Ministry Focus & Equipping | Christian Ministry Training Blog

Teacher Training Means Need to be Challenging

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Teachers Need to be Challenged in Teacher Training
Having worked in church positions responsible for training teachers, I know how easy it is to get into a rut. Contributing factors include:

convention – what we’ve always done
comfort – what fits my learning style or personality
convenience – what fits my busy schedule

To keep from getting into, or staying in, a teacher training rut, I needed to constantly put myself in places where I would be challenged — getting into God’s Word and letting His Spirit prod me, reading books, attending training sessions myself, networking with others, finding a prayer partner, taking time to listen to the teachers, etc.

Challenged in Means of Providing Bible Teachers Training

As I allowed myself to be stretched, I was in a better position to equip others. I learned that:

One size does not fit all. Doing training the same way it’s always been done is bound to miss meeting the true needs of the teachers. Cookie cutter approaches do little to tailor training to them, thus missing true needs.

It is not all about me. Each person on the teaching staff also had their own preferred ways of learning due to learning styles and personalities.

Some things are worth the extra time and effort. Having well-equipped teachers makes such a difference for eternity as they more effectively invest into the lives of their students.

Out of these challenges comes the need for variety in how teacher training is done.

Learn more at TrainBibleTeachers.com: Means of Teacher Training

Teacher Training: You Need Resources

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Teacher Training Resources As communicated in a previous post about having a teacher training plan, I have worked full-time as a Director of Christian Education and have also volunteered through the years in various leadership roles in Sunday School, VBS, and more.

One of the biggest drawbacks I found was knowing where to find training resources. The Internet was not readily accessible through the earlier years of my church work. We did have a local Christian bookstore so that helped somewhat.

Now, however, if you are reading this post, you, like me, have instant access to a wealth of information through the web. Still, however, Christian teacher training is not always easy to find, especially on specific topics or formats. And, a lot of time can be consumed searching.

Finding Resources to Help with Bible Teachers Training

The MinTools.com site has always included a fair amount of helps for those involved in a teaching ministry. In addition to equipping articles, you’ll also find a teaching resources page.

In time I sensed an even greater need so TrainBibleTeachers.com was developed as a teacher training division of Ministry Tools Resource Center. What began as primarily a membership based site has now opened lists of training resources to the world. Having worked in a church, and knowing what it can be like to find resources, my heart’s desire is to see more churches develop a teacher training plan tailored to teacher needs which takes resources.

Check out the resource pages for various training topics at TrainBibleTeachers.com. You’ll find help with age level characteristics, issues teachers might have in teaching, tips for teaching specific topics, as well as skills teachers need. Go To: Teacher Training Resources

Teacher Training: You Need a Plan

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Teacher Training Plan I’ve worked full-time in a church as a Director of Christian Education. I know the many details to which someone in this position must attend. I served as a volunteer leader of Sunday School and have directed Vacation Bible School. I know what it is like to juggle work and family responsibilities with all there is to do in directing a Sunday School program or VBS.

Out of that background, of having served in the educational ministry of a church in both paid and volunteer positions, I have drawn this conclusion about teacher training: You need a plan!

Why You Need a Plan for Teacher Training

Both full-time staff and volunteer leaders are busy. Other week to week responsibilities can quickly consume your time, etching out a long-range effort of equipping teachers. Developing a plan will put teacher training on your schedule of important tasks not to be overlooked.

The people you recruit are at varying places in Bible knowledge, teaching experience, and skills that need to be honed. Because you are so busy, it is all too easy to settle for a one-size-fits all approach to teacher training. Developing a plan will increase the likelihood of providing training tailored to individual teachers.

The people you recruit are also busy. To include training into their hectic schedules, they need sufficiently advanced notice of these expectations and they need to feel it is worth their time. Developing a training plan will communicate the worth you place on equipping and will enable you to avoid last minute notifications. You will be able to share training opportunities when recruiting so people know what to expect.

Learn more at TrainBibleTeacher.com: Teacher Training Plan

More Help with Bible Teachers Training

Click on the links below to posts that address more Teacher Training Needs:

Also get help in this resource: Teacher Training Module (The module, which can be ordered separately, is part of the Christian Education Files resource.)

