This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from purchased products at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Discover new ideas to appreciate the volunteers at your small church. Volunteers who feel they are a valued part of a team are often more productive, and happier, and offer their services longer. Be intentional in showing volunteer appreciation in your small church.
Showing appreciation to your volunteers is crucial to your teams, volunteers, ministry, and church. Without volunteers, where would any of our churches be? It is important to remember volunteers are just that. They are volunteers. There is no paycheck holding them to your ministry and your church. If they want, they can walk away at any point in time.
Most people want to “give back” and volunteer at their church. Those who volunteer want to be part of their small church’s success. It’s crucial we actively let them know we appreciate them.
Each Volunteer Adds Value To Your Team
If you haven’t already, shift your mindset. Grasp the truth volunteers don’t exist to do the ministry; they are your ministry. God has entrusted them to you. In any ministry we do, we meet needs. We meet the needs of the children, the community, and the congregation. Meeting needs doesn’t stop at the people we serve. It includes meeting the needs of those who serve with us on our teams.
What do the people on your team need? Affirmation? Verbal volunteer appreciation? Small tokens of thanks? Recognition?
Volunteers need to know…
- They are significant
- They make a difference
- Their ideas are heard
- They are part of a team
- Their efforts are appreciated
Each volunteer ADDS VALUE to your ministry and church, whether they help out in a big way or a small way.
As you adopt some of these creative ways to appreciate your volunteers, you may get a healthier and happier team willing to go the extra mile for your ministry.
21 Creative Ways To Show You Appreciate Your Volunteers
1. Individual Thank You Notes
We all have heard writing thank you notes is a good thing to do. Hint: Don’t just buy a card and sign your name. Write a short handwritten note inside, even if it is as simple as, “Carla, Thank you for helping at our event.”
Writing a short hand-written note inside a card shows
- you care
- you know their name
- you value their help
2. Small Gifts Of Appreciation
These don’t have to be expensive. Even an item from the dollar store shows volunteer appreciation.
Hint: Don’t just toss the gift at someone, take 30 seconds to put it in a bag with some tissue paper.
3. Remember Birthdays And Anniversaries
Acknowledge volunteers with a card, flower, or balloon for their birthday or anniversary. Make a list so you don’t miss someone. Even if you are a day (or a Sunday late), it’s important to honor your small church volunteer and celebrate their birthday or anniversary.
4. Team Game Nights
Bring your team together for a time of fun where you aren’t “talking about business.” Let them bring their favorite snacks and enjoy some fellowship.
5. Team Dinners And Picnics
It doesn’t really matter if dinners are simple or elaborate. Sometimes the “how much” you do isn’t as important as “that you do something.” It’s all about showing your volunteers you appreciate them so much, you are willing to give them dinner. Whether it’s pizza, BBQ, or taco night, it shows you value them and appreciate all they do in your ministry.
6. Ministry Team Christmas Party
Provide food, icebreakers, and some simple games or entertainment. Play Christmas music in the background. If you do prizes, remember, they don’t have to be expensive. Candles, fun Post-it notes, guitar picks, bungee cords, flashlights, and coffee mugs all make great prizes. (Dollar store prizes are great if you are on a budget)
7. All Church Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Try this way to honor and thank your volunteers and generate excitement for others to volunteer. These dinners are perfect to recognize the efforts your volunteers put forth for your small church.
8. Be Open To Listening To Their Ideas
Listening and then following through speaks volumes. Even if you say, “That sounds like a great idea! It’s not something we can do right now, but we can definitely keep it in mind for the future.” it lets your volunteers know they’ve been heard. Ask questions about their thoughts, and they’ll walk away feeling great!
9. Tell Them You Appreciate Them
Everyone needs affirmation. Let your volunteers know they are appreciated.
- “You did a great job”
- “Your efforts are appreciated”
- “Thank you for handling the balloons for the event”
- “You do a great job interacting with the parents – thank you.”
- “I’m so glad you’re on our team.”
Top Tip: This post, A “Thank You” Your VBS Volunteers Will Treasure, contains a link to get Team Care Card Steps & Fun Writing Prompts. This is created specifically for use with small church volunteers!
