As someone who served on staff in children’s ministry for nearly 20 years and now serves as a volunteer, I’ve seen this season from both sides. I know the pressure of finding the right gift for your team, and I know what it feels like to receive them. A few have been deeply meaningful, and a few… well, not so much.

What volunteers really want for Christmas is to know they matter.

Yes, gifts are fun, thoughtful, and even a little quirky. But the thing that sticks with volunteers long after the ornaments and mugs are packed away is the feeling of being seen, valued, and appreciated as a vital part of the ministry. The gifts that last are not the items themselves… it is the heart behind them.

For me, it was the leader who said, “You bring something special to this ministry.” Or the handwritten note calling out how God was using my spiritual gifts. Or the pastor who prayed over me before service.

Your words are a gift that will stay with your volunteers far longer than anything wrapped with a bow.

Give Your Words as a Gift

If your ornament, swag T-shirt, or Amazon find conveys appreciation, great. But don’t stop there. Speak life over your volunteers:

• Affirm their spiritual gifts. Tell them how their strengths bless the ministry.
• Offer encouragement. Be specific. Name what they do well.
• Pull someone aside for prayer. A 60-second intentional moment is more meaningful than you think.
• Write it down. A handwritten note gets kept, reread, and cherished.

Recognize Each Volunteer According to Their Service

Not all roles are equal in responsibility or commitment, so your appreciation shouldn’t be “one size fits all.” If someone serves once a month, a small gift is appropriate. But if you have volunteers who show up early, stay late, and carry significant leadership… please don’t hand them the same $5 gift card and pencil as everyone else.

These leaders are pouring into your ministry in extraordinary ways. Honor them with extraordinary gratitude through your words, your intentionality, and, yes, sometimes your budget.

Appreciation Shouldn’t Wait Until December

One of the best gifts you can give your volunteers is a culture of appreciation all year long. Here are some simple but powerful ways to intentionally show appreciation throughout the year:

1. Pray for Your Volunteers by Name
Years ago, I worked with a pastor who kept the entire church on a spreadsheet by birthday week. Every week, he prayed for a group by name and mailed each person a handwritten card. The number of people who were deeply blessed by that simple act was unbelievable.

And if Pastor Mike can do that for every member of a large church, surely we can do it for our volunteer teams.

2. Keep a Volunteer List and Schedule Check-Ins
Create a list of all your volunteers and make it a goal to:
• send a text or make a phone call
• invite them to coffee or lunch
• check in on how they’re doing spiritually, emotionally, and practically

Just once a year per person. That’s it. But here’s the key: track it. Know who you’ve connected with and who still needs follow-up. Spread it throughout the year so you’re not overwhelmed in December.

3. Ask Every Volunteer for a “Favorites List”
If they’re new, include it in the onboarding process. If they’ve been around forever, hand them out anyway. Knowing their favorite drink, candy, store, hobbies, or even their shoe size gives you a powerful tool for meaningful appreciation.

Because let’s be honest: if your default gift is a Starbucks card but they don’t drink coffee… It’s not really a gift. But a cold Diet Dr Pepper with a bow on it? A $10 gift card to their favorite restaurant? That’s intentional.

And Now… What Not to Do

Listen. “The thought does NOT count” when the thought is:

• “I forgot to buy your gift this year.”
• “We didn’t have enough in the budget for volunteers.”
• “Sorry, we didn’t plan anything.”
• “Ministry is tight right now, so… here’s nothing.”

Please, friend. Don’t do this. It may be honest, but it communicates the wrong message and reflects poorly on you and the church. This is not the moment to be self-deprecating.

If your budget didn’t allow it? Write an incredibly thoughtful Christmas card and make sure volunteer appreciation is added to next year’s budget.

If you forgot? Give them a New Year gift and let them know you want them to start the year reminded of how valued they are.

Don’t give excuses. Excuses from leaders create excuses from volunteers.

But appreciation? That creates faithfulness. Commitment. Joy. People show up for ministries that show up for them.

Need a Little Gift Inspiration?

I put together a curated Amazon Gift Guide for Ministry Volunteers full of Christmasy items, practical favorites, and thoughtful little gifts your team might love. Use it as inspiration or grab your gifts right from the list.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/christenclark/list/I00JSFH6SMS2

This Christmas, give your volunteers the thing they need most:

appreciation, encouragement, and the reminder that their ministry has an eternal impact.

Christen Clark is a speaker and consultant with 17 years in full-time church ministry and holds a master's degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is the creator and host of the “Collide Kids Podcast” and “7 Minute Devotions for Busy Parents”, fostering meaningful faith conversations for children and parents. Christen and her family happily reside in Cumming, Georgia. Go to christenclark.org to connect with her today!