KidMin 2015

Deeper Learning Track: S.E.R.V.E.

Dale Hudson
Session Two EQUIP
Main Learning - Develop strategies, resources, and training
that will equip your volunteers for success. Create initial and
ongoing training in a rhythm that your volunteers will connect
with.
You can design and create, and build the most wonderful
place in the world. But IT TAKES PEOPLE to make the
dream a reality.
Walt Disney
If you dont equip them you wont keep them.
How do we equip the people God sends to us?
11

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors
and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip Gods
people to do his work and build up the church, the body
of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such
unity in our faith and knowledge of Gods Son that we
will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and
complete standard of Christ.
We are called to make disciples. When we equip people to
serve we are helping them become disciples.
Called to give them the equipment the tools, the resources,
the knowledge they need to succeed.
We are helping them grow and mature in their faith.

When equipping you are coming alongside them in their

spiritual journey. You are helping them grow to the next level
spiritually.
Dont just see getting them in a classroom to fill a spot. See
equipping them and helping them become closer followers of
Christ.
What are some of the tools we can give them?
1, Set them up for success.
How you bring them on the team is so important sets the
tone for the rest of their time with you!
Process
-Interest Card
-Application online
-Interview
-Background check
-Orientation
2. Place people in their sweet spot.
Dont place them where you need them. Place them where
they need to be.
May not always be where they think they need to be. Help
guide them.
How to people find their sweet spot
1. Ask them what they are good at.
2. Ask them what they enjoy doing.
3. Ask them what their dream job is at church.
4. Have them take a gift test and personality test.

5. Let them observe several areas if they are undecided.

6. Give them permission to let you know if they are not in
their sweet spot.
7. Check back with them one month after they start
serving to see if they are in their sweet spot. If they are
not, encourage them to try another opportunity.
3. Provide them with a clear job description.
Here are some things to include in job description:
1. overview/purpose of the position
2. who they report to
3. general expectations be on time, let know if going to
be absent, attend training, etc.
4. specific expectations prepare crafts, teach the lesson,
etc.
5. what gifts are needed for the position
6. what the wins are for the position keep simple
4. Resourcing
What tools, skills, and support is needed?
How will you provide these things?
5. Mentoring
90% of what I know is from what Ive observed others doing
Make a list of your Pauls
Place your new leaders with those people
6. On-the-job training

7. On-going training
Establish ongoing training plan:
Frequency?
Create an equip calendar?
What specific areas do they need to be trained in?
What elements will be part of the training?
Factors to Consider
1. Volunteers are busy.
Only going to give you so much time
In todays busy culture, time is such a valuable commodity.
So valuable that most of our volunteers schedules dont
allow them to attend extensive training sessions.
So how can we provide them with quick, personal, training?
We know we are called to equip the saints for the work of the
ministry.
How equip someone who is on the run?
How equip someone who barely gets there on time to serve?
How equip someone whose kids have soccer practice 5
nights a week and games on the other two days?
2. Volunteers are bombarded with information.
Information overload - see 247 images a day makes noise
how do you get your message to rise above the noise?

3. Brief attention spans.

With media overload continuing to amp up, the ability to grab
people's attention and hold it is an increasing challenge.
The attention span may be an endangered species in the
lightning-fast, multimedia society weve become.
New research finds that the average political sound bite
defined as any footage of a candidate speaking
uninterruptedhas dropped to just eight seconds.
To give that information some context, consider that, during
the 1968 presidential election, the average sound bite was a
full 43 seconds.
And as recently as the 1990s, CBS said it wouldnt
broadcast any sound bite under 30 seconds in an effort to
better promote informed, complex discourse.
9 seconds today
According to the Pediatrics medical journal, increased
exposure to television and video games causes noticeable
decreases in attention spans. One study says the average
attention span of university students is 10 minutes.
Equip tips
#1 - Say it short. Complexity is your enemy. If you want
your volunteers to remember something long term, then
make it a simple statement. Effective trainers in todays
culture know how to take complex truths and teach them in
simple statements.

The fewer the words...the bigger the impact.

