Will You Serve with Me?

by Walt Brock

Leaders in ministry will most probably face one major challenge each year—that challenge so critical that they lose sleep while fretting and figuring how to get the help to accomplish the task. How do we recruit the helpers we need for everyday ministry?

Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Although it is tempting to address the congregation because many people get the message at one time, and because the need is often so urgent, resist the temptation to go before the congregation and ask for volunteers. Remember, few will come, and often those who do are not really what you want.

2. Avoid begging for volunteers with a whining complaining or “woe is me” tone in your voice. This is a big-time de-motivator.

3. Do not substitute manipulation for motivation. Manipulation uses guilt (if no one does this, I will have to do it myself), duty (if you don’t help, you are disobeying God’s commands), fear (you will not be accepted if you do not help), or bribery (special rights, privileges, or prizes).

4. Failure to be clear and specific on what is needed and the expected commitment is often perceived as a ploy to pull them into more than they are willing to give at this time. This is very close to advertisers using bait and switch tactics.

Seven Keys to Successfully Asking for Help

1. Pray—This is personal prayer, personally getting on your knees before the Lord and crying out to Him to bless His cause, His ministry, His fields that are white unto harvest. This is realizing you must depend on God for this particular need. No headhunters searching for talent, no announcements for volunteers, no manipulating others through guilt, duty, or obligation—just dependence upon the Lord for not only the physical resources but also the people resources necessary to do His ministry. Two prayer promise passages apply here:

Matthew 9:36–38—Pray and meditate over this passage, invoking the Lord’s compassion (vs. 36), reminding Him that this is His harvest for which you have faithfully sowed and watered the seed of the Word. Now laborers are needed to help with the harvest (vs.37). Ask Him to send His laborers to this, His harvest (vs. 38)!

Matthew 7:7–11—Note that this prayer promise was given shortly before the one in chapter nine. In this passage the Lord is teaching the principle of importune prayer—of continuing to ask in four ways: (1) Ask. Just simply ask. If you do, He will answer and give what you ask for in His will. (2) Seek. More intense than simply asking, this is laboring in prayer, not just sentence prayers here and there. Perhaps it is praying for this need every day in your devotions, fasting, or having extended seasons of prayer for laborers. (3) Knock. We request that He open the door of fellowship (Revelation 3:20). This is the prayer that results in knowing God better, studying the Scriptures to find out how He thinks, acts, and responds to our importune prayers. These are not quick sentence prayers packed onto the end of prayer before one’s meal; they are prayers much like Nehemiah prayed in chapter one of Nehemiah that continued for at least four months. (4) The promise of verse 11is that the Lord will always answer our prayers with whatever He considers “good things,” and sometimes the good thing is to do the job alone. Maybe God is waiting until you are ready to lead others in the proper way, or possibly He is protecting you by not allowing some people to “help” you at this time.

2. Prepare personally—This is the foundational work managers must do so others will be excited about helping. This is not the work of a committee, but rather the work of one called of God to perform a task for Him. The two parts to this key principle have been more extensively covered in other issues of the MIM.

a. Do the management work of planning by developing a clear vision that connects the realities of today with the values of eternity. Share this vision as often as possible—so often that when you start quoting it, the people will finish the quote. It is hard to go overboard with this . . . if it is a good vision
that fits.

b. Personally work hard at achieving the vision you are espousing. Will you “gladly spend and be spent” (2 Corinthians 12:15) for the cause of the vision to reach others for Christ for eternity? Your personal preparation is on display before all those following you, validating your credibility and giving you the right to ask them to get on board. People will seldom follow for very long someone who has a vision but is not working at accomplishing it, nor will they follow for very long someone who is working hard but does not have a clear vision or cause. To find one who has a valid vision and is working hard at it . . . now there is a cause to join!

