Archive for the 'Volunteers' Category

Summer Club Giveaway

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on June 1, 2008
in Blog Updates, Blogroll, Communicating, Conflict, Culture, Encouragement, Families, Leadership, News, Random, Technology and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

Same action brings same results… I’ve found out these past 53 years on the earth you can’t keep doing things the same way you have always done them and get different results. For the last 12+ years I have been teaching a monthly audio leadership lesson that I call the children’s ministers leadership club or theClub for short. Every workshop, book chapter, magazine article and blog post I do has come from a club lesson. TheClub has been a blessing to me and the lifeblood of income and support for JWM. They have also blessed a lot of leaders. In January I made the Young Guns Program available to CM Leaders under 30 so they could get theClub lessons free. I’ve had a great response. But I feel led to do something crazy over the next 3 months I’m going to give my June, July, and August club lessons away free to anyone of any age who signs up for my newsletter on jimwideman.com. Call me crazy, call me generous, call me a nice middle age gentleman who looks a little like the guy on the chicken bucket. Hurry and sign up before June 15th so you won’t miss a single lesson. I’m excited to see the growth that will happen when you dare to expand how you think about leadership.

Now…”that’s the way I see it!”

Finding your happy place

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on March 5, 2008
in Communicating, Conflict, Leadership and Volunteers
. 1 Comment

You. You know who you are. The person who sits in coach class and puts your seat allllllll the way back. Hence, the person behind you sits cramped and uncomfortable while you lay in comfort. Yep, you’re a layer-backer.

No one likes the person who puts their seat back like that. Unfortunately, I spent three hours on a plane from Dallas to San Diego this week with a person like that in front of me. That person was more concerned with his comfort than the comfort of those around him.

If, in all your days of reading this blog you haven’t noticed that I like to use random things to make ministry analogies, this is going to be one of those posts. So what does it have to do with children’s ministry? Simple. Many times we, as humans, choose to ignore the comfort of others in favor of what makes us feel better. We come up with this “cool” idea that we are totally sold out to, but our volunteers aren’t. We just insist on pushing through with it, because we’re convinced it’s what we need to do. In the process, we totally alienate all of those around us and end up trying to run our ministries all by ourselves.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back. Let go of your emotional attachment to something and simply look at it through the eyes of another person. There may be this sudden realization that what you are convinced is good, is not really that good.

That’s not to say that you should ignore God’s will for the favor of man. That’s also a dangerous place to be. If you are sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt that what you are doing is right, do it. God will help you with that.

Let people know you really care about what they have to say. Accept input from others. It’ll really help for you to communicate with those you serve and that help you to serve.

Volunteers that stick…part 6

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 13, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 1 Comment

16. Care enough to confront. I realized as a parent I confront my kids because I love them, so if I love my volunteers I’ll confront them when their actions need to change or improve. Confront in kindness always.

17. Ask for ideas and opinions when appropriate. You can give out solutions all by yourself or involve others in the solution process. It’s still your decision but volunteers stay put when they are listened to.

18. Promote and entrust. Turn over more to those with ability. People stay put when you recognize their abilities. Continue reading ‘Volunteers that stick…part 6′

Volunteers that stick…part 5

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 12, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

11. Set goals for growth. Don’t allow people or ministries to stay stagnant or stuck. Help volunteers come up with goals to improve and grow. If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Goals are a good thing but you’ll never know where you are toward reaching them without constant evaluation. Evaluation is usually the missing link and should go hand in hand with goal setting.

12. Communicate on a regular basis. No relationship can exist without communication. Communicate with more than meetings. Use every method possible. Let your workers know what they need to know to excel and they will. Continue reading ‘Volunteers that stick…part 5′

Volunteers that stick…part 4

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 11, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

6. Invest your time in others. The time you spend in others is never wasted. You cannot develop leaders without investing your time in them. Discipleship is taking someone who is Christ like in an area and let their Christ-likeness rub off on others.

7. Believe in them. Give them a chance to do ministry. Let them learn by doing. But Jim, they’re not as good as me, there was a day you were not as good as you but you learned by doing, now it’s time to return the favor.

8 Encourage others. Everyone I know could use a little encouragement. They not only respond well to it but they flourish. Here’s a great habit to develop, catch people doing things right! In fact have your key staff write three thank you notes each week this practice will change your ministry.

9. Be a coach. Coaches motivate, they teach, make corrections, they maintain team spirit, and they point their team to the next level both corporately and individually. Even the greatest athletes in the world have a coach.

10. Ask for commitment. The greater the commitment the sweeter the victory. Every time I’ve asked volunteers for a greater commitment those who rallied and said yes were the best volunteers I ever had. Rotating workers might be a quick fix but it doesn’t produce long time volunteers.

Volunteers that stick…part 3

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 11, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 2 Comments

Once you’ve located them and qualified each candidate here are twenty things I believe you need to do to cultivate volunteers that stick in your ministry.

1.Start volunteers slow, don’t dump them in a class with a Sunday school quarterly and say tag you’re it. If you’re a dumper, word is out on you. Start new recruits out watching and add responsibility slowly. This is also the time to teach them your church’s way of doing things. Train them in your policies and procedures, these should answer the questions: “What do you want me to do, and “How do you want me to do it?” Continue reading ‘Volunteers that stick…part 3′

Volunteers that stick…part 2

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 8, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

You can’t develop people until you locate them. Here’s how I find and identify potential leaders. Get on the offensive. If I want to recruit children’s workers I look for parents who like kids. I’m always on the lookout for people who show interest in their own kids, chances are they’d be willing to help with others’ kids as well.

