One of the most important aspects of launching a new church or new ministry is the people who you inspire to join your LAUNCH TEAM. If you get gifted, faithful, loyal, inspiring team members to surround you – then everything you do will gain greater speed, depth, and effectiveness. If you do everything alone, or if you surround yourself with people who are more draining that contributing, then you will feel a sense of perpetual exhaustion.
Where do great team members come from?
In a new church or new ministry, there are often zero funds to provide compensation. Those who join your team will know that, in a new situation, the chances of their being a paying job in the future is also unlikely. So where do you get talented people who are willing to work for just opportunity and vision?
1. RAISE THEM
The best team members are people who you have personally won to Christ, mentored, or poured into in the past. They will follow you because they like you, respect you, and feel that you have made an impact on their life. So go back into the reservoir of your past and identify people who might consider joining your team.
2. RESEARCH THEM
This requires the skill of networking. Ask everyone you can think of about people they know of who might be interested in the vision you are pursuing. If you need a worship leader. Ask other skilled worship leaders, professors at a College, youth pastors who might have a young person who has ability. Seek them out one conversation at a time.
3. RECRUIT THEM
This is a bit delicate because the team member you need might currently be serving somewhere else and with someone else. There is a difference between RECRUITMENT and RAIDING someone’s team. It’s ETHICAL PRACTICE to talk to their pastor or employer first and seek their permission to have a conversation with their team member before moving into recruitment mode. Many times, employers are unwilling to allow their staff to even discuss another opportunity. Yet, it is still the right thing to do.
These are moments were we have to trust God and not just operate out of fear which makes us cross these boundaries of respect and sensitivity.
4. RELEASE THEM
This means we pray them in. We ask God to release LABORS into His Harvest Field. Remember that this new church or new ministry is not your idea. Hopefully, this idea started in the heart and mind of God. So agree with God for those He has already ordained to work with you – to be released into the work.
5. RECEIVE THEM
Finally, you need to be prepared for these leaders when they show up. Give them a job description. Explain the goal you have for their role. Meet with them regularly to coach their progress. Invest in their personal development. Celebrate their success. Give them opportunity for new experiences.
When you receive leaders well, and together you succeed – they will often go out and recruit more leaders as well, simply because they become passionate about the friendships, the vision, and the work.
