As every new small group season approaches the need for new small group leaders always seems to rise to the surface. Your church may be in a season of growth, you may have had leaders step away, or you may be in the midst of launching a church wide campaign. The fact is, as small group point people we are always in need of new leaders no matter what season your church may be going through.
I know I face this reality on a constant basis. In the right perspective this is a great problem to have. On the other side of the coin, this is a situation that can seem overwhelming, and if you’re not careful it can put you in a frantic tailspin.
Desperation is never the right state or reason to recruit new leaders, in fact strong leaders can smell desperation a mile away and will want nothing to do with your “awesome opportunity of leadership”. I’ve tried to sell this same type of “awesome opportunity of leadership” out of desperation the week before a small group season launch only to find myself with either the wrong type of leaders or no buyers of my poor vision.
Here are 5 ways I have learned, (from experience learning on how not to) on how to recruit new small group leaders:
- Sell The Vision
Proverbs 29:18 is such a solid reminder, “ Where there is no vision, the people perish.” No truer is this verse then when it comes to recruiting new leaders. If the vision for your small group ministry is not compelling or inspiring, neither is the opportunity to lead a group. Also, if you’re trying to sell that vision in a frantic or desperate state, any great leader is not going to buy it.
Frame your vision as a shared vision. Don’t recruit people to be renters, that’s not a leader…instead inspire people to be leaders who are owners.
- Ignite Their Passion
Don’t recruit leaders to simply fill a need, believe me I’ve done this plenty of times and 9 times out of 10 it didn’t last. It may have temporarily met the need but it never lasted the long haul. Raise up leaders who have a passion to lead life changing small groups.
How do you do this?
By simply taking the time to get to know the people you’re asking to lead. Hear their passion and help them live it out!
- Lay Out The Pathway
One question we ask our people at Newbreak Church is, “what’s your next step?” In order for them to have an answer to that question, we have to have a leadership pathway in place for them to take that next step.
Clearly lay out the pathway to leadership and walk alongside people as they take their next steps of faith in their leadership journey.
- Simplify and Clarify
Over the last year as a small group team we have been simplifying our leader training process. Does that mean we have lowered the bar? No, it means that we have cut the fat and focused on the meat. We’ve cut through the complex and focused on clarity.
Give leaders what they need to successfully launch, you can coach them through the rest.
- Celebrate
I can’t stress this step enough…celebrate your current leaders, celebrate your new leaders, celebrate your future leaders! Celebrate what is going on in your small groups and invite people to be a part of the celebration.
The fact is, exciting, inspiring, and celebrated vision sells. It’s what compels people to step out in faith and it’s what drives them to want to be part of your small group ministry.
None of these points are a silver bullet to successful small group leadership recruitment, they are simply 5 easy steps you can implement into your current recruiting process.