Encourage your team to recruit others. Jesus allowed his team to recruit two of the twelve. I should have to say this to people in the ministry but be touchable, available, and friendly. I’m on the lookout for potential workers at church, special meetings, Starbucks, Sam’s Club, if fact I’m on the lookout for workers everywhere I go.

Identify giftings you are looking for and be watchful for people who display them. Look for people who vocationally manage people. Look within your organization for people to promote, your answer to your need for workers isn’t always someone from the outside. Pray team members in. Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Be specific- Make a list of what you need and want. If people were no problem where could you use a worker? Make sure you qualify all candidates. I require potential volunteers to complete an application, submit references, allow us to do a criminal background check if they are working with minors, and conduct an interview.

Volunteers that stick…part 1

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on February 7, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 2 Comments

On any given Sunday it can be heard from thousands of pulpits in churches of every size, “We need workers, we need workers, we need workers, we need workers, WE NEED WORKERS!” Wouldn’t it be nice if recruiting workers were like a game of red rover? You remember, “Red rover, red rover, send workers right over!” It’s would be nice if it was that easy. I have had the privilege of working at some wonderful churches of different sizes and the one thing they have all had in common was I was always on the lookout for more workers. The truth is the bigger the vision the more people serving and helping it takes to make that vision reality.

Three Dog Night taught me something valuable years ago “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do!” The ministry was never designed to be done by only a select few. Our mission found in Matthew 28:19 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That’s a big job that calls for great team. Jesus had the Spirit of God without measure the Bible says yet the first thing he did when He started His earthly ministry was to recruit help. If Jesus needed help, you and I need truckloads of it.

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others also.” In this verse we see four groups of people taking the message of the gospel to others. Paul taught Timothy, Timothy taught reliable men, who were to teach others also. In thirty years of building teams of volunteers this is what I’ve realized “People need to be needed more than you and I need the help.” Raising up volunteers that stick is a win, win for the local church and for the individual!

How to spoil those you lead

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on January 1, 2008
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 3 Comments

I love being spoiled. My wife has spoiled me for over 29 years. My daughters have spoiled their Dad all their life, my employees spoil me at the office on a regular basis. Because I like it so much I want to spoil others. A great goal for the New Year is to purpose in your heart to spoil your volunteers outside their classrooms as well as in. You’ve heard me say this before, you gain those you serve. It’s a spiritual law. Christ Jesus came to serve not to be served.

Here’s my Top 10 List for you to stand out in your church as a leader who serves their volunteers:

1. Return all phone calls and answer all emails quickly. It’s hard to believe that this one step will single handily set you apart from most busy leaders in America. It’s also the best way I know to communicate you care about those who serve you.

When you are at your desk answer your phone. If you have voice mail change your message to inform people if you are unable to return their message quickly. Also if your phone is not answered by a live person always leave your extention number. When you’re calling others especially their cell phone find out whether your telephone call is welcome or intrusive. Always ask if it’s a good time to talk

2. Remember to say please and thank you. These two words are still magic words to cause volunteers to feel appreciated. Always write a personal thank-you note for special favors within two days. When you can write a personal note when you sign your name on form letters.

3. Never miss a deadline. If it looks like you’re going to be late, negotiate and change it. If you can’t change it, get some help. Never promise performance unless you can deliver. Always under promise, over deliver.

4. When you communicate in person communicate with eye contact. Always look people in the eye. Call your volunteers by name.

5. Solicit criticism and accept it without being defensive. I constantly ask others how can we improve what we do. Smart leaders listen to their volunteers.

6. Repent quick. Never be afraid of saying “I’m sorry” or I apologize”, Admit any error immediately. Report it to the person who can solve or repair it the fastest

7. Before beginning any discussion, clearly state the purpose, the desired outcome, and the key objective. Before entering a serious negotiation, decide what you are willing to give up.

8. Keep up to date on the latest technologies. Learn as much as you can on new developments. Supply your volunteers with whatever resources, equipment and materials that they need to excel.

9. Raise everyone’s educational and interest level by distributing a timely article or clever quotation. Show your volunteers you really care and buy them a copy of my book “Children’s Ministry Leadership”

10. Don’t plan too many meetings. Use other ways to communicate other than meetings. Desire to be a family church that allows for family time.

Thoughts on communication…

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on December 22, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

In the thirty years I’ve been involved in children’s ministries I’ve noticed there is often a communication problem between church leadership and the children’s ministry. I think the problem exists because we forget that communication is hard work. Take the telephone for instance. We love to use the phone but someone had to do a lot of work for us to take advantage of its usefulness. We forget that for a telephone to work someone had to go in the woods and cut down a tree, drag it out of the woods then they had to cut off the limbs and skin off the bark, then weather treat it and then dig a hole and plant the pole. Then they had to repeat the process a few million times and then connect all the poles with wire. Then they take the connected poles and connect them to your house. That’s a whole lot of work. Communication within your ministry is also hard work. I also think those of us in children’s ministries forget there is one group of children we have to communicate with and three groups of adults we have to work with. We must communicate well with parents. We must communicate well with the workers around us and we must communicate well with the leaders above us. What areas of your ministry do you need to improve on your communication skills?