In Part 1, I began sharing some simple enlistment steps. Fight the pressure to rush. Follow God’s leadership. Start small and do it right. Be persistent, and watch what He does! In Part 2, I will share the third and fourth steps to enlist your class care team.
Ask Potential Team Members, “Will you help me?”
After praying to the Lord of the Harvest that He would send workers (Matthew 9:38), then wait and observe who He sends. When you become convinced through observation and listening that He has sent people needed for your group’s care team, ask them to help you. No, don’t ask them to serve as an apprentice teacher, member care leader, greeter, or other role. Instead, ask them to help you do the work related to the needed role.
For instance, ask for help in preparing a 5-minute report on Pharisees. Or ask them to help you make a visit or to prepare for a fellowship. Watch their interactions. Look for passion and enjoyment. And look for additional opportunities over the following weeks to get even more evidence. These interactions serve to clarify enlistment in two ways:
- further clarify that the individual is the one God has sent and
- develop confidence and competence in the individual that they can do this kind of service.
Invite Class Care Team Members to Serve
After praying and waiting, observing, and asking them to help, set an appointment with them. Sit down with them and describe what you have seen and heard as you prayed and looked for the person God sent in your request for help. Tell them stories of the observations and experiences of the last few weeks or months. Reinforce how you have seen their competence and confidence grow. Help them to understand how they can help you and the group by serving with you in this role. Help them to see how important the work is. Then ask them to pray for a week and give you an answer.
When you follow these four steps, those you enlist will more often be the ones God has sent and will be more likely to say yes to God’s invitation to serve. When they know they will not be serving alone, they will also be less afraid to step up. To learn even more about the impact of care teams, check out chapters 4 and 5 of my book, Caring: Caring for Members and Friends in Sunday School and Bible Study Groups.
How do you need to adjust your enlistment of care team members? Begin by praying and waiting. Observe. Ask them to help. Invite them to serve with you. Make disciples. Be revolutionary!
Photo by Olivia Snow on Unsplash
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