One of our adult leaders called me last week to let me know what a fabulous job the student leader working with her was doing. So, I wanted to acknowledge the student leader’s service with a personal note. Here’s an edited version of what I wrote:
Dear [Student Leader},
I wanted to let you know how wonderful it is to have you serve as a student leader in [Children’s Ministry]. I’ve heard how great you are with the children – how you welcome them, help them get settled, how you make them laugh and how helpful you are to [the adult in charge].
Keep up the good work. Serving as a student leader is a big responsibility. When children come to church, it is our opportunity to share God’s love with them. That opportunity is a gift from God, one that is very important and one that we must take very seriously.
You are doing a fabulous job of sharing Jesus with the [children] and we are blessed to have you on our team. You are awesome!
Love,
Miss Kathie
Do you have students serving in your ministry? How can you encourage them this week?
My husband and I spent the year before we were married in a long-distance relationship (he lived in Alabama while I attended college in Virginia). During that year, we exchanged a lot of cards and letters. Every now and then I read through the notes just for fun. That’s easy to do because the notes sit in a floral basket next to my bed. The basket also contains cards that my children made in their preschool and elementary years as well as other keepsakes from special people in my life.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post encouraging leaders to speak their volunteer’s love language. Since my love language is words of affirmation, I treasure notes (hand-written and electronic) containing encouragement and thanks.
Yesterday, I received an email from one of my favorite home and garden magazines. They declared today “Write a Thank-You Note Day”. What a great idea, I thought.
Hand-written notes have almost become outdated in lieu of e-mail and text messages, but in my opinion, hand-written notes will never go out of style.
So, consider writing a thank-you note to someone you appreciate today. Make it full of reasons why you appreciate them and how much they mean to you.
Don’t have a clue who you might bless with a hand-written note? Here are some suggestions to get you started:
If you’re a KidMin leader:
Your spouse
Your children
Your pastor/supervisor
Someone who serves in your ministry
Someone behind the scenes but serves your ministry (i.e. your janitorial or church office staff)
Your mentor
If you’re a KidMin parent:
Your spouse
Your children
Your child’s principal/teacher/school administrator
Your child’s coach
Your children’s pastor/director
If you’re a KidMin volunteer:
Your spouse
Your children
Your ministry leader
Someone who serves alongside you in ministry
Parents of a child in your class
Challenge: Go ahead – write a thank-you note today, but don’t let it stop there. Take the time to regularly write thank-you notes to people you are thankful for. You can write one a day, one a week, or one a month. Just write it – your words and the thought behind it will bless you as well as the recipient.
