When planning a vacation, what is the first ingredient of planning for you? Perhaps your first thoughts are of where or when. May I suggest there is one other element that must be considered first? Before the when, where, how questions are answered we must first consider “who.” Who will be traveling with you? Without the “who,” all other planning may be for naught.

I am a firm believer in using the same approach for ministry? Knowing who is traveling with you on your ministry journey is of primary importance. Having the right people in positions of leadership is crucial to getting started right and continuing on a quality course of ministry.

The right person for a particular position might not be the one with the highest qualifications or education and experience for the position. Organizations, churches, and businesses are littered with people in positions with no passion or drive for accomplishing required tasks. Someone with passion will overcome inexperience with his/her drive to accomplish required tasks.

Having the right people in leadership positions begins with proper recruitment. Here are two tips to consider when recruiting for any position: 1) Do not recruit in the hall. 2) Look for the who, people with capacity for the role needed

Steps to follow when your organization has a position to be filled.

1. Pray for your eyes to be open to seeing as God sees so that you will realize when the Holy Spirit nudges you toward a person. Not because you know the person has accepted before, but because this person has the capacity to undertake the responsibility of the position and spiritual warfare that may follow.
2. Contact the person asking for a meeting, not in the hallway, preferably in his/her home or at a restaurant for coffee.
3. Pray before the meeting. Pray for the proper wording to use during the meeting. Pray for an open heart for both you and the other person.
4. During the meeting be cordial and remember his time is valuable. Begin with casual conversation. After a few minutes, move into the reason for the meeting. Choose your wording carefully. Statements like, “God told me…” will kill the interview immediately and the likelihood of receiving a positive response.

Instead phrase your wording similar to, “I (We) have been praying about the right person to assist with our ____ ministry. After several weeks, we believe you have the right qualities to serve in this capacity. Would you agree to pray with me about accepting this as an act of service (to God) for our church?” Notice I did not use the terms position, job, or responsibility in this initial approach. Those terms carry a negative allusion to a burdensome task.

From this point you can begin to answer any questions the candidate might have and explain the responsibilities. Set a time for follow-up and his answer, about a week.

This format works and honors God more than the way many are recruited in the church.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.