Five “No Bake” Holiday Treats to Honor Leaders

Christmas is just around the corner. It’s time for celebrating Jesus’ birth. It’s time to connect with family and friends. It’s time to come together as the church body. And with good reason, it’s the perfect season to honor leaders for serving loyally throughout the year. December opens the door wide open for spreading cheer with sugary holiday treats, especially as a way to say “thank you.”

But We Always Have Cocoa & Cookies

In many children’s and youth ministries, Christmas marks the halfway point. You could easily do what’s simple and typical; throw a party with hot cocoa and homemade cookies. But does that really say, “God couldn’t change the lives of kids, teens, and families without you”? I mean, if you don’t spend countless hours in the kitchen, how will you let leaders know how valuable they are?

Here’s my challenge to you. Try something different this year to send the message you’re hoping to communicate. Before you hit the store, stock up on frosting decorations, and start baking, figure out a way to honor your leaders without pumping them full of sugar.

With a bit of forethought, you could raise the leadership celebration bar this season and never pre-heat an oven! This Christmas is your chance to give out holiday treats in ways that truly touch your leaders’ hearts.

Hit Your Leaders’ Hearts Without Baking!

Here are five “no bake” holiday treats to highly honor leaders in your children’s and student ministries.

• Serving Snapshots

  Catch leaders being kind, passionate, generous, or patient in the moment. Notice when they serve kids, families, and other leaders with Christ’s love and take a picture. Frame it; then write a thank you note on the back before giving it to them.

• Christmas Card Blitz

  Encourage parents to express gratitude to every leader in your ministry. Provide each family with enough notecards, addresses, and stamps for each leader that serves their kids. If your church has men’s, women’s, and/or senior’s ministries, you could also ask them to write thank you notes and pray for your leaders. It’s a great way to pull the body of believers together around children’s and youth ministries.

• Double Honor Awards

  You may not consider your children’s and student ministry leaders to be “elders” according to 1 Timothy 5:17, but they certainly carry a high responsibility for spiritual teaching and shepherding. Create custom award certificates for each leader. Highlight their character (Most…Loyal, Honest, Prepared, Creative, etc.) and honor them at your next leader huddle.

• Holiday Childcare On Us!

  Provide several hours of free childcare to your leaders who are also parents of younger kids. Invite people who don’t serve in your children’s or student ministries to invest 4-6 hours on a Saturday before or during Christmas Break. Use your church building (or several larger homes of families). It’s a great way to invest in the leaders who give so much time to serving children and families throughout the year.

• Silent Night Cinema & Caroling

  Carve out time to show A Charlie Brown Christmas as a children’s ministry. Invite parents and grandparents to participate alongside your kids and leaders as well. End your time by singing a few favorite Christmas carols. You may think this needs to be highly produced, but simple is better. Get your most musical teens to lead your impromptu choir!

What Calorie-Free Ideas Worked for You?

Did you try out any of the five ideas above? How’d it go?

What other “no bake” holiday treats have you done this year to honor leaders? Spread the cheer!

You can share your fantastic ideas with us online @Awana. Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. It’s a wonderful way for you to spread Christmas serving cheer with us and so many more in the children’s and student ministry leadership community!