Gonna keep this simple. It seems like a no-brainer, yet it's so easy to miss opportunities to value the volunteers who lead and carry the ministry of your church. Here are some ideas:
- Bake a cake! The cake above was actually provided to one of our weekend teams by their volunteer leader - just because.
- Send a note - after the weekend serve.
- Thank them face-to-face.
- Cast vision as you thank them - remind them why they do what they do...why it matters at all.
- Demonstrate that you're happy to see them!
- Empower them with responsibility for the ministry.
- Take time to coach them. Invest in them. Believe in them.
- Provide serving roles of significance. Make it worth their time and energy.
- Thank them publicly. During a service.
- Throw a party!
- Don't assume they're "lifers". Give them opportunity to "re-up".
- Brag on them to other volunteers.
- Brag on them to other volunteers in front of the volunteer you're bragging about.
- Ask about their life. And care enough to listen.
- Remember what they told you... and follow-up.
- Pray for them.
- Trust them to pray for you.
- Build relationships.
- Develop reasonable spans of care, so you really can care, and people really do experience care.
