Family Discipleship Volunteers FAQs.pdf

What is the procedure if a minor wants to volunteer?

Specific Instructions for Minor Age Application:

Note: Minors (age 9-17) DO NOT complete a background check or a ministry covenant.

Age 9-11: A parent is required to volunteer with a child in this age range. 

1. Application Part 1 only (a parent may help as needed) 
2. Age appropriate “child interview” 

Age 12-15:

1.   Application Part 1 only (a parent may help as needed).

2.   Part 2 will be sent to you after Part 1 is received. Parents must examine Application Part 2 BEFORE filling it out with their child as some material covered is of a personal and adult nature.

3.   Please help your child list adult references. We will check references and give an interview.

Age 16-17:

1.   Application Part 1 only.

2.   Part 2 will be sent to you after Part 1 is received.

3.   Please list adult references. We will check references and give an interview.

Why must some children work with their parents in nursery?

Parents are able to train their 9-11 year old children to minister to little ones by serving with them in the nurseries. By age 12, children have grown in maturity to the point where they can serve independent of their parents.

Why is a background check required?

We require every volunteer ministering to children, youth or young adults (birth-Sr. High) to be screened in order to help us provide a safe, loving, and secure environment for the volunteers and participants of our programs. A background check is part of the process for those 18 and older.

Why do we have an application process for volunteers?

Please see our screening policy.

Is my private information safe?

Our database is secured with industry-standard SSL technology and we treat hard copy applications as confidential, keeping them locked up when we are not working on them. See our online privacy statement.

Why is a covenant required?

We require volunteers to sign a covenant because we want them to understand their responsibility to be under the authority of God and His Word and to abide by the biblical principles outlined in the covenant as guideposts for life and involvement in Family Discipleship ministries at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

What kind of training is available/required?

Our primary training opportunity occurs in the Fall of each year. Other avenues of training may be pursued, however, if you are unable to attend the Fall Training Experience. We also aim to offer periodic trainings that are aimed at specific roles and classes with in the Family Discipleship Department.  We offer some training information online at the Bethlehem website as well as the Children Desiring God website.  

Do I need to re-apply if I worked years ago?

If you have moved away and are returning, yes.  If you have stepped back from ministry for a year or so (such as to have a baby), probably not, but you can confirm that by calling and talking to a ministry assistant in the area you desire to serve. If it has been several years, please do fill out the application so we can get re-acquainted with you.

Do I need to re-apply if I want to change the age group I work with in ministry?

If you are currently screened to work with children, you do not need to fill out any new forms. However, you may be asked to have another placement interview with the pastor overseeing the ministry you want to serve in.

Do I have to be a member to work in nursery?

No, Nursery caregivers are not required to be members.

Do I have to be a member to work in other areas of Family Discipleship?

Membership is only required of people who are volunteering as teachers and team leaders. There are many other opportunities available for regular-attenders of Bethlehem.

What volunteer positions are available?

Volunteer positions vary depending on the area of ministry you want to be involved in.

Nursery Caregiver:

We seek loving, nurturing caregivers who strive to lay a solid, spiritual foundation under the lives of the littlest at Bethlehem through intentional prayer, Bible Lessons, and Biblical truth. Opportunities abound on Sundays, Wednesday evenings, during various weekdays (MOMS, Bible Studies), and weekend special events.

Time Requirement: monthly, twice monthly, weekly or/and occasionally for special events

Worship Leader:

A worship leader leads a time of worship which varies in length and style depending on the age group.  The worship leader prepares and leads that worship time. If they prefer, worship leaders are free to leave after the worship time; or they may lead worship in another class, lead a small group, or help in some other way.

Time Requirement: weekly

Small Group Leader:

Small group leaders are assigned to a group of children who are “their kids” for the school year. They are critical in helping the children make personal application of the lesson material and make efforts to maintain positive relations, support and good communication with the children and their parents.

Time Requirement: weekly

Young Adult (Sr. High) Mentor:

Mentors partner with parents to encourage the discipleship of their young adults through the vehicle of relational discipleship. This will include facilitating small group times of discussion, examining the Scriptures, prayer and accountability for about six young adults as well as making regular contact with their parents to sharpen each others’ discipleship efforts. They should have a shepherd’s heart to spur them on toward a passion for the Lord. They will disciple them on a regular basis via personal conversations and contact, small group time, email, phone calls, and notes. Their goal will be to bolster and encourage the discipleship efforts in the home by striving to help young adults grow spiritually, make personal application of lesson materials, make efforts to maintain positive relationships within the senior high group, and support good communication with parents and other young adults. We encourage older and younger couples and adult singles to partner in this!

