Recruit

Shortly after the USA in 1917 joined  the war in Europe, a magazine illustrator drew a picture featuring a stern-faced Uncle Sam pointing outward with his right index finger, his eyes glaring directly at the viewer. “I Want YOU for U.S. Army”.  Four million of those posters were distributed around the states to recruit people to join in the war.   More than two million Americans signed up as recruits to fight in France during the First World War.

Recruitment is essential in the life of a church and ministry!   As CRCA churches we recognize the importance of recruitment.   In our TRAIN strategy we stress that "congregations continually identify and recruit all members into the evangelistic task of the mission."  We speak about how churches should "actively support and grow the recruitment role of conferences such as MTS Challenge conferences."  Why all this talk about recruitment?   The simple reason is that we need more people, as we point out in the TRAIN strategy, to be "actively involved in God's mission."  The emphasis is on active involvement.  Recall the words of Jesus to his disciples:   "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."  (Matthew 9:37)   We just need more workers.

This is true when it comes to evangelism.   Think of your own church.   Are ALL members actively involved in sharing the good news of Jesus with people around them?   The lost?   Their neighbours, co-workers, fellow students?   Are ALL members making disciples, as Jesus instructed his followers in Matthew 28:19-20?   Are you as a pastor or church leader leaning into men and women to be involved in gospel ministry?   In the CRCA we need more men for full-time pulpit ministy in our churches.  If the current trends continue, within 10 years close to 50% of our churches will not have a pastor.  This is why we speak about supporting and growing the recruitment role of conferences such as MTS Challenge conferences.   At this and similar conferences, people are challenged to consider engaging in full-time gospel work.   Who are you recruiting?   Are you recruiting ALL members to be involved in gospel outreach?   Are you recruiting the next pastor for a local congregation?

You might wonder, what does recruitment look like?   I like to suggest a simple four step process for recruiting people.   This is the same for all people you are trying to recruit for gospel ministry:  ordained, non-ordained, full-time, part-time, voluntary.   First, simply define the need.  You need to know who you are looking for.   When it comes to evangelistic outreach, the answer is simple:  every follower of Jesus.   I have told you about the need in the denomination for pastors.   But you also might have some ministries you are looking to start, or some existing ministries that need people.   What kind of people are you looking for?   Before you move on in recruitment, you must a thorough understanding of what and who you are looking for.  Define the need! 

Then, second, plan carefully.   You must have a plan.  The old adage is true:  if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.   You must be intentional.   If you need someone to fill a particular role in your church, you might need to write out a position description.  Think about how you will get the message out and the steps you will follow, including a time-line, to get people to join you in God's mission.  You will consider the training that might be required.  Don't go on to the next step until you have a plan in place.  

Third, search.   You need to get the message out.  When was the last time you pointed out to someone and said, "We need YOU to join in God's mission!"   When was the last time you pointed to every member of your church and said to them:  "We need YOU to reach out to the lost!"   In my mid-teens my pastor tapped me on the shoulder and said to me, "Jack, we need YOU to go into full-time gospel work as an ordained minister."   That conversation changed the trajectory of my life!   When Jesus began his public ministry he searched for people to be his disciples.   Matthew tells us that when Jesus "saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.... he said 'Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.'" (Matthew 4:18-19)   People will not join in the mission unless we search for them and tell them, "We need YOU!"  Some years ago I searched for a co-leader in the Life Group I led.   I simply said to one of our women, "We need YOU to be a co-leader."   A while I go my wife and I left that group to start a new group.   That woman now leads our former Life Group and I am searching for a new co-leader.   Who are you searching for?

Once you find people, you need to empower them in their roles.   You need to get people on-board with God's mission.   As you recruit people to evangelize the lost, this will require you to train them up in how to share their faith.   If you have found someone with the potential for full-time ordained ministry, then start giving them ministry responsiblities.   Teach them how to study God's Word and be able to preach.   Give them opportunities to serve.   When my pastor told me, "Jack, we need YOU" he then empowered me to begin a youth group, be involved in evangelism, and put me in contact with someone who could mentor me in ministry.   This is how the apostle Paul put this task of empowering people:   "Equip God's people for works of service, so that the whole body of Christ may be built up...." (Ephesians 4:12) 

Recruit people:   define the need, plan carefully, search for people, and then empower them!   Get the message out that "We need YOU!" to join in God's mission.   The challenge is simple:  recruit!