The Cadre Connection is a publication of www.CadreMinistries.com Encouraging, Equipping & Energizing Leaders in the Church

February 2004

Free Online Training Designed Especially for Church Volunteers

 

I N    T H I S    I S S U E

1. I Don't Like "Volunteers" by Bill Allison 2. A Free Gift to Cadre Connection Subscribers 3. For Those Responsible for Training Volunteers in the Church 4. Updated: Experience Cadre Training! 5.Three New Strange But True Allison Family Stories Plus

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The words we use are full of connotations. Would you rather buy a “pre-owned” car—or a “used” car? See what I mean? It’s the same car, but, depending on which words are used, the connotation is different.

While I love the concept of someone freely giving their time and talents to serve in a church without pay, the term “volunteer” when used in the church often seems to carry a connotation of “second best” or “not really that important.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a wonderful, committed, effective non-paid servant in a church refer to him or herself as “ just a volunteer.” Non-paid workers in the church have subconsciously picked up on the very unbiblical connotation that they are “ just volunteers.”

I believe the Bible clearly teaches that EVERY Christian is a full-time minister. (Do your own Bible study on the priesthood of the believer.) Therefore, I don’t like the term “volunteer” when used in a church context! We need a new term for volunteers in the church—one that doesn’t contain the second-class baggage.

The “Ministry Partner” Revolution

When speaking of someone who generously gives time to serve Jesus in a church but doesn't get paid for it, I propose we start using the term “ministry partner.” If enough of us get on board with this terminology, we might be able to exchange the word “volunteer” along with its less desirable connotations for the much more biblically accurate and dignifying term of “ministry partner.” Who knows, people who graciously serve in the church without compensation might quit acting like "just volunteers" and might start acting like… "ministry partners." The potential ramifications for mobilizing the latent volunteer power sitting (literally) in our churches could be revolutionary.

Once we’ve conquered the term “volunteer” and replaced it with “ministry partner,” we can move on to changing the term “committees” to “teams” or perhaps to my personal favorite, “cadres.” This, too, would be revolutionary. However, for now, let’s take one revolution at a time. And by the way, I don’t like volunteers—I mean “ministry partners”—I LOVE them!

What do YOU think? We welcome your response:   info@cadreministries.com

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FREE—Our Gift to Cadre Connection Subscribers!

Ten days of encountering God’s John 3:16 heart! You have our complete blessing and encouragement to share and use this ten-day study as much as you desire with those in your church and small group!

 http://www.cadreinternational.com/john316

For Those Responsible for Training Volunteers… I Mean… “Ministry Partners” in the Church!

Don't stress over training the volunteers in your church! Get tools that will help you train them!

Your church has many volunteer teachers for Sunday school, children’s ministries, and small groups. What most volunteer teachers in the church DON’T get is training! What wonderful things could happen in your church if you strategically invested five short training sessions in training the various volunteer teachers in your church to:

1. Prepare effectively
2. Engage others—not just lecture them
3. teach with Authority and Authenticity
4. Challenge those they teach to biblical life-change
5. teach the Heart—not just the head

If you want such a training tool to train the volunteer teachers in your church, then check out:
The Teaching Genius of Jesus >>

Here’s how you can use The Teaching Genius of Jesus book to train the volunteer teachers in your church to become a PEACH of a teacher:

1. Have each teacher read one chapter at a time and complete the personal reflection/Bible study questions at the end of each chapter.
2. You, as the trainer, can use the “Discussion Questions for Your Next Teacher’s Meeting” section that is at the end of each chapter to lead the training session.
3. Download the FREE training notes that are available to those who order five or more copies of the book. Download and copy the training notes for each volunteer teacher you train.

So instead of looking like this when your volunteer teachers need training...

you can look like this instead...

Check out The Teaching Genius of Jesus book:

To order online
http://www.cadreministries.com/store/books.html#genius

To order via regular mail, print this order form
http://www.cadreministries.com/store/mail.html

For other great training resources you can use to train the volunteers… I mean… “ministry partners” in your church, check out:

Visit our online store today:
http://www.cadreministries.com/store

Updated: Experience Cadre Training!

Chicago Area, Saturday, 2/12/05
Ministry Is Relationships
http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/relationships.php

8:30 AM-12:30 PM. For ALL believers junior high through senior citizens at any level of walk with God. The cost of registration includes a training manual, follow up twenty-five day devotional guide, and snack breaks. Contact Bill Allison at
bill@cadreministries.com

Central Illinois Area, Friday and Saturday, 2/18-19/05
Friday workshops:
Effective Youth Ministry Can Happen in a Small Town Church and Staying Spiritually Sane While Leading a Youth Ministry and Seasons in Ministry and Life

Saturday workshops:
Time Management for Painfully Pooped-Out People
http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/pooped.php
and High Impact Methods of Teaching
http://www.cadreinternational.com/training/methods.php

NOTE: All workshops are a part of The Equip Convention at the Peoria Civic Center. For more information:
http://www.equipconvention.org

Central Pennsylvania Area, Friday-Sunday, 2/25-27/05
Youth Ministry 2005 Conference for Volunteer and Vocational Youth Workers
For a PDF informational brochure, contact
bill@cadreministries.com

Milwaukee Wisconsin Area, Saturday, 3/5/05
A Taste of Ministry Is Relationships at Elmbrook Church's Connect 2005
http://www.elmbrook.org/connect

For more info contact
bill@cadreministries.com

Chicago Area, Saturday, 3/19/05
Training for volunteers in children's ministry! For more info:
http://www.kidology.org/store/catalog.asp?item=34

Central Iowa Area, Saturday, 3/19/05
Ministry Is Relationships
Ignite National Youth Workers Conference for Volunteer and Vocational Youth Workers
For more info contact:
http://www.ignite-youth.org/speakers/speakers.htm

Three New Strange But True Allison Family Stories Plus

1. To read three brand new Strange But True Sadey Stories:
http://homepage.mac.com/billc323/Personal30.html

2. What do the following have in common:
Pedro (from Napoleon Dynamite), Albert Einstein, Tigger, Larry the Goldfish, 80s hair band rockers, and Mona Lisa?
You're gonna be SHOCKED! They all LOVE.... well... just see for yourself!
http://homepage.mac.com/billc323/PhotoAlbum28.html

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