5 things to consider during recruiting season in student ministry
By Hunter Smith
Student minister, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville
Here we are, winding down the school year, and if you’re like me your mind has started shifting to recruiting leaders for the next school year.
Our student ministries are always better when committed leaders give of their time, abilities and resources to invest in students.
There’s no way we as student ministers could possibly have deep meaningful relationships with all of our students. But if you invite some dedicated leaders to come alongside, it will make a world of difference.
Many suggest students will remain connected to the local church when multiple people are pouring the love of Christ into them.
Having great leaders makes sense on a practical level, but it also reflects how we’ve seen ministry accomplished in Scripture.
Extending the reach
Jesus had His 12 disciples who helped extend His ministerial reach. Jethro pleaded with Moses to find trustworthy, God-fearing men to assist him. David had his mighty men in the cave beside him. Paul had companions to do ministry side-by-side all along his journeys. And if we’re paying attention to these examples, to state the obvious, their missions and ministries flourished.
But where do we find these leaders? And once we find them, how do we enlist them? Here are a few things to consider when recruiting leaders:
- Avoid “Warm Body Syndrome.” You’re better off going alone than having leaders who don’t want to be there.
I would prefer to have one passionate leader with 30 students more than 10 small groups with 10 leaders who are not passionate about the ministry.
There’s a tendency to jump into filling positions rather than waiting to seek out the most effective leaders possible. Our ultimate goal in student ministry is that every student walking through the door knows they are valued and loved by their Creator. That’s a hard message to grasp from the life and lips of less-than-passionate leaders.
- Determine your target audience. Who’s on your radar? Where do you start? I’d advise crafting three lists.
First, ask your students who they would love to see serving in student ministry.
Second, ask current leaders who they think would be effective as leaders.
Third is your “Moby Dick” list. Who’s the one person walking the halls at your church who would make a huge and sudden splash? Who’s the game changer you know would revolutionize and change your ministry? Go for it and ask!
- Start early. What’s the most effective way to avoid “Warm Body Syndrome”?
Begin enlisting your leaders as early as possible. This gives them time to prayerfully consider, weigh their options and give a thoughtful and thought-out response.
- Be clear in expectations. Be totally honest and transparent about tasks, responsibilities and expectations. We don’t like being surprised, and we should not blindside potential leaders. Clearly communicating these expectations allows people to make informed and thought-out decisions.
- Do not take “No” personally. The temptation is to think a “no” is an insult to you, your ministry and your students who mean the absolute world to you. There’s a dangerous and slippery slope if we allow these things to invade our thoughts and opinions of the church body as a whole.
Maximizing gifts
Some people simply might not feel called to serve in student ministry. I’ve had to bring myself to the conclusion that that’s OK.
We want our students belonging and serving in a capacity that maximizes their gifts and abilities. We should want the same for the church as a whole.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article originally appeared at alsbom.org/blog-2 and has been edited for space.
Who is Jesus to you?
Most Americans are sure Jesus was a historical person and an important spiritual figure, but they are more split on what He means to them personally.
Three in 4 U.S. adults (76%) say they believe in the historical existence of Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth, according to an Ipsos survey sponsored by The Episcopal Church.
[When asked] how they would describe their relationship with Jesus, 38% say close and personal, 34% say private, 10% say public, 24% say they have no relationship with Jesus and 8% prefer not to answer. Respondents could select all that apply.
Evangelicals (70%) are most likely to say their relationship is close and personal.
Among Christians, 88% say Jesus is an important figure in their lives, with 68% saying He is very important. Evangelicals (98%) are the most likely to recognize Jesus as important to them personally, with 88% saying He’s very important.
Aaron Earls
“Jesus Who or Jesus Woohoo?”
Lifeway Research
SBC EC will reconsider 2023 location
The 2021 SBC Annual Meeting was the largest crowd we have hosted at an SBC annual meeting in a generation. This June’s meeting in Anaheim is shaping up to draw close to 10,000.
This started in 2018 when more than 9,600 messengers came to Dallas. After adding in guests, exhibitors, credentialed press and others, the official attendance was 16,032.
In 2019, 8,183 messengers and 13,502 total attendees made their way to Birmingham. And 2021 blew past those totals with 15,726 messengers and 21,474 total attendees making Nashville their home for the week.
That leaves us with a major problem for 2023.
