Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter Printer-Friendly

AUGUST 2002

Dear Christian Leader,

Welcome to the first edition of the Pioneer Clubs eNewsletter, where we provide resources to help you build your Pioneer Clubs ministry with:

helpful ministry ideas, tips, and tools

a deeper understanding of today’s kids

We trust you’ll find our list of 20 ideas on recruiting leaders helpful as you begin to plan for another exciting year of Pioneer Clubs.

For even more ideas and the ability to share with other Pioneer Clubs coordinators, visit the Bulletin Board in the Leader Resource Center at www.pioneerclubs.org/lrc.htm. Use the password psalm119:105 (no spaces).

Time-Tested
Recruiting Ideas

1. Pray—pray for the leaders that God would have you put in place in club. Ask potential leaders to pray about serving in club, also.

2. Have a vision statement to inspire and inform potential–and current–leaders. Include Pioneer Clubs’ purpose (given at the beginning of all plan books), your group’s philosophy, and your expectations for club.

3. Ask your leaders to help recruit other leaders or helpers. They may know people they would enjoy working with and who are available.

4. Recruit "helpers" and "volunteers." Sometimes the word "leader" is intimidating. Some people are more comfortable with being a helper and then moving on to being a leader. Veteran leaders can help the helpers gradually learn to prepare and lead various parts of the meeting. Or simply call everyone you recruit a "helper," and let the helpers for each age-group decide how to divide up the leadership tasks.

5. Talk to club members’ parents. They may be interested in helping or know someone who is. Use parents to rotate in as club helpers. Look over the "Parent Helper" boxes in the new Skipper and Scooter curriculum for ideas of how parents can help week to week in those age-groups.

6. Recruit one-on-one, in a relaxed atmosphere. Take the potential leader out for coffee. Have a job description and sample curriculum available for the person to review. Follow up in a few days for an answer.

7. Be positive. Instead of saying, "We’re really desperate for more leaders," try, "We’ve got a great opportunity for you to minister to eager 4- and 5-year-olds and reap a harvest of smiles and hugs every week!"

8. Ask the pastor, Christian education director, and church secretary who would be good to help in club. They have access to new people and people looking for a place to minister. Ask the pastor to help do the interviews.

9. Talk to couples. Husband and wife teams can provide positive role models. And club planning and preparation are easier when both share the responsibility.

10. Don’t forget to check with the youth groups. Teens have an amazing amount of energy, and little ones love interacting with them. (Note: Some school districts require volunteer work as part of graduation requirements.) Use the Assistant Leader in Training material to train teens.

11. Seniors are great assets. They bring wonderful life experiences to club.

12. Check Sunday school lists for former teachers who might be looking for a new challenge.

13. Have potential leaders and helpers observe club meetings. This gives them an idea of what is involved. It is also a good time to begin to train them for the upcoming year. If club isn’t in session, show the Basic Training video (catalog #2777), which covers all the basic elements of the
club program.

14. Look for extra volunteers midyear. You can ask them for a lower commitment level. After having a good club experience, they’ll be ready to consider signing up for the next full year.

15. Invite parents and Pals to club meetings. They can see firsthand how rewarding it is to be with the kids in club. Don’t forget former club members’ parents. A Pal is an adult from the church that is paired with one or more club members for prayer and fellowship. For more information see Making Your Pal Program Work (catalog #2600).

16. Use church bulletin boards to help in recruitment by putting up lots of pictures of club activities and notes of upcoming events. Display the Pioneer Clubs flag (catalog #6702) as a constant reminder of club.

17. Set up a display of club materials, pictures, and personal stories from club leaders, with a drawing for a club shirt for everyone who signs an interest card. Have club leaders wear their club shirts and answer questions. Let current leaders be your best advertisement.

18. Have a recruitment Sunday. Use videos or slides of club activities. Share the recruitment video Sowing Seeds, Reaping Lives (catalog #2775). And use bulletin inserts (catalog #6772) to advertise what is happening in club and the opportunities that are there.

19. Provide training opportunities and resources to build confidence. All of your leaders will benefit from learning more about club and working with children. Some of the many resources available: online training in the leader resource center at www.pioneerclubs.org, Leader Training Outlines (catalog #2754), Group Discipline That Works (catalog #2758), Basic Training video (catalog #2777), Bible Exploration Demonstration video (catalog #2776), and Making Bible Memory Fun training video (catalog #2772).

20. Check the Club Coordinator’s Manual (catalog #2703) for lots more recruitment ideas.

Adapted from "20 Time-Tested Recruitment Ideas" compiled by Wendy Marr; Fall 2001 Perspective®.

Pioneer Clubs Announcements

Club and leader registration forms are due by October 1. Watch your church mailbox in late August for your registration packet. Be sure to complete your registration forms to ensure that your leaders receive full benefits: Perspective magazine, free Pioneer Clubs® eNewsletter, and other leader support resources.

Fall Phonathon: We hope you will "answer our call" during the fall phonathon. We will be calling our Pioneer Clubs friends to thank you for your faithful service and to ask for your continued support on September 16, 17, 26, 28.

New Coordinators: Be sure to check out our Featured Product section for tools that will make your job easier. If you don’t already have a current Club Coordinator’s Manual, order one today.

Place your order for fall curriculum and club resources before August 30 to beat the rush.

Reflections

Children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.

Lady Bird Johnson

Lighter Side

"Daddy, I want to ask you a question," said little Justin after his first day in Sunday school.
"Yes, son, what is It?"

"The teacher was reading the Bible to us-–all about the children of Israel building the temple, the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea, the children of Israel battling the Philistines, the children of Israel making sacrifices. Didn’t the grownups do anything?"

An Encyclopedia of HUMOR, Lowell D. Streiker, 1998