked and what they didn’t like. He knew their strengths and weaknesses. He knew they could do the work. Jesus selected good hard-working people and asked them to commit.
Finally in John 1:41; 46, Jesus let the disciples recruit others, and that is what we are allowing you to do. Recruiting many times is scary business. We try to push it off on our leaders or pastors, but in fact, it’s everyone’s job. Jesus was not exemplifying recruitment for just pastors. He was doing it for everyone.
So, is there someone you know that’s not doing anything in church right now? Do you think someone would be a valuable asset to the team? Talk to them about it. Tell them the rewards. Tell them they can do it. Connect them to the right people and classes and change their lives forever.
Recruiting can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s follow Jesus example and win some more for the Kingdom. You’ll be glad you did.
