The Importance of Saying Thank You

The longer I'm in the ministry, the more I realize how important it is to say thank you. Perhaps this's because thank you's are so rare in our line of work. Not that we always deserve them, but sometimes there's nothing more meaningful than a warmly worded note or a perfectly timed phone call that comes from someone in our ministry to thank us for what we do. There's a folder in the front of my file cabinet that holds all of the thank you notes I've received over the years. Granted, it in't very big, but there's no way you could measure what it means to me. On those days when the details of ministry make me want to hang it up and quit, I turn to that folder, and thumb through those thank you's that remind me that God is at work in my ministry and in the lives of my students. I believe that thank you's are far too rare in youth ministry and each of us needs to do all we can to make sure we thank the people involved in our programs for what they do.

If you've been a player in the youth ministry game for any amount of time, you know that it would be impossible to survive without the support of advisors, small group leaders, parents, and church staff members. Just think about all those meals that show up on your program nights ready to be devoured by your middle school students.  Those didn't show up by accident, but by the organization and hard work of parents and volunteers who care about your ministry. What about the advisor that goes on every high school retreat to help lead a small group and also helps you lead a 3:00am water balloon raid on the cabin next door. After a six-hour van ride home on Sunday, he still has to show up to work at 8:00am on Monday morning. He doesn't do it because he is a glutton for punishment, but because he loves Jesus and he loves your students.

All of us have examples like this, of individuals involved in our ministries who make our lives easier and our ministry more effective. They give of themselves in a variety of ways, some big and some small, but each one is crucial to the survival of our ministries and to youth ministers like us. So as another program year draws to a close, take this opportunity to say thank you to all those people who made a difference in the lives of your students. Whether your team of volunteers is large or small, take the time to write them a card or type out an email to let them know what a difference they have made in your program. Better yet, get on the phone or invite them to grab some coffee with you and tell them that you are grateful for all they have done for your students.