The Most Important Part of Recruiting New Leaders

When you're in a rapid growth environment there's always a temptation to fall into panic-driven-recruitment. Panic-driven-recruitment is ugly.  You recognize it when you see a children’s leader accosting people in the foyer to get them to help in the overcrowded nursery.  You see it when the groups pastor is “doing a sell” on a unsuspecting couple telling them how easy it is to host a small group in their home - “there’s nothing to it.”  You see it when the pastor stands on stage and announces the desperate need for volunteers in the student ministry.  We know it isn’t right, but we all have fallen to the temptation. Let’s revisit the passage we looked at yesterday, Luke 10:1-2.  Jesus told his newly enlisted 72 recruits that the vision was huge.  And he told them they were going to need additional leaders.  But notice he says their role in the recruitment process is to “PRAY”, God’s role was to “SEND”.

"Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers."  Luke 10:2

Pay close attention because in that phrase ‘send out” is the most important part of recruiting new leaders.  The Greek word for “send out” is a fascinating word.  It means, “To draw out, to lead one forth or away somewhere with a force which he cannot resist.”  In other words as we pray for new leaders God begins to work on the hearts of people and draw them, compel them, call them into leadership. If we do our part and PRAY, God will do his part and SEND.  I love this because Jesus is teaching us Faith-based-recruitment.  Don’t give in to the panic-driven-recruitment looking for warm bodies to fill positions.  Look for people who are being compelled, moved, drawn, those who are wrestling with God’s calling.  Remember we may be the instrument, but God is the moving force.Are you trusting in the fact that God is working in the hearts of people around you calling them to serve Him?