By Barb Tuttle

I was talking to a woman one day and telling her what our Children’s Ministry team was planning for an appreciation event at our church. The woman looked very sad and said, “I worked with the Sunday School Cradle Roll for thirty years and never had anyone do anything like that for me….ever.”

In children’s ministry we relate with children, parents, and many volunteers. Sometimes we forget to tell our volunteers how important they are to God, the ministry, and us. Showing appreciation needs to be a part of our DNA and needs to flow out of us in natural ways.

When I first started as a children’s pastor in 1993, I was amazed at the value of volunteers. How could ministry be done without them? I knew time was, and still is, the greatest commodity people have. People today have so many choices of ways to volunteer and the church needs to help people see the eternal value of changing lives.

How do we as leaders in the church motivate people to discover that they are creating life change in the church, and that there is nothing else that can take the place of that kind of involvement?

I think some ways to help people understand the effect they are having is through educating, nurturing, and encouraging them to understand the value of what they are doing for children and their families.

How do we express appreciation to those who take time by making the choice of helping create faith memories for children? How do we, as leaders, reinforce in them the gift they give children every week?

Communicate—No matter how large or small your church, communication with your Children’s Ministry team is invaluable. Taking time to provide information that impacts their class is honoring and says, “We value you”.

Connect—Ask how the teacher’s lesson went that day, and ask how you can be of help to your leaders. Listen when they are having a challenge with a child or parent to show how much you care. Inquiring about their personal lives helps to build relationships and helps people know they matter.

Collaborate—We want the team to be relational. Working together to create a team helps everyone feel involved and appreciated. When a decision is needed ask for input from some of the teach teams or other volunteers whom the decision is going to impact.

Coach—Encourage, support and pray for your leaders. Offer for the church to pay for a conference or workshop your leaders might want to attend. Have other speakers come and talk with your leaders throughout the year about ministry to children. Encourage your volunteers to be life long learners.

Celebrate—When a major achievement has been completed, celebrate! I am working on this one with my team. It is so easy to accomplish something, pat everyone on the back and move forward with the next items on the “To do” list.

Show appreciation—For children’s ministry at Mountain Park Community Church, we have enjoyed some meaningful appreciation experiences:

• We have a “Come and Go” Christmas brunch for all who work in the ministry at the home of the children’s pastor.
• We have an “end of the year” picnic with the volunteer’s entire family invited. After all, the entire family makes a sacrifice to support the person who teaches children every week.
• We send notes of thanks when someone takes time to do something over and above what is expected. We send a note when we see a teacher relating to a particular child in a kind, caring, and sensitive way. The children’s staff has agreed to send two notes of thanks each week. I have actually had teachers thank me for the note I sent them. People do not receive too many written thanks these days. Let people know how much they impact the ministry and let them know what they every week would be impossible without them.
• We give small gifts of appreciation.
• We take a muffin to each teaching team on Sunday morning.
• We have a coffee cart in our lobby and we created certificates for a muffin and coffee.
• On Sunday morning we have had a “Sharing Café” and the teach teams come and have breakfast with us.

Every team will develop its own ideas and develop their own creative ways to say thanks. The important detail is that we say thanks in a variety of ways.

I have found working with volunteers to be a rich and rewarding experience over the years. People do respond when they know they are needed, and they catch a glimpse of the impact they are making. We have a great opportunity to help them understand the joy of serving in the life of the church.

Author: Barb Tuttle is the children's pastor at Mountain Park Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona.