29 March, 2024

25 Ways to Show Volunteers They Matter

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by | 14 September, 2015 | 0 comments

Tips, tactics, and testimonies by church leaders who know the value of a volunteer.

Compiled by Jennifer Johnson

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1. Last fall, I wrote a note to each Bible study leader mentioning specific strengths I see in her. Then I read the notes aloud in our start-up leader meeting. The fun thing was they weren”t expecting this type of affirmation at the beginning of the year.
“”Nancy Karpenske, women and spiritual transformation pastor, LifeBridge Christian Church, Longmont, Colorado

2. A couple of times a year we hold major serving events in our community. In our weekend services after each of these events, we recognize those who served with hoots and hollers.
“”Steve Bond, senior pastor, Summit Christian Church, Sparks, Nevada

3. Our kids” ministry staff sends cards to celebrate birthdays and baptisms in the family, as well as sympathy cards when volunteers experience a loss.
“”Shannon Garcia, kids programming director, Traders Point Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indianapolis

Colorful balloons

4. We hold special events for our volunteers and try to make these gatherings especially fun and festive. A great menu (with attention to individual needs, gluten-free, vegan, etc.); festive décor; a creative game (if time allows); a personal thank-you gift””these are just simple ways to let them know how grateful we are to serve God with them. Also, when possible, we provide child care during the event. It”s one less thing our dedicated mom and dad volunteers have to try to figure out.
“”Karen Mahan, event coordinator, LifeSpring Christian Church,
Cincinnati, Ohio

5. Some time during their volunteer effort [at the North American Christian Convention], I try to find them working, stop and share a hello, and thank them personally for their work. Volunteer success is “high touch.” Saying hello and showing appreciation is a necessary “touch.”
“”Larry Collins, managing director and meeting planner, North American Christian Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio

6. We provide a safe place for “pushback.” We need feedback from them in order to be truly effective. “Tell us where we”ve let you down.” “What do you need to be successful?” If we can have an honest conversation, it can lead to a more effective relationship with one another as well as a better ministry.
“”Timothy Dunn, Clovernook site minister, LifeSpring Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio

7. We had a special appreciation night for all of our volunteers. The theme was “teamwork.” Each volunteer was allowed to bring a guest. The staff wore sports uniforms and served the volunteers desserts and hors d”oeuvres, and we played games involving teamwork. The highlight was comedian Bob Smiley. Everyone left smiling””it was an awesome night!
“”David Welsh, senior pastor, Central Christian Church, Wichita, Kansas

8. Before a brunch for our volunteer leaders, I bought some blank nine-piece puzzles. I wrote each leader”s name on the middle piece of a puzzle and asked them to write areas of their life that we might overlook or be unaware of on the other eight pieces. It”s about seeing people as more than their label. My goal is to recognize my volunteers as whole people, not just Bible study leaders, which is a hazard of a large church where we don”t all go to the same service or small group or Sunday school class.
“”Nancy Karpenske

9. We send weekly e-mails to volunteers, recognizing outstanding efforts and offering encouragement from their staff coordinators and leaders.
“”Emily Forman, director of marketing and communications, Christ”s Church of the Valley, Peoria, Arizona

10. Each volunteer shows up with so much going on in his or her life, both wins and struggles. We really pray for them, and they pray for each other.
“”Karen Mahan

11. Every year for the last seven years I”ve sent my volunteers an invitation to a surprise destination dinner. The dinner is only for my youth coaches and their spouses””no kids. We meet at the church and ride together in the church bus and they have no idea where we”re headed.

Before getting out at the restaurant, I tell all of them how much I appreciate everything they”ve done over the last year for the student ministry. Then we go in and eat, and we do everything””appetizers, dinner, desserts. It”s a great night with a great group of people.
“”Todd Payton, student minister, Jefferson Church of Christ, Rural Hall, North Carolina

12. We practice honoring “members in ministry” the last Sunday of each month by calling them forward at the end of the service and gifting them with a small package of M&Ms. We”ve also given Mr. Goodbars to really good servants or 100 Grand bars to priceless volunteers. There are a million ideas, although giving Zero bars to those who don”t volunteer is not a good idea! We have fun with it because that”s the spirit of our congregation, and we do it every month because we have lots of phenomenal volunteers!
“”Robbie Phillips, lead minister, Hill N Dale Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky

13. Honor them with information. We want to provide as much information to our team as possible. We are still working on how to do this best, but in settings where we”ve gathered to celebrate or thank them, our goal is to give them “insider” information. Treat them like they are a “street team” and give them the exciting news of what”s ahead for the church so you have heads shaking in the right direction when something gets rolled out.
“”Timothy Dunn

14. We developed “CCV Bucks,” gift cards we create in-house that are good toward purchases at our bookstores on each campus. We hand these out to volunteers as a way to say thank-you.
“”Emily Forman

15. Explain that high challenge will lead to high expectations. I don”t think volunteers want to skate through what they are doing. Give them high challenge and when they accomplish that goal, praise the snot out of them!
“”Timothy Dunn

16. Occasionally I give everyone a book I really like (and can afford). Some favorites are A Little Pot of Oil by Jill Briscoe, A Confident Heart by Renee Swope, and Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot.
“”Nancy Karpenske

17. We recently started a “fun cart” that we periodically wheel from room to room with candy””the good kind!
“”Shannon Garcia

18. I send hand-written thank-you notes to each of my volunteers at the conclusion of their commitment or at the end of the event they volunteer for.
“”Tony Johnson, children”s minister, Hazel Dell Christian Church, Carmel, Indiana

19. When high-capacity volunteers step aside, we bring them forward and publicly thank them in our services.
“”Steve Bond

20. We provide free meal cards for volunteers who serve two services on a weekend.
“”Emily Forman

21. I try once a quarter to give a small gift to each volunteer. I have given candles, candy, mugs, tea towels, and prayer journals. I also keep several gift cards ($5 or $10 from places like Starbucks, Subway, and Panera) in my desk drawer to give for special occasions or when a volunteer goes above and beyond””for example, staying an additional hour to cover for someone else or stepping in at the last minute.
“”Tony Johnson

22. I”ve preached on Romans 16 and the list of names Paul writes in that chapter, and then invited 5 to 10 folks to participate in the sermon by coming to the microphone and sharing about someone who has blessed them in a significant way, currently or in the past.
“”Robbie Phillips

23. I think it is helpful to recognize the love language of the volunteer. Some like a gift, some like a dinner, some like a handwritten note, some like as little public spotlight as possible. It”s important not to treat them all the same.
“”Nancy Karpenske

24. On Easter we had volunteer appreciation areas with food and drinks and thank-you signs.
“”Shannon Garcia

25. I host a dinner and planning session for all of my youth coaches at my home every August. We cook out for the leaders and their families and play games, do group building activities, and plan out the calendar for the year. Everything is taken care of for them””they just need to show up. I”ve been told by the leadership of our church that I have the best group of volunteers in the church; [when] they ask me why, all I can say is we do life together and I treat them very well.
“”Todd Payton

Jennifer Johnson is a freelance editor and writer living outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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