Now, open your eyes. You aren’t dreaming. In fact, this can become a reality at your church with a few tweaks or additions to your follow-through with volunteers. Since churches need many hands to work effectively, ministers are often quick to recruit volunteers but may forget to notice them, thank them, and express appreciation for them.

Doesn’t it feel good when someone notices your work and thanks you for your contribution? You might receive a thank you when you help a family member. It might be a friend who thanks you for being a good listener. 

Some amazing things happen internally when we receive appreciation.

Here are just a few of these reactions:

• First, our brain releases a feel-good hormone, which helps us to feel happy and calm.
• Next, our stress level decreases.
• Finally, we want to continue the thank-you-worthy behavior. 

As an elementary teacher, I recall an almost magical trick to help student behavior improve. It’s pretty simple—notice and celebrate the students who are following directions, and other students will emulate that behavior.

While ministry involves adult volunteers rather than children, the principle remains the same. When we express appreciation for our volunteers, they feel valued, their stress levels decrease, and they are inspired to continue serving with joy.

10 Practical Ways to Show Volunteer Appreciation

With Volunteer Appreciation Week just around the corner (April 20th-26th), here are 10 creative ways to celebrate your volunteers: 

1. Candy Bar Surprise: Set up a colorful Candy Bar with a sign that reads: Thank You, Volunteers! Provide snack-size candies and small bags or mugs so volunteers can fill them up as a sweet token of appreciation.
2. You’re So Sweet! Dessert Table: Host a dessert table with mini treats and a sign that says: You’re So Sweet! Encourage volunteers to enjoy a well-deserved indulgence.
3. Care & Prayer: Dedicate a moment during a worship service to pray over the volunteers, asking for God’s continued guidance, strength, and blessings in their lives.
4. Brag Bag Shout Outs: Include a Brag Bag section in your ministry newsletter, bulletin, or social media. Feature a few volunteers at a time or mention some collective things that make you want to brag about them. 
5. Thank You Card: Write a personal thank you card to each volunteer, stating a few reasons why they help your ministry run smoothly. 
6. Volunteer Appreciation Meal: Set a date and time, send invitations, and have a meal catered (by a restaurant or some great cooks in your congregation) to thank your volunteers with a yummy meal.
7. I Spy: Encourage team members to play “I Spy”—whenever they witness a fellow volunteer doing something great, they write it down and pin it on an I Spy bulletin board. Share these moments in newsletters or during meetings!
8. Coffee & Cocoa Bar: Set up a coffee and hot cocoa station with flavored creamers, sweet mix-ins, and sprinkles. Leave a note: You are our pick-me-up every Sunday—enjoy one on us!
9. Use Your Words: Instead of assuming volunteers know they’re appreciated, tell them! Speak directly to them, share what you admire, and highlight how their efforts make an impact.
10. Merci!: Place a sign on the wall that says Thank You in various languages. Teach each children’s or youth ministry class to say thank you in one of the languages. Invite them to use their newfound language to say thank you to each volunteer they see on a specified Sunday. 
    Here are some examples:

Appreciation All Year Long

While Volunteer Appreciation Week is great, we can be sure to spread the love throughout the year. Here are some ideas to thank your volunteers throughout the year:

• February: Valentine’s Day: Grab some heart cut-outs and show your volunteers some love with handwritten thank-you notes. You can even encourage others in your ministry to write a note to your volunteer team members to express their gratitude for the team. 
• March/April: Easter: We all love Easter surprises! Attach a note of thanks to a small, sweet, Easter treat.
• May: End of School Year: They made it! Celebrate making it through the whole school year. Share a meaningful prayer of thanks with your volunteers for their dedication throughout the year.
• August/September: Kick-Off Encouragement: We’re back! During your volunteer training meeting, begin with a few stories of impactful volunteers and share how valuable they are to your ministry. 
• October: Light up the Ministry: Share Matthew 5:16 on a printed note: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Attach a mini flashlight or candle as a symbol of their impact.
• November: Season of Gratitude: Take time during this thankful month to send messages, emails, or even small gifts to express appreciation.
• December: Christmas Cheer: A simple Christmas gift will show your volunteers how much you appreciate them. Consider a $5 gift card to a local coffee shop or a useful item with your ministry’s logo. 

Are you looking for a few new recruits to appreciate? Check out this free Volunteer Recruitment Guide. When appreciation is woven into your ministry culture, volunteers feel seen, valued, and motivated. They become more engaged, more committed, and more likely to invite others to serve alongside them.

