I’m sure you’ve heard this popular quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
As children’s ministry leaders, we depend on volunteers to do ministry alongside us. Therefore, it is vitally important that we care about them and show them regularly. I mean genuinely care. How? Here are a few suggestions:
- Engage them in conversation–about ministry. What role do they see themselves in? How can you equip and support them? How can you work together to make the ministry all that God intended it to be? Take an interest in them as a valued ministry partner.
- Engage them in conversation–about something other than ministry. Learn about their family, their job, their hobbies/interests. Take an interest in them as a person.
- Ask how you can pray for them–and do it. You can do this by calling or emailing them or having them fill out a prayer request card when they serve.
- Follow up with prayer requests. This not only lets them know that you have covered them in prayer but that you are genuinely interested about what is happening in their lives.
- Acknowledge special days. Send a card (via snail mail or electronically) acknowledging birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a new baby, get well wishes, etc. I have done both and my volunteers love it!
- Surprise them every now and then. Mid-way through our summer programming a few weeks ago, I surprised my volunteers with donuts and juice one Sunday morning with a sign that said, “We love our Summer Serve volunteers!” We don’t have food on Sundays very often, so these are special treats for them. It was so refreshing to see them sit down and enjoy a light breakfast and conversation with one another. You could also surprise them with candy, a handwritten thank-you or balloon bouquets.
What would you add to the list?