Time Requirement: weekly

Disability Ministry Aide:

Works with a child with special needs in a mainstream classroom or works in the Disability Ministry Sunday School.

Time Requirement: weekly

Teacher:

Teachers must clearly understand the curriculum’s purpose and goals as well as the goals of the classroom. They are responsible to carefully prepare and teach lessons in a large group setting, seeking to communicate truth with energy and creativity. There are two teachers in each class who alternate from week to week. Teachers must be members or actively pursuing membership at Bethlehem and be willing to attend orientations, and training events.

Time Requirement: twice monthly or weekly

Team Leader:

Team Leaders ensure that the vision and values of Bethlehem are reflected in the class activities while aiming toward a healthy spiritual atmosphere for the children, a positive ministry experience for team members, and good communication with parents. The Team Leader is also responsible for maintaining behavior and discipline standards among the children, organizing and maintaining class supplies, being organized and prepared so that the class stays on schedule and run smoothly, and providing on going support, affirmation and direction for team members. Team Leaders must be members or actively pursuing membership at Bethlehem and attend monthly team leader meetings.

Time Requirement: weekly

Adventure Girls’ Club Leader:

Club Leaders work with a group of 5th/6th grade girls on Wednesday nights (off-campus, community outreach). They are critical in helping the children make personal application of the lesson material and make efforts to maintain positive relations, support and good communication with the children and their parents.

Time Requirement: weekly

Adventure Girls’ Prayer Partner:

A prayer partner is matched with a girl whom she agrees to pray for, remember on special occasions, and contact throughout the year.

Time Requirement: weekly prayer, occasional meeting

Father's Light Mentors:

Men and women who work one on one with a father-absent child.

Time Requirement: 2 hours per week for one year

Boy Scout/Cub Scout Leaders:

Leaders work with a team of adults to nurture godly young men through teaching God’s Word, mentoring, seeing God’s glory in His created world and teaching scouts to be servant leaders.

Time Requirement: varies based on role.

What if I am unable to be a weekly volunteer?

Most Sunday and Wednesday ministries use weekly workers. Nursery opportunities have a great deal of flexibility, as do some of our other ministry options.

Does this mean I have to choose to serve or attend services?

We do place a high priority on your attending worship service on a consistent basis. However, if you are unable to worship weekly, and minister weekly, then we would prefer that you only serve on an occasional basis. Please contact a staff member so that we can talk to you more about the options available to you.

Which service times need volunteers?

Nursery needs volunteers during every weekend service (Saturday and Sunday). We need volunteers for Sunday School (ages Preschool-Senior High) only during the 2nd Service on Sundays. On Wednesday Night we need volunteers for Nursery through Senior High.

What curriculum does Bethlehem use?

Bethlehem uses Children Desiring God curriculum.

Are there opportunities to be mentored or to mentor?

Yes, especially for teachers. If you are interested in being mentored into a worship leading or team leading role, we would love to know that as well. Youth can also be mentored as small group leaders. Each inexperienced teacher will be paired with a competent, seasoned teacher who will provide instruction, feedback, and encouragement. The same situation is also available for those interested in worship leading or team leading.

As a potential worship leader, are there instruments or supplies available to me?

Yes, we would like to know what instrument you lead worship with and if you aren’t able to provide that instrument we will work on a solution with you. You will be provided with a worship binder containing a variety of songs you may use. Most of the curricula also have suggested songs within the lessons or in the appendix. The classrooms are set up with overhead projectors and we would be happy to make transparencies for you if needed.

How much time are we expected to prepare each week?

This varies depending on your role, but we desire for volunteers to be engaged with the curriculum and do the preparation necessary to teach from the heart. If you have prepared, you are not focused on the papers in front of you, but on God’s leading and the students.

If I desire to be a small group leader, do I have a choice to have boys, girls, or a mixed-gender group?

For children Preschool through Grade 2, we assign mixed-gender groups. Older children are in gender-specific small groups, with same-gender leadership.

Is there a way to connect with others who teach the same age I do?

We would be happy to provide you with names of those who are currently teaching the same age group or using the same curriculum, depending on the questions you may have. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

I am a young adult and would like to work with other children. Do you have some guidelines on what age children I can work with?

We recommend that you be six years older than the children to whom you minister.

What if I cannot begin right away?

Please turn in your application anyway and indicate your possible starting date. We often need volunteers in the middle of the school year so we would appreciate having additional names to call.