Steps for Starting a Successful Club
Starting a club is exciting! So, where do you start?
- Pray. Pray for God’s leading as you, your church community and leaders prepare to start an Adventurer club.
- Talk to your pastor and church board. You may wish to bring along interested caregivers who have kids in the Adventurer age group for support and to show your pastor and board that Adventurers is desired by your community. Each club needs to be sponsored by a local church. Usually, starting a club starts with a simple vote by the church board.
- Formally elect Adventurer leadership. The board will usually elect a club director, and also usually an associate / deputy director. In unusual cases, the church board or a nominating committee will create an entire staff.
- Let your local Conference know about the new club and new leadership, so that your local club can be notified of resources, supports, and activities provided by conference level leadership. Often they will ask for your contact information and also alert you of calendar events coming up for your young people. They may also have an area coordinator or other leader who can mentor you in your new role.
- Form an Adventurer Executive Committee. If you are in a large church, an Adventurer Club executive committee may be helpful. Included in this group might be the Adventurer Club leadership, a pastor, kindergarten and primary Sabbath school leaders, and church school teacher(s) of Adventurer-age children, and Adventurer parent(s). The Adventurer Team Leader is the chairperson. This group sets major policies for the Club Director, goals, and objectives, and coordinates the club calendar with the church calendar. This committee may also give direction on the selection of additional staff. In other churches, a children’s ministries committee may function for this role.
- Get the support of caregivers. Every club needs children. Every child has caregivers. If you can get them excited about the club, and ask them to be meaningfully involved, you not only have volunteer club staff, but also children for the Adventurer club! Since Adventurers is a family-based ministry, involving caregivers with their children it is a helpful requirement.
- Call an organisational meeting. Invite anyone interested in learning more about Adventurers to join you for an informational meeting. Directly invite leaders who are especially influential, since they will likely bring others and also cheer on your efforts. Personally invite caregivers. Don’t limit yourself to those caregivers whose children attend Sabbath school and church. Also invite kids around the area and their caregivers to join you during this meeting. Many of our strongest clubs are formed with many children who live near the church but who were not part of the church fellowship when they joined the club. During the informational meeting, explain the goals of Adventurer meetings. Ask for volunteers to help. If possible, find times and dates that the majority of interested people could attend.
- Inform the Congregation. Make sure your home congregation knows of their new Adventurer ministry. Don’t forget to continue to let them know of events and successes of the Adventurers in the coming month.
- Recruit Staff. First, ask several of the caregivers of the children whom you anticipate attending the club to help you lead the club. Most staff in Adventurer ministry are caregivers. Second, ask your group of friends to assist you in your ministry. Ministry is more fun with friends. Chances are you will be spending extra time together — so new friendships are very possible! Many will be leading in club ministry for the first time, and will leave when their child graduates to Pathfinders. This means your staff turn-over each year might feel high, but you are encouraging and training leaders both for your club ministry AND Pathfinders!
- Participate in Adventurer staff ministry training. Many conferences offer annual staff training. Other Adventurer ministries will travel to your church and help your local staff group get trained. Call, email, or text your local conference youth director or children’s ministries director to see what training options are available to you.
- Keep praying 😊