After all, regular appreciation isn’t just about retention—it’s about creating a joyful, thriving ministry where people love to serve. So, start today. Notice. Thank. Appreciate. Watch your volunteer team grow—not just in numbers but in passion and purpose.

Elaine Pendergrass

elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com

Elaine comes with a wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning, child development, and children’s discipleship. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Studies and an M.A. in School Administration, both from Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC). Elaine has devoted her career to education and children’s ministry. She has served both in public and private schools as an Elementary teacher, Instructional Specialist, Preschool Director, and Head of School. She served as a Children’s Minister at two large churches in Houston, TX. Elaine is passionate about loving children, making disciples, and equipping families to raise their children in faith. Elaine and her husband David have two beautiful children, Hayden and Julia.

The post Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025: Don’t Miss It appeared first on Ministry Architects.

As you consider your role as a children’s minister, volunteer leader, or supportive presence in the life of children and families, here are a few suggestions to help with back-to-school emotions and healthy habits:

Children’s ministers should…

Become Aware:

Ask children and parents about the school they will attend, who their teachers will be, and what grades they will be in. Ask about their interests and what they plan to do this school year. In this way, you will have more knowledge about your flock and can follow up as the school year progresses.

Offer Help:

If you find that a child or parent feels insecure about school, offer to help. For children’s ministers, this may mean providing a listening ear, stopping by a home to deliver a back-to-school encouragement gift, praying with and for the family, or checking in intentionally to see how things are going, once the school year begins.

Stay In-the-Know:

Don’t miss the opportunity to stay aware of what is happening throughout the school year. Periodically ask parents how school is going. When you see children on Sundays, ask them about school. If you simply ask children how school is going you may only get a one-word answer: fine. Here are some guiding questions to avoid the dreaded fine answer:

• What is your favorite thing about school?
• Tell me about your teacher.
• Who do you play with at recess?
• What is your favorite specials class? (ex: gym, music, art, library, etc.)
• What’s something cool you learned about last week?
• Are there any special school events coming up?
• Is there anything that bothered you today?

Make Connections:

If you learn that a child is learning about ocean life or weather, help the children make connections to Bible stories. If a child is worried, provide them with a Bible verse to remember when worry creeps in.

• Ocean Life: 
  • God created fish. (Genesis 1:20-22)
  • Jesus called his disciples to make fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17)
  • Jesus helped the fishermen (who had been unsuccessful with their overnight fishing ventures) catch a bunch of fish. (Luke 5, John 21)
• Weather: Jesus calmed the storm. (Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25)
• Worry: Instead of dwelling on worries, think about other things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

Become a Partner:

Ask parents if their child’s school allows lunch visitors, classroom volunteers, or adults to read to children. If so, offer to visit or to volunteer at the schools represented by the children in your ministry. Allow interested parents to sign up to have you visit their child’s school. In this way, you will build relationships both with the children, the parents, and the schools, bridging a gap between church, school, and home.

Provide Resources:

If parents have questions or struggles, be a resource for them. This may mean finding articles, videos, or books about the subjects parents struggle with. Listen for common concerns, and compile a list of resources for parents. Here are some suggested topics:

• Discipline or healthy boundaries with children
• Teaching children faith at home
• Bullying
• Helping children with anxiety
• Age-appropriate development/learning
• Signs of learning differences or special needs

And finally, children’s ministers should pray for everyone:

If you click here, you can download a set of back-to-school prayers for free. These can be shared with your volunteer teams, ministry colleagues, and families in your community.

For more information, recommended books and websites, or to find resources for children’s ministry and Christian parenting, let’s connect! You can email me at elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com or visit Teaching Kids About God.

Elaine Pendergrass

elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com

Elaine comes with a wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning, child development, and children’s discipleship. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Studies and an M.A. in School Administration, both from Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC). Elaine has devoted her career to education and children’s ministry. She has served both in public and private schools as an Elementary teacher, Instructional Specialist, Preschool Director, and Head of School. Elaine served as a Children’s Minister at two large churches in Houston, TX. Elaine is passionate about loving children, making disciples, and equipping families to raise their children in faith. Elaine and her husband David have two beautiful children, Hayden and Julia.

The post Back to School: Resources for Children’s Ministers appeared first on Ministry Architects.

So, how do you choose the members of this search team? 

Here are some questions to help you start creating a short list of potential candidates for your search team:

Who knows the ministry well?

You want stakeholders at the table who hold both a vested interest in the ministry along with an understanding as to how the ministry fits with the larger church and aligns in mission. 