Ministry Fairs Ideas – What to Include

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

Ministry Fairs usually consist of display booths, tables, or stations in a large room or different rooms to showcase the various church ministries and present opportunities for serving within them as well as a general representation of the church’s ministry philosophy. Perhaps you need some ministry fairs ideas.

Ideas for what to include in a ministry fair:

Here are nine ministry fairs ideas for how to showcase ministry opportunities in a variety of ways:

People – greeters to welcome and guide people on where to go; ministry leaders and workers in the various ministries who are available to chat and answer questions

Pictures – still pictures of the ministry, current workers, resources used in the ministry (collage, posters, display board, flip through album on the table, appreciation wall of current workers)

Play – hands-on, interactive, and fun ways of learning about the ministries (trivia and other types of games – especially good to keep children engaged but adults often enjoy them too, door prizes, festive decor, music, crafts for kids, puppets or dressed up characters that mingle, etc.)

Prayer – availability of a place and/or people to pray about how God might want them involved and/or to pray for the different ministries; take-home cards/sheets with prayer requests from the various ministries

Printed – information about the ministry (info cards, fact sheets, handouts, brochures, flyers that include a contact person), ministry descriptions, contact cards for follow-up

Projected – PowerPoint presentation about the ministry or a video of the ministry in progress (project on wall, screen, TV, computer)

Program – short opening or closing program, mini-workshops put on by various ministries, brief skit

Props – show real or symbolic representations of that which pertains to the ministry; curriculum or other resources used in the ministry

Provisions – promotional items, refreshments, beverages (available at display tables or a cafe set-up)

What you do should grow out of your purpose in having a ministry fair and a good deal of planning the best way to go about it.

For suggestions of gifts used in different ministries, check out this resources: Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use

Ministry Fairs Planning – How to Plan Them

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 2 Comments ↓

If you are going to do it, do it well. People need to see that serving in the church is something honorable and something about which to get excited. Presentation communicates worth so do it well. Your ministry fairs planning efforts matter.

A ministry fair doesn’t have to be big. Just take your ideas for it and do whatever you do, well. If you only set up a table or two then that table or two must well represent.

Elements to Include in Ministry Fairs Planning

Carefully consider the suggestions in the following elements of your ministry fairs planning efforts so you do whatever you do, well:

Planning Team:

Involve representatives from the various ministries, preferably ministry leaders. Their involvement will help bring coordination, ownership, and hence a greater cooperation.
Assign responsibilities based on gifting and interests.

Planning Process:

Pray throughout the entire process. Consider recruiting a prayer team. As in anything you plan, you must trust God from start to finish to guide and use it to His glory.
After a time of prayer for God’s guidance, begin with a season of brainstorming regarding the theme of the ministry fair and then the various aspects of the fair. You do not have to be locked in to the way you have done it before or have seen others do it. Brainstorming ideas will help you get beyond tradition to what will work best for your current situation and people.
After more prayer, evaluate the ideas in light of their feasibility and usefulness toward achieving your goals, staying open to God should He want to stretch you, and then choose the best approach.

Planning Calendar:

Strategically plan the date. Schedule it a year in advance to avoid conflicts with other church events. The date of the fair should benefit the recruitment process but provide sufficient time to recruit without putting pressure on people to make immediate decisions. Recruitment should be an on-going process and not a one shot effort.
Strategically plan the time to have it on that date. Will you piggyback on times people are already there? Will people come early, stay late, or can it be a part of the normally scheduled meeting/program?
Strategically plan what should precede the fair (i.e., teaching or preaching series).
Strategically plan when to implement details and who will be responsible … a timeline for when tasks must be completed.

Planning Budget:

Talk with your church’s leadership to learn how much money can be designated for it.
Brainstorm ideas for how to do the fair first and then allocate funds to the various expenses. Guard against boxing yourself in by funding.
Look for alternative ways of securing funds or resources needed if the budget is not sufficient or non-existent.

