One of the challenges I face as a children’s ministry leader is consistently giving specific and meaningful praise to our staff and volunteers. Most ministry leaders genuinely appreciate their teams, but in the busyness of planning events, caring for families, recruiting volunteers, and preparing lessons, encouragement can unintentionally become an afterthought.

The good news is that we can change that. We must be intentional. We must choose to become leaders who actively encourage and celebrate the people God has entrusted to serve alongside us.

Words carry tremendous power. A simple word of encouragement can strengthen a weary volunteer, inspire a team member to keep serving faithfully, and remind someone that their ministry matters. Hebrews 10:24 challenges us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Encouragement isn’t optional—it’s part of our calling as ministry leaders.

Here are five ways we can become better at praising and encouraging our staff and volunteers.

1. Develop a Plan for Praise

As ministry leaders, we often spend a great deal of time thinking through how to coach, train, and correct team members when needed. Yet many of our compliments are spontaneous and generic.

Phrases like “Great job today!” or “Thanks for serving!” are kind, but they often miss the opportunity to communicate real value.

Instead, take time to notice specific actions and celebrate them intentionally. Put as much thought into encouragement as you do into coaching and development.

2. Keep It Specific

The most meaningful praise is specific. Let volunteers and staff know exactly what they did and why it mattered.

A simple framework is:

• “When you did…”
• “This is what happened…”
• “Here were the results…”

For example:

“When you welcomed that nervous first-time family at check-in, they immediately felt comfortable. Because of your kindness, they stayed, their child had a great experience, and they told me they’ll be back next week.”

Specific praise helps people see how God is using their service to impact children and families.

3. Be Genuine

People can tell when encouragement is sincere and when it’s simply a leadership technique.

Take time to learn from your volunteers and staff. Ask how they approached a challenge. Invite them to share ideas. Celebrate their gifts and contributions.

When people know they are valued for who they are—not just for what they accomplish—they become more engaged and invested in the ministry.

4. Don’t Use the “Praise Sandwich”

Sometimes leaders give praise only as a setup for criticism:

“You did a great job today, but…”

When praise is immediately followed by correction, people often remember only the critique.

There is a place for coaching and improvement, but encouragement deserves its own moment. Celebrate wins without attaching a list of things that could have been better. Address needed corrections separately and at an appropriate time.

5. Be Timely

The closer encouragement is given to the moment it happened, the more impactful it becomes.

Don’t wait until the end of the month or the next volunteer meeting. Send a text, make a phone call, write a note, or speak to them right after you see them serving faithfully.

Also, avoid connecting praise directly to a new request. You don’t want volunteers to feel like the compliment is simply preparation for asking them to do more.

Know Your People

Effective encouragement starts with knowing your team. Some volunteers love public recognition. Others would rather receive a personal note or private conversation.

When we take time to understand how each person receives encouragement, our praise becomes more meaningful and impactful.

Our volunteers and staff are investing in the spiritual lives of children and families every week. They deserve to know that their faithfulness is seen, valued, and making an eternal difference.

So here’s the question: Are you encouraging your team effectively?

What would happen if you spent as much time developing meaningful encouragement as you do planning programs, solving problems, and addressing challenges?

The ministry leaders who build healthy teams are often the ones who make encouragement a priority.

A memorable takeaway for ministry leaders:”Spend as much time developing encouragement for your volunteers and staff as you do solving ministry problems.”