Join this discussion about ways to show our appreciation to our wonderful volunteer Sunday School teachers and leaders in Children's Ministry!

Being Appreciated as a Sunday School Teacher and Children's Leader

Some opening thoughts from Neil MacQueen

Back in the day, it was typical for churches to host a luncheon after worship and give gifts to their teachers and children's ministry team. You could even shop for a multitude of "Thank You" tchotchkes --pins, cups, candies. I've been given all of those. But these days, most churches are lucky to have all their teachers in attendance at the end of the springtime, let alone find their teachers willing to show up so they can be singled out for recognition. And for whatever reason, those pins and pens and daisies never seemed to mean that much to me.

Truth is, teachers don't teach for the recognition, but the congregation has a need to appreciate you just the same, to value what you stand for, and who you sit with every Sunday morning or Wednesday evening. The question is "how."

Speaking as a teacher and for many of my fellow teachers

We don't want a half-attended luncheon around tables that separate us.

...But if you really want to feed us your food and appreciation, have the pastor invite us for dinner at his or her house so we can mingle with each other and build relationships.

We don't want a pen that says "Jesus Loves You," a bunch of flowers, or a "certificate of appreciation" we'll just file away.

...But secretly, we do appreciate Starbucks and ice cream coupons. They can be a tasty gift that keeps the memory of your appreciation in front of us longer and literally on the tip of our tongue. Even better, have some of my students show up or take me there.

We don't like standing up in worship. (Was that a generational thing? My mom liked that.)

But we'll do it if you ask us. The only downside to that is the fact that these days and in the spring of each year it's hard to get all the teachers together in one service. Hurts the whole point if you tout "all your great teachers" and only three of us are there to stand.

Some of my most treasured mementos from teaching and leading are the photographs you gave me showing me with "my" kids -- the classes, the outings, the fellowship groups.

So for me personally, if you really want to show your appreciation, send a photographer around to get some great photos of me with my kids in action. Post them around the church and on the church's social media, then give me a framed copy of a montage of several of your great photos with a warm note written on the back of it that I can reflect on.  And remember to add names on the backs of all these photos!

The funny faces...

The times we prayed together...

The outings we went on...

And don't forget to put the names of the kids on the back of the photo!

And don't forget the faces of the adults I have served with. They are part of the reason I say "yes" to your recruiting.