The first tip I have for you is something that has become foreign in a world with Facebook, Twitter, and email. There’s nothing quite like a hand-written note. The art of note writing is lost in today’s world...this is your chance to bring it back! Anyone can go online (let’s face it, you’re probably there anyway) type a friend’s name into the Facebook search and then type a quick “thank you” on their wall. Because this is the norm, I would even go as far as to say that hand-written notes mean more today than they did when we didn’t have the internet.
You may have to dig to find your stationary, but it’s so worth it. Stay away from phrases like “good job” and really tell that volunteer what you have seen that impresses you about them. Everyone wants to know that the person in charge thinks they are doing something right. So pull out that stationary, grab your pen of choice, and make someone’s day!
As a volunteer at my church, I know exactly how you can make me feel like a million bucks... just have everything I need for this week's lesson ready when I get to church. Now, there will probably be some prep work I will need to do before game time, but that’s to be expected.
We’ve all been there...you arrive at church knowing you are going to do an activity involving marshmallows. Lo and behold, there are no marshmallows in the supply cabinet. Now you are frantically looking around to find something that can replace marshmallows. Inside you're screaming, "HELP!"
I think you get the picture. Taking care of your volunteers will help them want to keep volunteering. They don’t do it for the money or their own glory and they don’t take what they do lightly. It’s easy to see what stressful situations can arise if there is no plan in place. Be their hero and make their Sundays smooth sailing (before the kids get there)! Be their friend. First, remember their name and other things they tell you like where they work, how many kids they have, etc. Recalling that information to them helps them to know you care about them as a person and aren’t just using them for their talents and abilities. Chat with them every week and see how things are going. It’s not about their work in the children’s ministry anymore, it’s about life.
Invite them into your home. There is nothing quite like hosting someone in your home. You are letting them see into a huge part of your life. You are inviting them, essentially, to be a part of it. You’d be surprised how much closer you feel to someone who has seen where you eat dinner and watch tv at night.
Call them for reasons other than to get them to switch days or volunteer for another event. You know it happens...volunteers see your name pop up on their screen and it’s like they can’t find the “talk” button. Call every once in a while just to see how their day is going. Call to invite them to lunch. Call to let them know you are praying for them. It will mean the world to them.
I hope this series has been helpful to you. These are all things that I’m sure you have thought about before, but maybe haven’t been able to implement. Start small and work your way up to being a person that everyone wants to work with!
How can you appreciate others better? What can you do to better love on others instead of waiting to be loved on? In what ways do you need to be appreciated more?
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