When it comes to kids ministry, are you consciously making the most of opportunities to share with your leaders how much you appreciate what they are doing?
What about you? Do you feel appreciated? I mean, at the end of the day, when everything is said and done, do you feel that you are appreciated? I try to be very proactive in my own life about showing appreciation, but I do think that there are times when we get to a place where we just take things and people for granted.
Even while writing this, I am struck by the fact that I don’t show my wife enough appreciation for the things that she does for me and our family. I know that’s an area that I can do better in.
Seth Godin, best-selling author and speaker, recently shared a few ways to show appreciation on his blog recently that are “free” and can be applied to kids ministry. They really go a long way in showing your leaders that you appreciate them.
Here are five tips for appreciating your kidmin leaders everyday:
1. Use Social Media.
Tell your leaders happy birthday, thanks for your service, and I’m praying for you via social media sites. Perhaps even send them a link to a meaningful post on the Kids Ministry 101 blog!
2. Visit their classrooms.
Take a few minutes to stick your head in the door of your volunteers’ classrooms to give them the indication that you care about what they are doing.
3. Leave them a post-it note encouragement.
My wife always leaves me little notes that tell me she cares. I think it would be cool for Kids Ministers to do the same thing for their volunteers.
4. Get caught bragging on them.
The more you lift up your volunteers the more likely it is that one day they are going to hear you telling others about how great they are.
5. Pray for and with them.
Prayer is powerful. Some of my favorite experiences with the children’s pastor at my church is when he prays with me.
Jeff Land loves Life! That’s pretty great, because his job here at Lifeway is the Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life: Kids. Jeff loves his life which is so blessed by his amazing wife, Abbey, and their four sons, Reed, Nash, Will, and Tuck. A natural encourager and fun-lover, look for Jeff’s posts about teacher appreciation and game ideas. When not serving at work, Jeff serves 2nd graders at his church, First Baptist Church, Joelton, TN.
Leave a Reply