Whether you're looking to launch a new small-group ministry, a new church-wide campaign, or open up a few new small groups at your church, the most important choices you make are your leaders.

It's essential to keep people a priority over the programs. If you start working now (and continue building into your leaders all year long), you'll consistently have highly capable and enthusiastic leaders eager to launch into ministry.

Remember these three important steps to recruiting the right leaders for your small-group ministry:

1. First Things First

First, take a deep breath. Now... pray. God knows each person in your church and each person who will attend your small groups, so ask him to open the eyes, hearts, and minds of those who will be just the right "fit" for what God is trying to accomplish in your church.

2. Cast the Vision

Next, get the word out. (This is the fun part!) Let folks know that this is so much more than a Bible study or a new program-it's an opportunity to change the culture of your church, the hearts of your members, and your connection with the community. Most people aren't waiting around, looking for volunteer positions. But people are looking to be part of something significant-something world-changing.

Carefully consider how you'll cast your small-group vision. Prayerfully determine what you hope to see accomplished. How will your people be different? How will your church be different? How will your community be different?

Much of your success or frustration in recruiting rests on the vision you cast for your church, so take care in the way you present it. If your need for volunteers sounds like an inconvenience, a desperate situation, or a lost cause, peopled will be repelled by your recruiting efforts. Avoid using words like "only" or "just" as you recruit -- statements like "It's only one week" or "We just need a few people" show your desperation and minimize the importance of what you're endeavoring to do. The few volunteers you'll find will sign up out of obligation or guilt.

Find volunteers who are motivated by passion! You're out to change the very heartbeat of your church. It's a tough job that takes committed, passionate, and skilled volunteers. You need volunteers that are going to rise to the challenge. Don't try to soft-sell them on the job. Let them know what they're getting into. Most of all, let them know why it is so tremendously important that they step up to make a difference.

Scripture tells us that God made us new in Christ Jesus "so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago" (Ephesians 2:10). Thus, when you recruit a volunteer, you're actually giving that person an opportunity to grow in relationship with Jesus, increase in love toward others, and develop a greater sense of purpose and accomplishment. Don't be ashamed or afraid to offer people the opportunities they need. The people in your church need to serve.

Ask God to show you who needs to be involved. Make sure you include other leaders (and your senior pastor, if it's not you) in the vision-developing process. Ask for specific commitments from your leaders to help spread the vision throughout your church. If your leadership is not unified around the vision, there's little chance that your church will be unified around it.

Work together to create a statement that captures your vision. For example, you might say that you are "creating a new culture of friendship that will change each person, our church, the community, and the world," or that you're working to "inspire connectivity with each other, build forever friendships with Jesus, and reach out to those who need friends."

Once you create this mission statement, post it everywhere and repeat it over and over again. As you begin recruiting, state your vision and mission with confidence and faith, then show people how they can be a part of it.

3. Use the Personal Touch

There's no substitute for the personal touch. Your true heart for your vision - and your people -- comes through when you're connecting face to face. If you think someone would be a dynamite facilitator, tell him or her! Make sure you tell the person why you think he or she would be a perfect fit for the job. Your words of affirmation will help the recruit see that God has given him or her what it takes to do the job. And even if the person doesn't sign up, rejoice that God gave you an opportunity to build someone up.

Never take no's personally, and don't accept them too readily. Sometimes people really are too busy. Sometimes circumstances truly prevent people from volunteering. But sometimes people are held back by fear, hurt, or feelings of inadequacy. You can't really judge if someone's excuse is valid, but if God keeps bringing someone's face or name to your mind, pray for that person. Consider giving that person another chance a week or two later by simply explaining that God keeps bringing him or her to mind. Some of the best leaders in the Bible were reluctant volunteers, too.

One other essential aspect is to let leaders and volunteers know what they're getting into. Create job descriptions that you can copy and hand to your leaders as you recruit them. Point out how you see each of the qualifications in the leader. Job descriptions are also useful in the event that a volunteer fails to live up to his or her commitment. You can point back to the job description as the starting point for your expectations.

If it turns out that someone isn't a good "fit," gently recommend another place where he or she might better serve. Point out the person's strengths to show him or her why children, youth, or adults need him or her in the new position.

Your volunteers are valuable, so treat each one with thoughtfulness and respect. And may God bless you, as together you begin making the changes God is leading your church into!

Karl Leuthauser is a pastor and small-group leader in Fort Collins, Colorado, and director of Ministry Essentials at Group Publishing.