From YouthMinistry.com on Thursday, June 28, 2012 @ 2:02 AM PST
in the "Blog" Category.
This conversation has been going around our staff a lot the past few weeks. We've started looking at all the areas we have leaders serving in our church and started asking the question, "How do we thank them?" True serving isn't about being told thanks, or receiving anything. But showing gratitude and having a thankful heart is something that God calls us to have for him, and I think that same gratitude and thankfulness can, and should, be carried over to your leaders to remind them it doesn't go unnoticed, and they are an integral part of everything you do. Below are four simple (kinda) ways of saying thank you.
Leaderless Fellowship Nights: We started implementing these last year. We simply have one of our leaders host (a new one each month), and then each leader brings a dish. We talk about life, we share our excitement about what is happening, we play games, watch movies…basically just having a fun night of fellowship.
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How to Develop Confident, Competent, and Committed Adult Leaders!
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This is a simple and easy way to get your leaders together to love on them, and have others love on them as well, and if you are on a budget get a free good meal with great people.
Student Thank You Letters: This is something we really need to bring back into our ministry. Leaders serve for God first, but also to impact and leave a godly impression on the next generation. What better way to care for your leaders than to have them see just how much they mean to your students? Ask a few key kids in your group who can articulate themselves well enough to hand write, or type out, some caring thank you letters to their leaders! You can hand deliver them if you want to hog the glory or let it just be a "God Thing"!
Red Carpet Thank You!: Okay, so this isn't as simple. And honestly I have never pulled it off for our own ministry, but have been a part of receiving a thank you like this at a previous church. Pull out all the stops, use a fellowship space big enough at the church, or rent a space out. Have some non-leaders in your ministry area—parents, kids, staff from other ministry areas—decorate and provide the food (could become a great trade off in ministry thank you's). You can do some kind of entertainment, with your students doing a talent show, or hire a comedian and have them roast your or your pastor; put together an awesome slide show, or do an awards ceremony. The possibilities are endless. It takes work, but can be a great pick-me-up and a value-setter in the lives of many of your leaders.
Retreat Without A Cause: Lastly, pay for a retreat for your leaders without a cause, other than to say thank you. By this I mean take them away and just let them rest. Have games and team building things set up, but don't hunker it down with Bible study or vision casting.
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How to Develop Confident, Competent, and Committed Adult Leaders!
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Think of it like a family vacation with your leaders in your ministry. Not everything needs an agenda; this can be one of those intentional thank you's that takes a little organization but shows your leaders you care.
Ministry Hint: If you can, each year set aside some of your budget to bless your leaders. If you have a church that doesn't budget for those kinds of things, tap those adults in your church who will get it and want to say thank you along side your ministry who can help pay for some things. |
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