Module 4
Building the Team: Recruiting, Screening, and Training Leaders
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:” — Exodus 18:21
Lesson
What You Will Learn
- Identify the roles a recovery ministry needs
- Describe the qualities of a healthy recovery ministry leader
- Explain a screening process that follows church policy, including background checks
- Plan initial and ongoing leader training
Lesson Notes
The Roles a Ministry Needs
Jethro told Moses to share the load with capable people (Exodus 18:21). A recovery ministry needs a team, not a hero. Common roles include:
- Ministry leader: oversees the whole ministry and reports to the pastoral liaison.
- Small-group facilitators and co-facilitators: lead groups in pairs.
- Greeters and newcomer hosts: welcome and orient.
- Worship and teaching team: leads songs, Scripture, and teaching.
- Resource coordinator: keeps the referral list current.
- Child care team: screened and trained under the church's child protection policy.
- Prayer team and set-up team.
Start with the roles you truly need. A small ministry may combine roles at first.
Qualities of a Healthy Leader
Exodus 18:21 lists people who fear God, are men of truth, and hate covetousness. First Timothy 3:10 says leaders should first be proved. Look for leaders who are walking with Christ, honest, humble, teachable, discreet with confidential information, and able to follow policy.
Leaders who are in recovery themselves bring compassion and credibility. Set a clear, church-approved expectation for how long a person should be walking steadily in recovery before leading, and require that every leader have her own accountability and support. A leader's own struggle is never a disqualification forever; it is a reason to wait, heal, and serve when ready.
Screening According to Church Policy
Paul warned, Lay hands suddenly on no man (1 Timothy 5:22). A screening process protects participants, especially children and vulnerable adults, and protects the leaders themselves. Follow your church's written policy. A typical process may include:
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A written application.
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An interview with the ministry leader and pastoral liaison.
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References.
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A background check as required by church policy, especially for anyone serving with children or vulnerable adults.
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A signed leader covenant and confidentiality agreement.
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Required training before serving.
A past conviction does not automatically mean a person can never serve. Church policy, insurance requirements, and the law determine which roles are open, and some roles, such as child care, often have strict limits. The ministry leader does not make exceptions on her own; she follows policy and asks church leadership.
Training and Ongoing Support
Initial training should cover the ministry's vision, The Restoration Path, small-group guidelines and facilitation, confidentiality and its limits, mandatory reporting procedures, emergency and overdose response, the referral list, trauma-informed care, healthy boundaries, and self-care. If the church uses a branded program, its official leader training is required.
Ongoing support keeps leaders healthy: monthly leader meetings for prayer, debriefing, and refresher training; a co-facilitator for every group; and a clear person to call when something hard happens. Leaders are not clinicians. Part of training is learning to say, I care about you, and I want to connect you with someone who can help with this.
Key Terms
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Co-facilitator | A second trained leader in every small group for safety, support, and accountability |
| Screening | The church-approved process for selecting leaders, which may include an application, interview, references, and background check |
| Leader covenant | A signed agreement describing a leader's commitments, boundaries, and confidentiality |
| Background check | A records check conducted according to church policy, especially for roles serving children or vulnerable adults |
In-Class Activities
Team Chart
Draw a simple team chart for a new recovery ministry. Put the pastoral liaison at the top, then the ministry leader, then each role from the lesson. Next to each role, write two qualities needed and the training required before serving.
Ready to Lead?
Read six composite leader candidates your instructor provides. For each, write Ready, Not yet, or Ask church leadership, and explain why. Name what support or training each person would need.
Assignment: Leader Recruitment and Training Plan
Write the leadership section of your Ministry Launch Plan:
- A list of roles you will need at launch, with a one-line description of each.
- A leader covenant (eight to ten commitments, including confidentiality with its limits, boundaries, and following church policy).
- A screening process that states: Background checks and other screening follow our church's written policy.
- An initial training outline with at least eight topics.
- An ongoing support plan (leader meetings, co-facilitators, who to call).
- Exodus 18:21 or 1 Timothy 5:22 written out with one sentence of application.
Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.
Reflection Journal
Jethro saw that Moses was trying to carry everything alone. When have you tried to do everything yourself? What would it look like for you to share the load and trust others?
Prayer focus: Ask God to raise up faithful, humble leaders and to give you wisdom to build and protect a healthy team.
Weekly Reading & Devotions
Not Alone
Moses sat from morning until evening judging the people until his father-in-law Jethro said, Thou wilt surely wear away (Exodus 18:18). Jethro's advice was to choose capable people such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness (Exodus 18:21) and share the load. A recovery ministry needs a team, not a hero.
Healthy leaders are walking with Christ, honest, humble, discreet, and willing to follow policy. Many have their own recovery story, and that story brings compassion. Every leader also needs her own accountability and support, so that leading others does not put her own recovery at risk.
Paul wrote, Lay hands suddenly on no man (1 Timothy 5:22). Screening follows the church's written policy: an application, an interview, references, a background check where policy requires it, a signed leader covenant, and training. A past mistake does not make someone worthless, and it does not always rule out service. Policy matches roles to safety, especially for child care and work with vulnerable adults.
Training is not a one-time event. Leaders learn the vision, The Restoration Path, facilitation, confidentiality and its limits, reporting, emergency and overdose response, the referral list, trauma-informed care, and boundaries. Then they keep meeting to pray, debrief, and grow.
Think About It
- When have you tried to carry everything alone? ______________________
- What qualities would you look for in a co-leader? ______________________
- How can a church show grace and still protect the vulnerable? ______________________
Daily Devotions for Week 4
Lay Hands Suddenly on No Man
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.— 1 Timothy 5:22 (KJV)
Wise screening protects everyone, including new leaders.
Reflect: Why is patience in choosing leaders a kindness?
Pray: Lord, give us wisdom in choosing leaders.
Do: Write three interview questions for a new leader.
Faithful Men
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.— 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)
Ministries last when leaders train new leaders.
Reflect: Who could you train someday?
Pray: Lord, help me pass on what I have received.
Do: Pray for a future leader by name.
Many Gifts
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.— 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
Greeters, facilitators, and set-up teams all minister grace.
Reflect: What gift could you offer a recovery ministry?
Pray: Lord, help me use my gift faithfully.
Do: Name one role you could fill well.
One Body
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.— 1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV)
No single leader is the whole ministry.
Reflect: How does a team protect a ministry from depending on one person?
Pray: Lord, knit our team together.
Do: Draw a simple team chart.
Willingly
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;— 1 Peter 5:2 (KJV)
Leaders serve gladly, not for gain or control.
Reflect: What motives do you need to surrender?
Pray: Lord, purify my motives for leading.
Do: Write your own three-line leader commitment.
Module Quiz
- 1.
Exodus 18:21 describes leaders who:
- 2.
Background checks for recovery ministry leaders should:
- 3.
Why does every small group have a co-facilitator?
- 4.
A past conviction automatically means a person can never serve in any role.
- 5.
Name four topics for initial leader training.