Tonight we started our In-town Retreat for the Coaches of our pre-school and elementary ministries.  These folks are the backbone of our ministry… they manage teams, encourage them, equip them and make sure they have everything they need to make every small group leader successful.  How do you pour into your team and it’s leaders?  Here are some things we think are invaluable:

• Creativity:  Make the sure the event is fun to walk into, thoughtful and inviting.  Make sure they know from the minute they walk in that you’re excited that they are there and that you appreciate them.  Everything from the tables, gifts, stage decorations and food should scream, “YOU ROCK!”.
• Fun:  These hard working volunteers need time have some fun.  Our Coaches events are usually two days, sometimes over night at a retreat center, sometimes in-town.  Either way, I love to do sometime fun and foolish the first night, something to allow them to get to know each other and let’s face it; laugh!  We’ve done zip-lines, ropes courses, and tonight; video scavenger hunt!  Not only are these fun activities, you’ll also learn a lot about the people on your team (not to mention a little about yourself too).
• Vision:  Never miss an opportunity to communicate the vision of your ministry.  Speak it often, say it in different ways, everybody on your team should know why they do what they do!
• Practical Tips:  What is it that you expect your leaders to do?  Train them, equip them and then release them to lead.
• Pray Over Them:  Pray a blessing over their work, pray a blessing over their teams, pray a blessing over the kids they’re leading and pray a blessing over them as individuals.
• Love Them Well:  The way you love your team is a direct reflection of the way they will love their teams.  Everything rolls down hill.

I’d love to hear what you do to train your leaders~