Using Apprentices To Grow Your Volunteer Crew.

Healthy teams take work. Healthy teams need a growth mindset. Healthy teams need a plan. One way you can have a healthy team while growing your volunteer crew is using apprentices. We all have them- teens and adults who aren't ready to lead, take charge of a room or be the volunteer who is in charge.

Have you ever thought about apprentices or even what an apprentice is? How could they be helpful for your volunteer team? An apprentice shadows a role for a significant time or season. We use the school year for apprentices to come alongside the leader. Often it can be a teen who isn’t old enough or is experienced and it can also be anyone who needs some mentorship before diving into the role on their own. Be mindful that an apprentice isn’t a co-leader. They are learning from the leader and that leader is pouring into them and helping them grow! It is amazing after a year of apprenticeship, how that leader is ready to jump in on their own.

3 ways you can use an apprentice in your ministry to help grow your crew are:

Assisting with an elementary small group leader or being the elementary assistant in the room. When the leader of the group is out, it gives this person a chance to develop and lead knowing they will receive feedback and not need to carry the weight weekly.
Assisting the storyteller by helping to host or take on small on-stage roles while helping behind the scenes the rest of the hour.
Shadowing and assisting in a coach role overseeing any area of ministry. Think of that coach and apprentice working alongside each other overseeing your nursery/preschool area.

Apprentices not only help grow your team but this system can help spiritually develop leaders to lead future leaders who show up to disciple this generation of Jesus-loving kids.

KMC COLLECTIVE PODCAST

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How to Invite, Not Just Ask

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Onboarding & Safety Training

Equip your leadership team with practical, ready-to-use systems to find, vet, and onboard new volunteers smoothly.

KidzLife Volunteer Guidebook (Free PDF): A downloadable 42-page handbook covering role descriptions, classroom management techniques, and safety fundamentals that can be shared directly with new team members.
Kids Ministry Leadership - Training Book Template (Free InDesign/PDF):Downloadable template files that leaders can edit to build custom, professional-looking safety and vision handbooks tailored to their specific church.
GO! Curriculum Shared Resources (Free Document Library): Access shared templates for nursery handbooks, junior leader guides, and general volunteer manuals ready for quick customization.

Leader Development & Skill Training

Great retention starts with great training. These resources help build confidence and community among your Sunday teams.

Kidology Training Corner (Free / Low-Cost): Provides quick video tips and short training modules covering classroom discipline, asking quality questions, and small group leadership tactics.
Group Publishing / Children's Ministry Magazine (Free Articles): Offers online libraries packed with practical strategies on preventing volunteer burnout, improving leader retention, and conducting effective mid-year check-ins.
Procare / Ministry Grid (Free Sample Workflows): Offers access to free introductory videos and downloadable checklists for training small group leaders on basic child safety and engagement principles.

Every leader has questions. Every leader faces hard choices.

Where do children’s ministry leaders go when you have questions that you need to not only get answers to but, to help you contextualize and implement in your context?

Facebook groups? Webinars? Video courses? Those aren’t bad options, and I’ve used all of them. But is that really where you’ll find the best answers for you in your ministry context?

An experienced ministry coach can ask questions to clarify and dig deeper into what you’re really looking for. They won’t tell you how to do it, but they will help you find the answer that is right before you.

SET UP A CLARITY CALL WITH ONE OF OUR COACHES