resources for effective children's ministry
In this issue our Life Line and Teacher Builder sections will basically serve to reinforce each other. As I said in the Teacher Builder section, one of the ways we build our teachers up is to provide training opportunities for them - this is also one of the ways we recruit volunteers - and keep the ones we have! If we are able to offer training to potential volunteers, they are often more willing to consider volunteering as a teacher. Since we already looked at a resources to utilize for training - in this area we will look at some ideas to help with promoting the training session.If your goal is to involve as many of your volunteers as possible in your training session, part of the "battle" is to get their attention and let them know about the training. Remember, some volunteers do not attend training opportunities simply because they didn't realize or remember the training was available.
Ways to get their attention!
- run flyers in the bulletin - yes, many of your volunteers will not read the flyers, but a few will, so they do serve a function!
- mail invitations to each of your volunteers - this will assure most know about the training, but doesn't guarantee they will remember
- hand out balloons in church two weeks before the training with the details written on the balloon - use helium to fill the balloon . . . your volunteers will remember this and others in church will notice as well!
- be sure to make announcements in the church service - again, many will not remember or hear the announcements, but they do serve a function!
- hand out cookies or cupcakes with a note detailing all the specifics - if they eat the goodies, they will get the message!
- enlist the help of a few children and give them signs with the specifics and have them walk down the aisles of the church and stand on the platform briefly and then walk back out of the church - be sure to arrange this with the pastor first!
- ask each volunteer to stand during the church service and have children present them with a flower - attach a note to the flower with the specifics, again, be sure to arrange this with the pastor first!
- arrange to show a video in church of teachers and their classes, set to music - see previous issues for suggestions for songs - and follow up with an announcement about the training opportunity
Once you begin to think about interesting and fun ways to get their attention, you will come up with lots of great ideas, but these are just a few to get you started!
Table of Contents
About The Children's Department - Volume 4, Edition 1 Copyright © Lynda Freeman Last Updated March 12, 2000 Web Page by Lynda Freeman Send an e-mail to Lynda at dfreemansr@earthlink.net