3. Pray again, both publicly and privately. Ask others to pray with you. This is not a plea for volunteers but a request for prayer partners. Use the same verses (Matthew 7:7–11; 9:36–38) to invoke them in faith to pray diligently for God to send just the ones He would have for the job. Continue to pray privately asking God for wisdom to seek out from among the congregation (Exodus 18:21–22; Acts 6:3) the people He wants to use, train, or prosper through their labor in His harvest field. Ask the Lord for the discernment to choose those He wants (1 Samuel 16:7), for He really does see differently than we do.

4. Ask them personally—Ask potential volunteers when would be a good time for you to have a serious conversation with them (not in the church foyer or hallway between services). Make an appointment, go to their home, meet in your office, or go out to eat. Plan on a long meeting, and do it in person. Phone calls are a last resort (e.g., you are out of town, and the timing is critical). These decisions are almost always made by both husband and wife, so it is best for both to hear the presentation and request. Remember, you are giving them the opportunity to participate in an eternal mission resulting in treasures in heaven and fruit to their account. You are requesting of them a small (or possibly large) expenditure of their time (labor), their talents (skills and abilities), or their treasures (money or other physical resources). What an amazing deal you have for them—to gain what cannot be lost for spending what cannot be kept!

5. Ask them right—Everything you do must say this is an important meeting for them.

a. Start the meeting with prayer and end it with prayer, both times asking the Lord to give both parties wisdom.

b. Present your vision and how they would fit on the team and aid the accomplishment of the mission.

c. Present the opportunity as a challenge, something they have the unique ability to do or something they can grow into. “If anyone can do it,” they may say, “then why not get someone else?”

d. Present the request as a unique opportunity for them to grow in their spiritual gifts and talents as they labor, give, grow, and serve. They will almost always ask for more details, so be ready to explain as specifically as possible. As they probably foresee the challenge and a time of stretching and growing, reassure them of your presence and willingness to train, support, and help them as needed.

e. It is usually good to place a time limit on their commitment. If you ask, “For the next six months will you become a youth sponsor?” Keep your word. If you said six months in your request, give them an out in six months or ask them to re-signup, but don’t let that date go by without addressing it.

f. Within the presentation be sure to go over the following:

1) A list of qualifications for the position. Ask them if they fit the list. This list will give you a basis for a conversation if things don’t go well. Starting with a short-time commitment protects both parties.

2) A list of responsibilities, the resources available, and the decision-making authority involved.

6. Let them decide—Do not act like a high-pressure salesman demanding an immediate answer. Give them time to pray and decide. Make it easy for them to come to you with follow-up questions or issues for discussion. Sometimes it is good at the initial meeting to set a time and date to meet again for further discussion or a decision. Remember the old saying, “Someone convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.” Just before the closing prayer, quote or explain a verse that ties it all together (the vision, the job, today, and eternity), like Romans 12:1–2.

7. Respond correctly when they agree to help.

a. Thank and praise them for their willingness to serve the Lord, and remember . . . this is not service to you, but to the Lord.

b. Be sure to give God the glory for answering the prayers for laborers (Matthew 9:37–38). Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow. This is His work, these are His people, this is His harvest, and although we work, it is all through His power (Colossians 1:28–29).

c. If they say no, try to leave the door open for the future. “Would it be okay for me to ask you again when your health improves, you are placed on a different shift, your kids are finished with little league, etc.

d. Learn how to say no, even to good people, even for a good cause. Say no when

1) they are in danger of burning out from too much work;

2) the safety of the kids or others is at stake (e.g., some bus drivers should not drive, even though they have the license);

3) the spiritual example is poor—limit this person’s participation to the physical aspects and leave the spiritual aspects to those who qualify,
2 Timothy 3 and Titus 1–2 are examples of leadership being required to meet a certain standard;

4) people have a personal agenda to accomplish by helping (e. g. a parent wants to change how you do things, someone has a pet peeve or hobby horse to promote).

A ministry manager must learn that recruiting helpers is part of his responsibility, but he must also learn that God has a role in it too—in fact, the primary responsibility to provide laborers for “His harvest.” A manager learning to do his part well and learning how to let God do His part will always have the helpers God intends for him to have at that time.