This past weekend I had the privilege of serving as a "Wheaties" adult leader for a weekend retreat ministry called "Teens Encounter Christ."  This student led ministry shows God's love in amazing ways to high school students and challenges them to grow in their faith through talks by students and other well thought out activities. What contributes to the amazing effectiveness of this ministry? The strong administrative backbone behind the scenes. Let me tell you more.

In addition to the adult and student table leaders and prayer team (“Wheaties”), the kitchen team (food) and support team (cleaning) assist with some large group activities but mostly provide background help.  The student workers on these teams are a huge part of the ministry community and they know it.

How do you engage your “support” teams in ministry so they know they are needed, respected, loved, and appreciated? Even though the kitchen and support teams did mostly food and cleaning, they were also connected to the new students as prayer partners, and also led and participated in a major spiritual activity of the weekend.

I wonder how much thought we give to our “support” teams being involved deeply in ministry.  How do you engage your Building and Grounds Team so the experience of caring for the church building provides spiritual development for them as well?  What can you do in addition to starting a meeting with prayer, to engage building, food, and cleaning ministries in the church community? Are you able to encourage spiritual conversations?  Do they feel needed and appreciated and part of the bigger ministry? Are you able to engage them in actual hands on people ministry in addition to their tasks so they also develop community and share God’s love with others?  Let us know how you show God’s love and develop spiritual community with your “behind the scenes” volunteers.