Whether your ministry is planning events, leading Bible studies or putting together a community outreach, my guess is you aren’t doing it alone. Hopefully, you have a team of people working together to accomplish what God has put before you to do. And, hopefully, you are taking time to thank your volunteer team for all they do!
While saying thanks is a must, this week’s tip is to go one step further and thank your volunteers in personal and meaningful ways. By making it personal, you are showing an extra measure of care for your volunteers. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Handwritten Cards – Sending handwritten cards has become a lost art. Take an afternoon to sit down and write a card to volunteers to specifically thank them for their contributions of time and talent. The key here is be specific about what they have done and how it has blessed you and others. That’s what makes it personal!
Coffee or Tea – Maybe you buy a cute mug and fill it with her favorite blend of coffee or tea. Or, maybe this means you invite her to get coffee or tea with you. Taking time out of your day to just chat over your beverage of choice and share how her gift of time has blessed you is a great way to say thanks.
Favorite Snack – If you know a volunteer loves Oreos, get her a package and personally deliver it as a gesture of thanks. She’ll be touched that you remembered such a detail.
If you’re at a church that utilizes 50 to 100+ volunteers to plan events, I realize you aren’t able to thank each one in a personal way. This is where the key of leadership comes in – you thank your team leads who thank the individuals on their team.
For example, if your volunteers are divided into teams such as host, check-in, planning, day care, etc. and each of those teams has a team leader, you should thank those team leaders in a personal and meaningful way. Then, encourage them to be thanking those individuals on their team in personal and meaningful ways. Isn’t training others to reach their own God-given leadership potential what being in leadership is all about?
What are some of your favorite ways to personally thank to volunteers?
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