The word recruiting gives some people an uneasy feeling. Maybe even you (or just "someone you know"). Queasy just thinking about the rejection last time you tried? It's possible those butterflies come from your belief that church people have given the word a bad reputation—and, uh-oh, you're a church person.

C'mon. What's all the fuss about?

Why are we so obsessed with negative stereotypes when it comes to recruiting?

Ask any number of people about their biggest challenge in ministry, and without fail recruiting volunteers will emerge the most popular answer. And unflattering associations will, undoubtedly, come traipsing after.

Difficulty in recruiting has become the "common cold" of ministry.

Think about colds for a moment. Everybody gets one, there are tons of ways to treat one, but nobody can seem to find the cure. But we try. Oh, how we have all fallen victim to the latest trend in cold treatments; sucking on zinc tablets, taking a high dose of vitamins, and even medicine-infused ...