Planning Agenda:

Pick a theme that will be used in promotion, decoration, on handouts, nametags, etc. — A theme is what will distinguish one fair from another and help build excitement for yet another ministry fair.
Choose the best location based on the number of people expected to attend, how you need to set up, where people can easily be directed to it. Use maps, signage, and greeters to guide people.
Determine how to decorate to help build atmosphere but also provide logistical attention to flow. Decorations should be bright, cheery, and geared around the theme.
Decide if you will have refreshments and what they should be or other fun events to peak interest (door prizes, games, etc.).
Begin promotion of the ministry fair early enough, often enough, and in a variety of creative ways to build interest.
Make sure ministry descriptions are up-to-date for all positions, or develop them if not currently available.
Have a plan for how to help people know if their spiritual gifting fits a position. (class/testing prior to or perhaps a means of testing at the fair and also a means of listing spiritual gifts used to accomplish the various ministries)
Plan how to best facilitate people making connections. (i.e., name tags for ministry leaders or better yet, for everyone; those whose primary responsibility is to greet people and guide them to find whom/what they need; way for people leave contact info that guards privacy – i.e., box to put interest card into or immediately enter into a computer database)
Set up a strategy for following up potential recruits. Initial follow-up should happen soon after the fair. Do not wait until the interest wanes.
Determine how you will thank ministry leaders & other who helped plan and set up the ministry fair.
Build in a time of evaluation after the fair … not just how well the fair went at the time but also the results it engendered in terms of connections and recruitment.

If you are going to do a ministry fair, do it well. Adequately plan so it communicates the value in serving an Almighty God.

More: Recruiting Volunteers for Christian Ministries

For suggestions of gifts used in different ministries, check out this resources: Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use

Ministry Fairs: Goals – Why Have Them

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

“Other churches are doing it. Maybe we should too.” — If that is your reason for having ministry fairs, you could be headed for some disappointment.

Before planning a ministry fair, or deciding to have one, first determine your goals. What are you hoping to accomplish by having a ministry fair? Good reasons do exist for having a ministry fair.

Once you know what you hope to accomplish, then make sure your planning works toward those goals. Always keep the goals in view.

Possible Goals for Having Ministry Fairs

Here are some example goals and the implications of those goals for having ministry fairs:

1) To get people excited about serving

Then you better use it to celebrate and show how much you value the various servants in your church already serving. (special recognition, certificates, appreciation gifts, etc.)
Then you better use it to communicate and show how much you value the different ministries in your church.
Then you better use it to challenge and show how much you value the prospects’ contribution.

(Notice the word “value” in each of the above statements. If you want people to be excited, they need to see the value you place on it and they also need to value it. You can use a ministry fair to do this.)

2) To showcase the various ministries in the church and ways people can serve within the ministries

Then you need to collect information about the ministries and determine how to effectively display information about them.
Then you need to know what ministry needs exist in the various ministries and figure out how to connect the right people to the needs.

3) To make connections between prospects and ministry leaders

Then ministry leaders all should be planners. Involve them from the beginning so they take ownership.
Then ministry leaders all should be present. Secure their commitment early on, giving them a date to put on their calendars well in advance.
Then ministry leaders all should be participants. Assign specific responsibilities or tasks to them so they know how to go about making connections.
Then ministry leaders all should be pursuers. Expect them to follow-up with those interested in learning more or becoming part of their team.

4) To enhance the recruitment process for filling ministry needs

Then you need to provide clear “next steps” for people. (sheets or cards to fill out about their interest to visit the ministry, get some hands-on in it before making a decision, learn more through a sit down consultation, etc.)
Then you need to plan follow-up. Don’t expect people attending to follow through. You must take the first step in following up.

Of course, ministry fairs aren’t the only way to get people excited about serving, showcase the ministries in your church, make connections, and help with recruiting. But, they are one way. And, ministry fairs in and of themselves won’t fully accomplish these objectives. But, they can be a complimentary means to a church culture regularly aiming toward these objectives.

How well ministry fairs work for you will likely be determined by how well you plan them.

For suggestions of gifts used in different ministries, check out this resources: Ministry Handbook: Spiritual Gifts in Use