Sunday School teachers minister weekly, often with little appreciation. Below are some effective ideas which can be used to encourage your staff:

1. Creative A Teacher Appreciation Bulletin Board

A special bulletin board display can honor your Christian education workers. It can include pictures of the teachers as well as information about them, such as their favorite scripture passage, Bible story, hobby, profession, and number of years of teaching experience. If you aren't artistic yourself, consider asking a designer or artist in the church to help you make the display as eye-catching and attractive as possible.

2. Start a "Spiritual Health Club" for Teachers

Who faithfully commit to teaching children year after year can begin to feel isolated from the rest of the adults at church. Talk with your teachers to see if they would be interested in starting a monthly Bible study group where they can fellowship, share prayer concerns and discuss teaching related issues. Members of your pastoral team may also enjoy joining this group. It's always a good idea to see to the feeding of the feeders.

3. Provide Teachers with a Research Team

Most teachers would appreciate having someone they could turn to, for help in finding unusual supplies or reference information. This is a good job for church members who are retired and able to spend some time occasionally tracking down what's needed.

4. Throw a Shower for Teachers

Kick off the school year with a Teacher's Shower. Ask the students to bring their teacher a small gift that could be used in the classroom, such as: Stickers, a book of stamps, pencils, crayon, posters, Kleenex etc. Have an evening of fun, games, and perhaps music.

5. Help Teachers Correspond with Their Students

Make it easy for teachers to send a note or take-home paper to an absent student. Give each teacher several stamped envelopes and a few sets of self-adhesive, address labels with names and addresses already printed on them. Whenever a student is absent, the teacher can simply put the child's class papers in an envelope, press on the correct address label, and drop it in the mail or have the church office do it.

(Excerpt from 101 Ideas That Work for Encouraging Sunday School Teachers and Other Church Leaders condensed from The Best of the Ideabook, David C. Cook Church Ministries. Used by permission.)

Copyright © 2003 by Creative Christian Ministries. Permission granted to reproduce for non-profit use.