Ah, Christmas — the season of giving. For church leaders, it's also a critical time for volunteer appreciation.
Our small group leaders are amazing! They carry the heavy work of discipleship, pastoral care, awkward conversations, logistics, late-night texts, and a thousand little moments that keep our churches connected. This is the heartbeat of a healthy discipleship culture. This time of year is a perfect chance to remind them that we see them and we appreciate them. Below are three simple (and free!) gifts you can give your leaders this Christmas.
1. The Gift of Community: Prioritizing Relational Discipleship
Encourage your groups to meet once during the holidays with no lesson, no planning, and no leader role other than enjoying the community they’ve created. Let it be a party, a meal out at a restaurant with no kids, or a white-elephant gift exchange — something that prioritizes relationships over content.
When leaders get to simply be present with the people they serve, they leave refilled. This reinforces that biblical community is about life together, not just completing a curriculum.
2. The Gift of Rest: Preventing Volunteer Burnout
We ask a lot of our leaders. Give them permission to pause. Schedule the group term to end for the holidays and be explicit about when it restarts. Don’t send lesson plans, resources, or other materials for groups who should be taking a break. Communicate the expectation clearly to everyone so leaders aren’t tempted to keep meeting weekly through the break.
Sometimes our best leaders need protection from themselves. The ones who refuse rest are often the first to burn out. A healthy leader produces a healthy group; a burned-out leader produces a disbanded group. Preventing volunteer burnout is essential for ministry longevity. Help them guard Sabbath rhythms this season.
3. The Gift of Clarity: Strategic Ministry Planning
Ambiguity is a ministry killer. Effective strategic communication is key to retaining leaders. Before the break, give leaders clear, practical answers to these three questions:
- When does the holiday break begin?
- When does the next group term begin?
- What will we study when we return as a group?
For this last question, be sure and check out these three discipleship plans as a part of your ongoing small group plan and discipleship strategy. Each begins with Rooted, and each has a different emphasis:
Clarity reduces anxiety, prevents awkward reboots, and helps leaders return ready to lead.
One Final Thought for Church Leaders
What gets celebrated gets repeated. By giving community, rest, and clarity this Christmas, you’re doing more than gifting a moment — you’re shaping a culture where serving is sustainable and contagious.
This is how you build a thriving leadership pipeline. We want our group leaders in it for the long run!
Be generous with your affirmation this year; your leaders will thank you for it.
Start the New Year with a Clear Strategy
You can give your leaders clarity, but do you have clarity on your church's overall health?
Take the free Discipleship Strategy Assessment to evaluate your ministry in less than 5 minutes. You'll receive a personalized report with actionable steps to support your small group leaders and improve spiritual outcomes for the coming year.
----------
By Chad Cronin
Rooted Pastor & Coach
