Youth Ministry Resources: T’is the season again and 2011 is coming to an end. That means it’s an excellent time to thank your leaders and volunteers for their hard work in your youth ministry.

7 Ways To Show Your Gratitude

T’is the season again and 2011 is coming to an end. That means it’s an excellent time to thank your leaders and volunteers for their hard work in your youth ministry. Here are 7 ways to show your gratitude:

1. Send a Christmas Card

E-cards may be faster and cheaper, but there’s something to be said for old-fashioned, hand written Christmas cards. How about taking the time to write one for each of your volunteers? Don’t write them all the same generic thank you-message, but make it personal. Refer to specific things they did that made a difference. Find a Bible verse to encourage them.

Tip: make the Christmas card yourself or do it with your kids (that’s two birds with one stone, ‘cause to get to spend some extra time with your kids as well). Everyone loves hand crafted Christmas cards!

2. Write a thank-you note

Instead of just a Christmas card, you could also write a personal thank you note or letter to your volunteers. Sow them what their work means to you, the kids and the entire youth ministry.

Tip: there’s beautiful Christmas stationary for sale if you want to make your letter memorable and special.

3. Give a gift card

Do you know what your volunteers or leaders like? Why not give them a gift card from their favorite store? It doesn’t have to be a big amount, they’ll feel appreciated by the gesture.

4. Offer a service

If you don’t have money to give away, you can always offer your own time to them. You could babysit for them so they’d have a night together, help repair their roof or offer to mow their lawn. It won’t cost you much and it will mean the world to them.

5. Give flowers

Everybody loves flowers and plants. Around Christmas times, poinsettia’s always do well, but you also never go wrong with a bouquet of flowers.

Tip: attach a handwritten card with your thanks. Even when the flowers have withered, they can keep the card as a reminder!

 

6. Bake something

You could also bake something for your volunteers and leaders, like muffins, brownies or a cake. It won’t cost you much and they’ll have a very tasteful expression of your gratitude.

7. Cook them dinner

If the group of leaders and volunteers isn’t too big, why not organize a thank-you dinner for them? You can cook dinner yourself, but you could also ask other people from your church to help out by making a dish. Eating together is always fun, it’s great for the team spirit and it’s a very heartfelt way of expressing your gratitude.