Want your ministry to thrive long after you’re gone? Build a dream team of leaders around you and watch your ministry flourish with or without you. As you recruit, train, coach, release, monitor & nurture your team it is important that you also LEAD and CONNECT them along the way.

1. CONNECT
One of the primary reasons volunteers stay for a long period of time is due to the relationships they develop. So, provide opportunities for your team to connect with each other. Go out to eat, watch a movie, play putt-putt, watch a football game, or go shopping together. Find out activities your team enjoys doing and plan some outings!
2. LEAD
Lead your team. Cast vision, communicate the ministry’s values, and keep the team focused on established goals. Leadership is one of your primary functions, so educate yourself on it as much as possible. Read books, attend conferences, and listen to CD’s on leadership. I recommend any of John Maxwell’s books. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels is one of the best books on church leadership. Willow Creek hosts an annual conference called The Leadership Summit. If you can’t go, buy the CD’s. Be a student of leadership and never forget its importance in your ministry.

So, how do you CONNECT and LEAD your team in today’s busy world? In the past I hosted team meetings once a quarter, which consisted of eating & connecting with one another followed by a discussion on preteen ministry (event planning, vision casting, Q & A, etc). The goal was to simultaneously connect and lead the team. But I felt something was off and couldn’t put my finger on it. The meetings were fun at first but after awhile they became a chore. I’ve discovered there is a better way.

First, be creative and use various forms of media to lead your team. Offer monthly podcasts, post a weekly newsletter on your website or email a monthly newsletter to team members. You can even record yourself, burn it on CD’s, and hand them to your leaders. Use any of these methods to vision cast, train, and communicate important information. Also, look for interactive ways to communicate. Use a discussion board to ask for feedback on an event or weekend service, which allows everyone to participate. These methods are time saving, convenient, and consistent (everyone has access to the same information). Find out which method works best for your team and use it regularly.

When volunteers meet, focus solely on building relationships. Relax and have fun together. Once your team realizes they’re not going to another church meeting, they’ll be relieved. Your percentage of participants will go up and your team will be well connected.

“The team that plays together, stays together.” – Craig Jutila.

Incorporating all the steps to building a dream team will pay off. Be persistent and you will reap the rewards of your hard work. There is no greater satisfaction than developing a winning team who persistently and consistently make a difference in the lives of the next generation.