A handwritten note says a lot. It says that you care, it says that you noticed. And in the speed of technology age of SMS and email, it also says you took the time to be personal.
We started a new informal care process in our student ministry this week. It’s called “Give Me a Card After the Team Meeting.” Catchy title, I know!
It’s really simple – all anyone has to do is leave an addressed card on my desk and I’ll write a handwritten note to that person that week. It can be anyone, inside or outside the church. One of our own or someone who helped us cut through some red tape. Someone who let us take something on loan or someone who opened up their home for a small group. Doesn’t matter, just leave it on my desk!
We’ve already had 3 takers – one of our volunteers had a family member pass away and a couple others for some encouragement through some medical issues. I’m excited because there’s something powerful about a handwritten note, and now I’ve got more eyes and ears out there helping me send notes to the key players inside and out that are helping serve our student ministry.
Who can you send a note to today?
JG
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 15+ years and serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Great thought man! I try to send hand written thank you’s a couple times every 6 months to our volunteer staff. It’s a great way for them to know that I care about them and like you said, they know I’ve taken time from my busy schedule to care. Thanks!
We started doing this as a staff this year. Every week we must write 5 thank you or encouragement cards to people in our ministry or in the church. I have gotten awesome feedback from them. People have loved the fact that I have taken the time to write a simple card. I got this 200 count note card set from Target (see link below) and a silver pen for under $15. It has even inspired some others in the church to start writing cards. Try it today! http://www.target.com/Set-200-Blank-Notecards-Envelopes/dp/B000J1WZO4/sr=1-1/qid=1237497191/ref=sr_1_1/192-5876922-0046234?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3A200%20note%20cards&page=1
Here I thought you were going to ask for Xbox Live Cards to help you get back online …
Still a great idea and it will work in a small congregation I can write botht he parents in our tiny little church to encourage them. I did find myself writting a hand written note to my kids’ principle at school. You never know how it will be used.
Thank your wife for the Bday card too, and we still have your christmas presents sitting here from last year too … maybe I will box them up and send them tomorrow.
Now if you’d just make it a hand-stamped card, I’d be perfectly happy! But baby steps, baby steps… LOL
Love you, big bro!
I like the handwritten cards, but shouldn’t we be sending them out rather than having people come to us and say “send me a card”? Just seems a bit…well, anyway…I like the other ideas
The office team is bringing the cards to me – to send to other people in the church or in the ministry. Not sending it to them! ha!
JG
Ok…makes sense…that is much better…It looked like you were saying people that wanted you to write them a note of encouragement had to come to you and say “please write me a note”. Which …well anyway that sounds a lot better