How to Help People See Themselves as Children's Ministry Leaders

My first introduction to the Dwell curriculum came almost ten years ago, not because I found the curriculum and chose to use it, but because my church’s Director of Children’s Ministry found me and chose me to teach. I remember feeling so honored to be asked to serve in such an important way, particularly since in our small church my two primary students were the director’s daughters! 

Years later when I was serving as a Dwell coordinator, I realized what all must have gone in to that decision to ask. Even in my most desperate recruiting moments, I didn’t just want any warm body to lead Dwell. I wanted the right people to step into the role. 

One of the most successful methods I found for recruiting was making an in-person announcement during our church’s sharing time. This served as a starting point to gauge interest and then I followed up by talking with specific individuals who fit the needs of our program. Here’s a quick script you could use for a church announcement:

Have you ever thought of yourself as a Sunday school leader? Maybe you’re wondering if you have what it takes. Well, you don’t need to be ordained, be a professional teacher, or know everything there is to know about the Bible to serve in this way. But God might be calling you to this ministry if you have the following qualities:

• A heart for nurturing kids’ faith. We’re looking for leaders who love to listen to kids. Our goal is to create an environment where kids can ask questions, wonder about God, and discover something new. You don’t need to have all the answers to these questions, you just need to be willing to listen.
• A desire to make God’s story personal. Our Dwell curriculum helps our leaders in this, equipping them to go beyond just telling God’s story so that they might live into God’s story, relating it to their own lives.
• A love of learning. You'll learn right alongside the kids in your class as together you discover more about God's love for us. Plus there are plenty of leader tips and training resources available on the Dwell website and in the curriculum itself.

After sharing these things, I would recommend having a current leader share what she loves about teaching Dwell. Then close the time by inviting anyone who felt God nudging their heart to contact you for more information.

You can also use the above bullet points in individual asks. Look for individuals in your church who seem to embody these three qualities, ask them to serve, sharing with them what qualities you saw in them when you decided to ask. Or take the text above and place it in a church email or newsletter.

Be sure to join our Dwell Leaders Facebook group to connect with other Dwell coordinators and teachers and learn how they recruit Dwell leaders.

Some of this post was adapted from the Dwell Planning Guide, a helpful resource for Dwell children's ministry coordinators.