10. Volunteer Of The Month
This can be done within a specific ministry or as an all-church honor. Highlight one volunteer each month in some way (in the newsletter, social media, slideshow before service) and bestow on them a special honor such as a close parking spot, certificate, small gift, thank you card signed by the pastor, etc.
11. Take Volunteers To Workshops And Conferences
Show your small church volunteers you care about their professional development. Host a watch party for an upcoming Small Church Ministry Conference and provide snacks and water bottles.
12. Volunteer Swag Basket
Put this in a place where the kids can’t get to it. Each month, change to a different item. For larger or more expensive items, tag each item with a volunteer’s name. Change the contents every month. Fill the basket with random small items as a thank you.
Volunteer SWAG Basket Ideas
January – peppermint candies or tea bags and individual hot cocoa packets
February – mini hand sanitizers
March – snack-size candy bars
April – snacks and chips
May – coupons for buy one get one pizza from a local restaurant
June – mini water bottles
July – packs of gum or mints
August – small notebooks or journals
September – fun pens, highlighters, or sticky notes
October – baggies of graham crackers, marshmallows, and mini Hershey bars for diy s’mores November – fresh apples, oranges, or pears, OR mini gourds or pumpkins
December – Christmas ornaments
13. Certificate Of Appreciation
Create a Certificate of Volunteer Appreciation with a line to write something specific citing something the recipient did that was awesome. Present it to your volunteer at a team meeting or during a church service.
14. Provide Coffee And Donuts
Offer coffee and donuts before an event or before a church service. If you do this more than two or three times a year, change it up and offer water bottles and have a veggie and dip tray or packages of individually wrapped snacks.
15. Send Out A Monthly Email
Send an email to your ministry team (or the whole church) showcasing a volunteer. Write about who they are, what they do at the church that makes a difference, hobbies, their favorite Bible verse, etc. This doesn’t have to be long, but it does need to be personal. You want to highlight and honor your Volunteer of the Month.
16. Take Someone Out To Lunch
Invite a volunteer or two, at a time, for coffee or lunch. Spend time getting to know them. Ask about their family, their hobbies, their dreams, their vision for what they feel the Lord is calling them to do, etc.
17. Plan Regular Training Meetings
Show you care about professional development. These can be super easy and simple to do! If you purchased the replays from any of the Small Church Ministry conferences, show a replay at a team meeting and discuss it afterward.
Hint: Many Small Church Ministry conferences have team meeting agendas included in the VIP Bundles.
18. Set Up Your Volunteers For Success
Give volunteers the tools and direction they need to be successful. This may include giving them your expectations of what needs to be done, tools to do the task, a job description, or training to do a task well. However you do it, set up your volunteer to succeed.
19. Snacks At Special Events
Provide your volunteers with water bottles and snacks when they help with special events. This can go a long way to communicate you are thinking about your small church volunteers.
20. Give Your Volunteers Church Merch
For a special moment, give a volunteer something with your church name on it. Look for budget-friendly businesses that can print your church name on a tote bag, baseball cap, journal, notepad, t-shirt, coffee cup, or water tumbler. (Check with your church office, many times they are sent samples from supply stores wanting the church’s business.)
21. Use A Ministry Handbook To Give Direction, Focus, And Encouragement
If you give new volunteers a ministry handbook be sure to give them a church pen too! If you don’t have a handbook yet, check out our podcast, No More Boring Handbooks! Create a Ministry Handbook That Increases Momentum, Builds Trust, & Recruits Volunteers Too!
Volunteer Appreciation Can Make A Big Impact
If you read this post, you are on the right track. You understand the importance of appreciating volunteers. It goes beyond saying thank you. By appreciating those who serve at your small church, you are creating a church lifestyle or way of life in which you strive to let your volunteers know they are seen, heard, and appreciated.
You show you value volunteers for who they are, not just the acts of service they do. Demonstrate your support.
You communicate they aren’t just doing a task, your small church volunteers are stepping in and fulfilling the mission God has called your small church to be.
Finally, you acknowledge their heartfelt efforts to make a positive impact on your church, families, and community.
You can do this! You can make a difference in your church today by making a difference for your volunteers! Remember, volunteers who feel they are a valued part of a team are often more productive, and happier and often serve in ministry longer.
Read More:
How To Get Honest Volunteer Feedback