Who has interviewed, hired, or supervised others?

If you’re hiring for a role that will be responsible for building a team or overseeing other staff, it can be helpful to have someone on the search team who can assist in vetting the characteristics and skills uniquely needed for this responsibility.

Who has worked in human resources?

Previous hiring experience is not required to be a search team member and, yet, useful insights can be garnered from professionals in your church who are familiar with the dynamics of employer-employee relationships. 

Who has a sense of discernment, the ability to see God at work?

Meeting candidates who can give the right answers to practical questions is one checked box but getting a sense of a person’s spirituality and ability to lead from a place of faith is another. If there’s someone in your church who reads people well, and who has a voice and wisdom others value, they might be worth inviting on the team.

Who has the best interest of the ministry in mind?

Let’s say you’re searching for a new youth minister and a candidate comes along who can also lead worship. Many would see that individual as an enticing hire because of the expanse of their skills and the multiple areas in which they might be able to serve. But wise voices on the team, who have the best interest of the ministry in mind, will speak caution, aiming to ensure that the person hired has a passion for the primary ministry of focus, rather than someone who can answer the question, “what else can they do?”.   

Who is eager to participate in a process of discerning what is best for the ministry?

Stakeholders who are knowledgeable about the present state of the ministry are an immense help when it comes to determining how quickly a leader will be able to hit the ground running. You also want people on the search team who have the ability to see beyond the now and assist in deciphering whether or not someone’s approach has the potential for long-term success.

Who plays well with others, and acknowledges that there is no I in TEAM?

When building a search team, double-check that the collective can work together. If your experience would suggest that someone on your list will dominate conversation, be unswayed by others’ contributions, or struggle to hold team discussions and interview outcomes in confidence, this is not the team for them.

By now you probably have a strong short list of potential search team members. (If not, go back to the top and answer the questions by writing real names on a real piece of paper.) As you consider the gifts of individuals in your church, you’ll also want to think about how the team will work together.

Having assisted hundreds of churches in their searches, here are the top traits of the most successful search teams we’ve worked with at Ministry Architects:

They are connected.

The best search team members are people who know people. One key piece of the search process is networking. Simply put, this means your team is willing to tell others (as many as possible) that there’s an open position at your church. about potential candidates. To help spread the word about your exciting job, you want people who are willing to share about the role on their social media, talk about this opportunity at work and throughout the community, and commit to calling friends and family to recruit even more people to share the news. Connected people think about the net you’re casting and want to reach more, which impacts your applicant pool.

They are carefully curious.

The best search team members are those who aren’t afraid to ask questions thoughtfully and follow-up gracefully. Your team will want to select questions that help them get to know candidates and learn insights into the nuances of their skillset and giftedness, while simultaneously ensuring those questions follow state and federal guidelines. (Because there are some questions you can’t ask.)

They can keep information confidential. 

The best search team members are those who are able to keep information about candidates, including their names and other identifying information, confidential. This provides protection for those considering the position and for their families. It also protects the search process by ensuring that, for example, Aunt Jenny doesn’t hear that her niece is no longer considered for the position, causing a potential rift in the church membership as she shares this news with others. 

They care. 

The best search team members are those who can listen to, and respect, the opinions of others. Although options may vary, the search team is primarily in place to gather information, assess the top candidates, and make an informed decision. Caring about the people you’re serving with is just as important as caring about the candidates you are meeting and the one you will hire.

They can see beyond themselves. 

The best search team members are those who adopt this mantra: It’s not my person, it’s our person. It’s a bit like when your child decides to marry someone. Your child’s choice may not be your top choice, but you trust your child to make the best decision. In the case of the search process, each search team member trusts the opinions of those on the search team and makes the best decision based on the whole, not on who might be their favorite candidate.  

They commit to prayer. 

Although there are systems and processes that can help a search move along smoothly, the search is about more than the process. The best search team members are those who will prayerfully consider the candidates and acknowledge that this is not just a slot to fill. Instead, the team will invite God into the process, realizing that God can guide decisions and provide just the right candidate for the ministry. 

While the decision to choose the right search team members may feel daunting, keep in mind that just as God is involved in the search process, God can guide decisions about who should represent the ministry as it seeks to find the right candidate. Prayerfully ask God to provide the right search team members. Consider the skill sets and giftedness of your church members, and invite them into the process to find the best candidate for your ministry. And if you want a thought partner in this work, or would like to learn more about how to search for new hires, let’s connect!

Happy searching!

