Appreciation Ideas for a Youth Pastor
Youth Pastors are pastors with a passion to reach young people with the message of hope and love that Christ brings to their lives. They understand young people need to be challenged as well as have silly fun. Appreciation ideas for a Youth Pastor draws on humor to show appreciation and share the very real ways the Youth Pastor makes a difference in the lives of the teens.
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Handmade Cards
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Get the youth group together for a time of creating one-of-a-kind cards of appreciation for their Youth Pastor. Provide more than paper and pens. Offer markers, different colors and textures of papers. You might even wish to provide yarn, buttons, ribbons and glue. Let the members of the youth group use their imagination to express their appreciation for the Youth Pastor through heartfelt statements, sharing special memories or writing poems. To save on time, you can also have the members of the youth group bring cards from home, either purchased or handmade. Decorate the envelopes. Put the cards in a basket to present to the Youth Pastor. Teens, who wish, may read their cards during the presentation.
Banner or Posters
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Lay out a piece of banner paper long enough that all the members of the youth group have an individual "space" on which to work. Let all the members of the youth group express their appreciation with both text and creative illustrations on the banner. You may provide markers, ink stamps and paint. Or, instead of a banner, provide poster boards and let the youth group divide into groups to create special posters of appreciation. Groups can, in turn, explain their posters before presenting them to the Youth Pastor.
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Progressive Appreciation
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Plan an appreciation progressive party as a surprise appreciation celebration for the Youth Pastor. Different homes host part of an evening's meal. Everyone has an appetizer at the first home, a main course at the second, a salad at a third, etc. At the final home, set up for the appreciation celebration with balloons, cake with text of appreciation in the frosting, and punch. Make sure everyone arrives at the last home before the vehicle in which the Youth Pastor is riding. If the Youth Pastor is married and has a family, make sure they are at the last home as well. When the Youth Pastor enters yell, "Surprise!"
This is Your Life
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Get together with the youth group to talk about the difference the Youth Pastor's ministry has made in their lives. Talk also about some humorous incidences. Include spouse or other close friends or family and ask about pivotal times or events in the Youth Pastor's life. Divide into groups and write short skits about different events throughout the Youth Pastor's life, including both humorous happenings and some of those times the Youth Pastor's ministry made a difference to members of the youth group, helping them on their spiritual journey. Present the skits during an appreciation night.
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References
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