By Daniel Im: William Wallace, Melinda Gates, Hitler, Elvis Presley, Billy Graham, Nelson Mandela, Bono, and Jeff Bezos.

What’s your off-the-cuff reaction when you hear those names? Do you think of similarities or differences? If you could group them together with one word, which one would you use? Would the word “leader” come to mind?

Now you may or may not agree on how effective each one of those individuals were (or are) as leaders, but it’s clear that when they acted, people followed. They led and history is different because of it.

While William Wallace led with passion to secure Scottish freedom from the English, Melinda Gates has led with compassion to give away more money than most people can even begin to fathom. While Hitler led the Germans with an authoritarian grip, Elvis Presley led with his charisma and rolling tunes.

Haven’t you ever noticed that as quickly as you can name leaders, you are able to name different attributes that make each of them uniquely effective? This is because there is no silver bullet to leadership. There is no common set of characteristics that—when put together—produce the end result of a leader.

In fact, just consider the weight of these words from Donald Clifton, the father of Strengths-Based Psychology, the grandfather of Positive Psychology, and the creator of the StrengthsFinder assessment. He was asked, just a few months before his death in 2003, what his greatest discovery was from three decades of leadership research. Here was his response…

By New Churches Team: When Jesus began His ministry, He chose 12 men. He gave His life to them by pouring into them, teaching them, and training them. Now Jesus didn’t have to do that. He didn’t need volunteers to accomplish His work. But we do. As you recruit your volunteers, it’s important to remember that we need to be discipling and growing them into all that God has for them to be.

Recruiting With the End in Mind

Here are three things to keep in mind as you recruit volunteers for your ministry.

1. Recruit with vision.

Jesus did this in Matthew 4 when He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He didn’t ask them to just pass out bread and fish or keep the crowds away. He told them He would make them significant. Too often when we are recruiting we focus only on our immediate needs. That is not a compelling vision. Recruit your volunteers with the purpose of your ministry.

2. Make an individual ask.

It’s much more compelling for you to ask someone to serve individually, than for you to make an announcement to the masses. Look for skills in someone that would be helpful in your ministry, then let them know how they can continue to grow that skill by volunteering.

3. Make a significant ask.

It’s very important not to downplay the commitment you are asking them to make. If you devalue the commitment, they may think it’s not worth volunteering. Your ministry is important enough to ask people to give up some of their time. Make the commitment you need clear, then make the direct ask…