Why have a co-coordinator? See how it made a difference in one church’s Pioneer Clubs program.
Why recruit a second club coordinator for next year? Why not! Have you ever done anything where having a helper (who isn’t a toddler) hasn’t made the job easier, faster and more fun?
Jesus gave us the example in Mark 6:7 when he sent the disciples out two by two. Applying this to Pioneer Clubs, two coordinators make sense.
A church in Illinois decided to try co-coordinators when their solo coordinator, Jill*, was diagnosed with cancer. With treatment and surgery in her immediate future, Jill’s responsibilities had to be delegated. She realized it was important for someone else to know how to run Pioneer Clubs. It would be better for the church.
Jill’s feelings were confirmed in Exodus 18:17-18. She had been studying Moses while coping with her cancer, and in this passage Moses’ father-in-law says to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people who come to you will only wear you out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” The verses that follow give advice on choosing helpers and the benefits this brings.
So co-coordinators began at Jill’s church, and they began seeing the benefits of sharing the responsibility. After one year of being the new co-coordinator and a second year of sharing responsibilities, Sherry* became the veteran coordinator and began training a new co-coordinator.
Training
With co-coordinators, Sherry said, there are no major leadership changes. There is only one new coordinator at a time, and the experienced coordinator can train the new one. The new coordinator can enjoy the first year without stress, knowing that the veteran coordinator already knows the ropes. A good example of the training that co-coordinating provides is the relationship between Paul and Timothy, which we see developing in Paul’s letters.
Delegating
A key benefit of having co-coordinators is being able to share tasks. Sherry handled:
- recruitment
- supplies
- registration
- attendance
- Pal program
- communication flow
Her co-coordinator handled:
- birthday celebrations
- fundraisers
- ordering awards
- recreation
Shared responsibilities included:
- organizing special events
- planning Pioneer Clubs Sunday
- leading staff meetings
- welcoming parents and kids
Even in their individual duties, they had the comfort of bouncing ideas off each other and helping one another. The rest of the Pioneer Clubs staff could communicate their needs to either coordinator and be confident that the message would get a response.
Flexibility
Life is busy. Kids get sick. Plans fall through. With a co-coordinator, Sherry explained, they could cover for each other. She and her co-coordinator were both able to take a vacation during the Pioneer Clubs season, for instance. Sherry was able to be a leader in her daughter’s Pathfinder Club. That was a real bonus of co-coordinating for her. She couldn’t have done it if she had been coordinating Pioneer Clubs on her own.
Continuity
Often a church’s Pioneer Clubs program can falter when the club coordinator needs to step down. Suddenly there’s no one with the same expertise and dedication to take on the role. With co-coordinators, problem solved! A new person is waiting in the wings, ready to step right in. Especially if the retiring coordinator can remain on call to answer questions, a church can have a seamless transition.
In Mark 6:30, the disciples returned to Jesus, after going out two by two, and reported to Him all they had done. With co-coordinators, think of all you can get done in Pioneer Clubs next year.
* Names have been changed.
