• Awards dinner: designate an award for every staff member. Create an award i.e. Most friendly, Most creative Cook, Hospitality Queen, Servant of All, Time keeper, Computer Whiz, Bible-Answer Man, Campus Clown. Be creative! Be funny or serious - but let staff know how much you love and appreciate them.
  

• Circulate cards for each staff for a week. Have each person write in words of affirmation or Scriptures as a means of encouragement. At a recognition dinner hand out the cards.
  

• Make a surprise party to celebrate your leader – thank him or her for continuous service, affirm his giftings, his servant heart, etc. Prepare small personal tokens of thanks
  

• Leaders, make a plan to visit every ministry site your staff are involved in to publicly affirm and support their labor.
  

• Have a 'Gifting Party'. Specifically recognize each staff members' natural giftings, skills, abilities, and spiritual gifts (in contrast to 'character'). Have each staff member wear a paper on their back. Have staff and leaders mingle and write abilities or giftings they recognize on each staff member's papers. At the end let each staff member read and comment if they wish. Celebrate the giftings God has brought together on this team. Again, be creative
  

By Jane and Randy Rhoades