When Charlotte, North Carolina, was selected in 2016 as the host city for the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting, the plans allowed for a maximum of 8,000 messengers and guests in the Charlotte Convention Center.
Simply put, Charlotte does not have adequate space to host the SBC Annual Meeting in 2023. Our meeting has grown beyond the city’s capability and usable space.
We began researching options and earnestly praying for an alternative to Charlotte.
In the end, only one city was able to meet our four major needs for 2023: geographic proximity to Southern Baptists, hotel availability, available dates and available space.
That city is New Orleans, Louisiana.
SBC Executive Committee Chairman Rolland Slade has called a special April 28 meeting of the EC in order for members to vote to relocate the 2023 Annual Meeting. This is in accordance with SBC Constitution Article 11.3.
Jonathan Howe
Vice president for communications
SBC Executive Committee
Constantly working from a physical deficit is not a sustainable formula for pastoral ministry.
Scott McConnell
Executive director of Lifeway Research
Southern Baptists should always be ready to evaluate the efficacy and value of our cooperative structures in light of contemporary needs.
Nevertheless, proper organizational change comes from proper understanding of an organization’s history. … When we value our history, retaining core commitments and learning from failures, we gain the tools necessary to truly make the work of our Convention better.
Together with our doctrinal distinctives, cooperation historically has been at the heart of everything that makes the SBC worth preserving, and I firmly believe we should pray and work toward its renewal.
President Adam W. Greenway
Southwestern Seminary
“The biggest thing that we want is for women to be restored to who they were created to be in Christ. We feel like that would have a domino effect,” said Jessica Mathisen, who serves with Christian Women’s Job Corps in Athens, Georgia.
“If the minister is weak in the study, he will be a mouse in the pulpit,” said retired Pastor Al Jackson from Auburn.
“Older church officers today sometimes find it difficult to transfer responsibility to younger men. Churches faced by the necessity of a change of pastors wonder if they can carry on. The devolution of authority from the older to the younger churches is one of the most pressing strategic problems in the missionary enterprise. But God is not limited in His working to those whom we consider indispensable. Often new leadership appears in unexpected places when the need for it arises. The Christian cause is advanced by a varied fellowship of endeavor, not by brilliant individuals working alone. Sometimes the necessity for delegating authority to new and perhaps untried hands results in a deepening and strengthening of that fellowship” (The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 11, Morgan P. Noyes, 548-549).
“Since the church is still under construction with Jesus as the Constructor, we must be careful concerning our criticism of a product in the making,” said Morris Murray Jr.
From the Twitterverse
@ricklance
“I want to be Scripture fed and Spirit led.” —Willie McLaurin, SBC Executive Committee
@DianeLangberg
The most righteous action one can take toward some people is bringing the facts of their lives into the light. It is righteous to expose an abuser. It is unrighteous to cover their crooked deeds. It is righteous to expose a leader’s arrogance — unrighteous to minimize to excuse it.
@daneortlund
The deepest way to know a professing Christian’s actual theology is not to ask them which historic confession they subscribe to but to watch how they treat other people.
@trillianewbell
I’m so grateful that knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior isn’t complicated. We never graduate from the simple truth of the gospel. I’m also glad that we will explore the riches and depths of our great salvation for a lifetime.
@mhenslee
On any given Sunday, you may preach to more folks than last week, fewer folks than last week or just have the same number of folks … but it doesn’t change your job today: proclaim Him! Point whoever comes to Jesus, for He alone can save.
@TAndrewBrown
On Sundays I wake with glorious expectation to meet with the Lord and His redeemed people to gather and tell the story of what is right in the world.
@LysaTerKeurst
Every one of us has something heavy we’re carrying as we walk through our day. And remembering that others have burdens of their own will help us choose to be a little kinder to one another today. Today, we can choose to let compassion rise, grace soften and love lead.
@jordaneasley
“If you are going to live by faith, then expect your faith to be tested. A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.” —Warren W. Wiersbe
@alan_floyd
“You can teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.” —Wayne Cordiero
@pastorjgkell
Expiation: God removes our sin and guilt; Propitiation: God satisfies His wrath; Reconciliation: God makes His enemies His friends; Redemption: God pays the price for our pardon; Resurrection: God brings dead people back to life; Regeneration: God gives us a heart that loves Him.
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