Elaine Pendergrass

elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com

Elaine comes with a wealth of knowledge about teaching and learning, child development, and children’s discipleship. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Studies and an M.A. in School Administration, both from Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC). 

The post Church Staffing 101: How to Select a Search Team appeared first on Ministry Architects.

1. Choose a theme for your Fall Kick-Off

Whether it’s a Back-to-School Splash (water games, water slides, water buckets and balloons – and more), a Back-to-School Sunday (built into your already-scheduled Sunday time frame), a Fall Kick-Off (football or soccer themed), a Children’s Ministry Fair (carnival themed with games and activities), or something completely different – choose an idea that will excite children and families and that fits your faith community.

2. Set a date

Look at the school calendars to find out when schools begin and plan your event for a time that takes into consideration all the families in your ministry. Some leaders avoid the weekends right before schools go back opting. Instead, they have their Fall Kick-Off a few weeks after schools begin. Whatever date you choose, be sure it’s on the church-wide calendar and your ministry calendar. Then, share it with families well in advance. 

3. Spread the word about Fall Kick-Off… with style 

Let your creative juices flow (or recruit someone else who can help). Design a graphic that includes the title of your event, a brief description, the date and time, the location, and who’s invited. The word free can be a big draw for some families! Then, use this graphic on postcards to send to kids (who love to get mail). Put up posters in local shops and around your church building. Finally, ensure that it’s posted on your church’s website and your ministry’s social media page or group.

4. Be prepared 

A Fall Kick-Off is a great time to exchange important information with parents. Maybe this is a good opportunity to publish and share your ministry calendar for the new school year or fall semester. Perhaps setting up a station where families can complete new emergency forms and photo releases is a good idea. Or maybe you have a specific next event you want to be sure everyone is invited to, and you create take-home cards strategically for that next event. Whatever it is, don’t miss this opportunity to think ahead and prepare to engage parents beyond the present.

5. Choose a winner 

Plan to do a drawing at your kickoff. By creating simple connection cards that collect a family’s names (parents and children), contact information, and children’s birthdates or current grades, you’re not only inviting them to stick around for something exciting – you’re updating your database. Set up a table with a themed basket (family movie night, family game night, make-your-own family t-shirts set, etc.), blank connection cards, pens, a sand bucket for families to place completed cards. At the end of your event, draw a card for the family that wins the basket.

6. Recruit volunteers for your Fall Kick-Off

This is the time to ask some of your behind-the-scenes people (or those who don’t want to serve with kids every week) to volunteer. 

1. Make a list of the areas you’ll need volunteers to serve in and determine how many volunteers / roles you’ll need in each area (e.g. setting up, serving snacks, greeting families, leading games, cleaning up, etc.)
2. Build a list of potential volunteer names. This can include senior adults, youth, whole small groups, board members, anyone who can help to make the Fall Kick-Off a success. 
3. Have a mini job description ready when you prepare to ask someone to volunteer for the Fall Kick-Off. (As an example: Hey, friend. I know it’s only summer but I want to get this on your calendar sooner than later. I’m planning our Fall Kick-Off and I’d love for you to help [greet families] for a couple hours. It’s on [Sunday, August 21] from [2:00 PM – 4:00 PM]. Would you be willing to [sit at a table and help families fill out a welcome card?] 
4. Make the ask. 

Need more help with recruiting for your ministry? Check out our FREE Volunteer Megaboard Tool!

7. Plan ahead 

Make a list of the supplies you’ll need, where you’ll want to shop, and who can help with this preparation. Then, gather supplies at least a week or two ahead of the event. 

8. Follow up after the Fall Kick-Off

After your kickoff, use the information from emergency forms and connection cards (from the drawing) to create or update your ministry database with children and family information. Use this information to invite families to attend regular programming and events and make plans to send birthday cards out to kids. 

Now that your Fall Kick-Off is planned, it’s time to put your feet up and enjoy summer, knowing that the kick-off for Fall is ready to go.

The post 8 Essentials for an Awesome Kids Ministry Fall Kick-Off appeared first on Ministry Architects.