Here's an example. Finish this sentence.
The Few...the Proud...the ____________.
Melts in your mouth not in _________________
Nikejust________.
The reason you were able to finish the sentence is because
it is in your long term memory. It is in your long term
memory because it's short.
If it were 60 words or a manual, you probably wouldn't
remember it.
2. Keep it short.
3. Show it short.
4. Communicate it short.
Use short methods of communication with parents and
volunteers.
9. Live training
The more convenient it is for people to attend the better your
attendance will be.
-have it when they are already here
-during a service time 100% attendance
-after service time
-pre-service huddles
intentional about components

1. laughter / jokes
2. recognize new volunteer and honor a volunteer
3. 411 Announcements need to knows
4. Teaching time
-practical - grow in their ministry skills
Example...
How to talk to a parent who is really ticked off
Have you ever had a parent in your ministry get mad...I
mean really mad? Most of us have. Sometimes it's
unjustified and unfortunately sometimes it's for a good
reason.
How you respond to an upset parent can make or break the
relationship you have with the family. Here's some practical
steps from Harvard Business Review about being a good
listener when someone is in "spew" mode.
Ask them what they are most frustrated about. Then let
them vent their feelings. As they vent, listen for words that
have a lot of emotion attached to them. Words like "never"
or "didn't" or "screwed up." Listen for words they say with
high inflection.
Ask them to explain more about what they mean by the
word(s) that had a lot of emotion attached to them. This will
help them release their anger even more.
Then ask them what they are most angry about. This
continues to let them release their angry emotions. During
this time, you may feel your own emotions amping up, put
don't give in to the urge to jump into a debate. Listen without

interrupting. Let them have their say and get everything off
their chest.
Next, ask them what they are really worried about. After
they have shared, ask them again to tell you more about
their worry. This will allow you to get to the core of their
emotional wound.
Finally, say, "Now I know why you are so frustrated,
angry, and worried. Since we can't turn time back, let's
put our heads together and come up with a solution."
Just remember, when a parent gets upset, what you tell
them is less important than what you enable them to tell
you. After they share their frustrations, angers, and worries,
then you are ready to move into a healthy conversation and
resolution.
Devotional help them grow in their faith
Motivational grow their passion ah ha moment
5. Care prayer requests / create family atmosphere
6. Prayer time
7. DNA infusion
10. Big Training Events
Someone said the reason people don't attend volunteer
training events is because they have been before.
We all grapple with how to make volunteer training effective.
How can we get people involved? What format should we
use? How often should we hold training?

As I have led volunteer training over the past 23 years, I've

had some trainings that were a success and others that were
a failure, some were home runs and some were strikeouts,
some were memorable and some needed to be forgotten,
some were energizing and some were blah.
Through it all, I have found 7 key elements that make up
effective volunteer training. None of these stand alone. It
takes all 7 to make it rock. Incorporate these into your
training and you will see great results.
Fun.
There should be laughter. Lots of it. This can be done
through funny skits, games, jokes, etc.
Festive.
Make it a party. Decorate. Play music when they are
arriving. Give away door prizes.
Food
Serving food shows you value them. Plus it's hard for
people to focus on training if their stomachs are growling.
Don't forget to feed their children as well if they are on site.
Family Friendly
People are busy. Very busy. Make it easy for them to attend
the training. Instead of asking them to be away from their
family for another night, hold the training when they are
already at church.
If you do have it on a weeknight, be mindful of the time.
People with kids have school the next day. .
Focused.

Be prepared. Know exactly what you are going to cover.

Don't waste their time. Make it worth their while.
Faith Building.
We are called to make disciples. The training should not
only help them grow in their children's ministry skills, but in
their faith as well. One goal of the training should be to
deepen their walk with Christ.
Felt. There should be a moment that is memorable and
leaves a tear in their eyes. An "ah ha" moment. Remind
them of why they serve. Encourage them. Thank them for
the difference they are making. If possible, give them a
small gift to express your appreciation
11. Age specific training.
Smaller trainings done with volunteers who work in age
specific areas.
12. Use Technology to take the training to them