Today’s guest post comes to us from Dale Hudson for MinistryTodayMag.com.

Volunteers. They make children’s ministry possible. They serve faithfully, impacting the lives of kids and parents.

Stop for a minute and think about the volunteers you are blessed to serve with. Think about what a blessing they are to the kids and families. I know you are appreciative for their heart for the next generation.

I also know you want them to continue serving with you for the long haul. But, there is something that can cause you to lose them.

What is it? It’s not taking time to let them know you appreciate them.

The vast majority of volunteers never hear the words “Thank you. I appreciate you!” And when people feel like they are being taken for granted or that no one cares enough to thank them, they check out.

A 10-year study of more than 200,000 employees shows that 79 percent of people who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason.

If people need appreciation to keep doing a paid job, imagine how much more people who are volunteering their time need to feel appreciated.

Here are some tips for expressing your appreciation for your volunteers:

• Be sincere. Volunteers know when you are expressing appreciation to “motivate” them and when you are expressing it from your heart in true gratitude for who they are and what they do.
• Say it face to face. Expressing your appreciation by a text, email or note is good. But nothing has the impact like looking at a volunteer face to face and expressing how much you appreciate them. When you express appreciation face to face, a volunteer can see your appreciation by your facial expression and they can hear the thankfulness being echoed through your words and emotions.
• Ask them how they do what they do so well. If you want to make a volunteer’s day, when you are expressing your appreciation in front of other people, ask the volunteer how they do what they do so well.

Click here for more tips and to read the full article.

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.