News from The Northwest Conference

For staff members and leaders

of Northwest Conference churches

Pastor's Perspective

Volunteer Staffing: The most important thing you do

By Remy Diederich
Lead Pastor, Cedarbrook Church

Do you ever wonder how important staffing is? Personally, after planting Cedarbrook Church nine years ago and building a staff of eight people plus numerous volunteers, I consider staffing the most important thing I do-and the hardest thing I do. Every day I'm convinced of it even more.

Business consultant and guru Tom Peters states it in no uncertain terms:

"If you're looking to ... Master the Talent Game ...there is a clear first step that you must take: PUT IT AT THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. And keep it there. Pursuit of Talent. Either it's an obsession ... or you're not serious about it. Either you spend virtually all your time on it ... or you don't."

So how do you build a great team (or rebuild it as the case may be!)?

I think it's important to start by communicating the value of excellence. Excellence looks different in different churches, often based on the budget they have to work with. You can't compare three a capella singers to a megachurch worship team with all the latest technology. But you can still cast a vision for finding the best musicians possible, and have them practice to do their very best on Sunday.

With all due respect, sometimes we do ourselves and our church a disservice by being "too thankful" for our volunteers. Let me explain. We are so thankful just to have a warm body in childcare, or on the worship team, or greeting at the door, that we lower our standard and accept anyone. We are too quick to assume that "they'll get it" and that they are "better than nothing." So we fill the slot with a warm body and hope for the best.

But what often happens is that by accepting anybody into the position, the quality of the ministry drops significantly. And people notice. It can really undermine the credibility of your leadership and your church. People wonder why you would allow an unfriendly person to greet newcomers, or a tone-deaf singer on the worship team, or a notoriously immoral person to teach Sunday school.

Not only do you lose credibility you prevent the really good volunteers from signing up because you haven't made that team desirable to be on. Quality people want to serve with other quality people. If you set such a low standard that "anyone can be involved" then the really talented people will serve somewhere else; at a nonprofit in town or maybe even find a new church where there is a greater emphasis on excellence.

Staffing volunteers can be a field of landmines. You are in the uncomfortable position of desperately needing someone yet aware that the only person available could do more harm than good. Compounding the issue is that they might be the biggest giver in the church.

Sometimes it takes the wisdom of Solomon to dodge the landmines, but at least be aware of the downside of setting a low standard. It could take years to remove the wrong person from that position and just think how much good ministry is lost due to one poorly placed volunteer.

Setting a standard of excellence takes courage and perseverance, but it will pay rewards for years to come.

Imagine RSVP deadline approaching

Imagine an event designed to connect people who work with kids-but one where you don't have to set up, facilitate, or tear down tables afterward.

Imagine a free, gourmet, on-site brick oven pizza lunch provided by Red Rover Pizza Company.

Imagine a clear and challenging message from Anne-Marie Finsaas, minister to children at Colonial Church in Edina, MN, about how kids and families can integrate their faith into ordinary, everyday life. Anne-Marie holds an MA in Children's and Family Ministry and has taught at national and local children's conferences, as well as Bethel Theological Seminary as an adjunct professor. She is currently studying for a Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership and Spiritual Formation.

Imagine: A day for those serving Children & Families will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First Covenant Church in Willmar, MN. RSVP as a church group by Friday, Nov. 4 to 612-721-4893 or jon@nwc-cov.org

Download a promotional flyer for Imagine.

Please pray for Navigate and our pastors, church leaders

Navigate logo

Three Northwest Conference churches will participate in the second annual Navigate national event, which will take place in Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 2-6. Facilitated by the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Navigate features a mid-week session for pastors Nov. 2-4. Pastors then meet up with their congregation's delegates for the weekend session beginning the evening of Nov. 4 and ending Nov. 6.

The purpose of Navigate is to help established churches find their way to becoming healthy and missional in a post modern, post Christian world. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit empowering congregations as they walk the Congregational Vitality Pathway together.

Navigate accelerates the process by catalyzing resources on the denominational, conference, and local levels. Navigate is a "one-two-three" strategy consisting of one national gathering, two regional triad retreats, and three local church follow up visits by Directors of Congregational Vitality.

NWC churches and pastors who were invited to participate this year are:

Corey Johnsrud and lay leaders from Zion Covenant Church in Ellsworth, WI
Greg Ellis and lay leaders from Bethany Covenant Church in Richfield, MN
Dan Pearson and lay leaders from United Covenant Church in Clear Lake, WI

Please pray that God will move in the hearts and minds of all the pastors and church leaders attending Navigate 2011.

Randy Young update

Randy Young, chair of the NWC Town and Country Commission, suffered a stroke on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Please pray for Randy as he is going through recovery.

Parish Nurse Commission welcomes 5 new NWC nurses

On May 27, 2011, Jane Capel completed the Parish Nurse preparation course provided by the Faith Community Nurse Network. Capel is a member of Roseville Covenant Church where she is hoping to begin a ministry as Parish Nurse.

On Oct. 15, three more nurses completed the FCNN Parish Nurse preparation course. Congratulations to:

Marilyn Moore, ministering at Gethsemane Covenant in Duluth, MN.
Sarah Brush, ministering at True Light Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN.
Bernita Missel, ministering at Rice Creek Covenant Church in Lino Lakes, MN.

In early November, Ava Flachmeyer will have completed her course and will minister at Dassel Covenant Church in Dassel, MN.

The Parish Nurse Commission, through the NWC, has shared in the Parish Nurse's cost of the preparation course with a check of $250 for each Parish Nurse. Through emails, phone calls, and the Parish Nurse retreat, the PN Commission will continue to encourage and support them as their ministries grow.

AC Banquets showcase theme 'Gearing up for another 40 years'

Adventurous Christians hosted its annual fundraiser banquets Oct. 14-15 in Duluth and New Brighton, MN. There was a strong audience in attendance to hear about how AC is gearing up for another 40 years.

"The food was delicious, the fellowship was delightful, and the excitement for supporting AC was encouraging. Thank you all for supporting camping ministry," said Mike Nelson, camp director.

VIVE launch challenges students to 'soar like eagles'

Excitement and encouragement marked the launch of the VIVE Twin Cities college-prep initiative on Saturday, Oct. 29. Held at Minnehaha Academy, around 40 high school and middle schools students came-with either their church youth group or families-to learn about the ins and outs of a college education.

The students engaged in worship and were challenged by Steve Fitzhugh, national spokesperson for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Former Denver Bronco, to "soar like eagles" in pursuing God's dream for their lives, while at the same time being wary of those who would seek to pull them down. The students also heard testimonies of college success, and overcoming obstacles from post collegians, as well as discussed current college life with the North Park University worship team members.

VIVE is a collaboration of local Covenant churches, the Northwest Conference and North Park University and focuses on preparing pre-college students typically under-represented on university campuses.

Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join others in ministry from across North America for a free hour-long ministry discussion and networking time.

To participate, visit the WebEx Attend a Meeting page and enter the meeting number. Available meeting numbers are listed with each meeting. Meetings are held from 2:30-3:30 pm.

2011 Events:

Thursday, Nov. 17: Everything You Wanted to Know About Spiritual Direction, led by Millie Lungren - Adult Ministry

Communications Corner

Recycling content

By Bryan Malley

While it's true that as you communicate using all your different avenues and mediums, you don't want to be too repetitive, you can save time and energy by tastefully recycling content.

Think about how you can say something new or timely each time you communicate about an event. But balance that with recycled content from other mediums.

Here's an article from the United Methodist Church's communications department entitled "Recycle content: 6 ways to reach larger audiences."