1. Brag on them. Just as grandparents tell their friends how wonderful and talented their grandkids are, do the same for your volunteers. Brag in writing, to their family members, and in public settings. A little bragging goes a long way.
2. Give them treats. Find out what they like and surprise them. In Texas, Sonic is a big deal, and bringing someone his/her favorite Sonic soda, tea, or slush can mean the world to him/her. Candy, coffee, and other small treats offer an inexpensive, yet thoughtful, way to say thank you.
3. Leave a little note. Write a short note thanking volunteers for what they do. Be specific. Say things like this: I love how you make Bible stories come alive. Having you on our team brings us up a notch. Thanks for attention to detail.
4. Set up a coffee bar, hot cocoa bar, or dessert bar for your volunteer team. Be sure to include a sign that proclaims your thankfulness for the volunteers who serve.
5. Throw a party. Make your volunteer team your guests of honor, and make it a party to remember.
6. Say thank you. Sometimes we just get busy walking through classrooms and solving problems. Take a moment to stop and thank a volunteer.
7. Step in and help. It says a lot when a pastor (of any age group) is willing to do a thankless job. Change a diaper, take out the trash, or give your volunteer a restroom break to say thanks.
8. Send an unexpected text or message on social media. It’s easy to make ministry all business, but it is important to let volunteers know that they are not simply a tool to get work accomplished. So, with no strings attached and no opportunities to serve, send an electronic thank you.
9. Honor volunteers. Set aside a Sunday, or a week of volunteer appreciation. School teachers are honored for a week each spring, so why can’t we honor those who teach our children about eternal things?
10. Pray for them. Find out how you can pray for your volunteers, pray, and follow up by asking about the outcome of the prayer request. Tell them that you prayed for them.

Volunteers are a vital asset in churches. Without them, pastors (of all age groups) would be even busier than we already are. So, take a few moments this Thanksgiving to thank your volunteers.

The post 10 Creative Ways to Say Thank You to Volunteers appeared first on Ministry Architects.

It’s the season of school supplies and schedules. Social media is filled with first day photos, and stores are a sea of golden yellow and character-themed backpacks. It’s time for Back to School. While this season can be exciting for children (and especially their parents), parents can quickly get back into the day-to-day rut of asking How was school today? and receiving the dreaded answer: Fine.

Start the Conversation

It leaves parents wondering about what their children do all day and why they have so little to say about it. So how do we, as children’s ministers and parents, help our children talk about school? Let me suggest some guided questions, to encourage our children to spill the beans about what they do for nearly 40 hours per week. Instead of asking How was your day?, try asking questions like these:

• What was your favorite thing about school today?
• Who did you sit with at lunch?
• What friends/classmates were you excited to see?
• What was trending at school today?
• Tell me something funny that happened at school.
• What did you play at recess (or at PE/Physical Education)?
• Did you act like Jesus today? How?
• What is your favorite word on the spelling list?
• Which is your best subject? How do you know that you’re good at it?

Ask Probing Questions

Let’s say that that the child has had a rough day. It’s important that we allow our child the chance to be vulnerable and that we provide a safe place for her to talk about how she feels, even when emotions are less than happy. Here are some ways to get her talking about it in order to work through the tough emotions:

• When did you start to feel sad?
• Did someone say something that hurt your feelings today?
• Who are the popular kids in your class? Do you feel a part of that group? What do you have in common? What makes you different?
• Tell me the worst part of your day.
• Which is your hardest subject in school? Do you think you’re good at it?
• How did you feel when ________? (Insert the less-than-happy thing that the child mentioned.)

Validate Feelings

It’s important to validate our children’s feelings. We want to let them know that we care, and that their problems are real problems, no matter how small they may seem to grown-ups. To validate a child’s feelings, say things like:

• I’m so sorry that you felt that way.
• That must have really hurt.
• Wow, that would make me sad, too.
• What a mean thing to say! (if your child mentions something mean that was said to him/her)
• That’s a normal feeling, baby. It’s okay to feel sad.
• When you feel down, remember that your family (and God) loves you dearly. Picture us giving you a big hug. You are never alone.

Problem-Solve

Now let’s move to problem-solving. After we validate, there may be some guided questions that can help our children come up with solutions to their own problems. First offer your help and then ask if she would like you to brainstorm ideas with her. While we can’t control what happens in our child’s school day, we can help her consider solutions to make the next day a better one. Here are some suggestions:

• What might be a good way to ask for help when you get stumped on a problem?
• Are there lonely children that you might be able to help? How can you offer your help?
• What might be a good response to someone who says something mean? (That hurt my feelings. I don’t like when you say that to me. Those are mean words.)
• What can you do tomorrow to have a better day?

With some practice, we can help parents learn effective ways to talk about their child’s school day. When this happens, we help families develop strong communication skills, which will build a foundation for talks about so many things. Who knows? Our children may even begin to talk about their school day, as well as their concerns, hurts, and fears, without even hearing the question: How was your day?

The post Back to School: Let’s Talk About It appeared first on Ministry Architects.