Relationships matter. Jesus modeled over and over in the Gospels with his friends to not do life alone (Luke 10:1-2) It is expected that people in families have personal relationships based on their family status – parents, siblings, cousins, etc. But what about those outside our families? What about relationships with those in our church, or those we are trying to bring into the family of God through salvation? How do we build relationships with people in our ministries in order to impact them for Jesus Christ?
Someone once said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Here is a list of 127 creative ways to build relationships with people in your ministry. (They are broken down into age group categories for your reference.)
Preschool
1) Listen to them
2) Play with them
3) Laugh with them
4) Talk to them
5) Color with them
6) Share a snack
7) Get down on their level
8) Play I-Spy
9) Be goofy
10) Encourage their imagination
11) Pray with them
12) Challenge them to a silly face competition
13) Compliment them
14) Invite parents over for dinner
Elementary
15) Make up a secret handshake
16) Call them by name
17) Laugh with them
18) Remember their birthday with a card or small gift
19) Praise a child sincerely for their accomplishments
20) Be a reading buddy at their school.
21) Greet them when they arrive
22) Say goodbye when they leave
23) Keep your word
24) Interact with their parents
25) Invite their family over for dinner
26) Give your undivided attention to them
27) Know their favorite things
28) Remember their pet’s names
29) Tell them stories about your childhood
30) Ask them what they are passionate about
31) Affirm them with your words
32) Take pictures and display them in class
33) Be their biggest fan
34) Go to their games
35) Bring flowers to their recitals
36) Make a get-well basket with activities in it when they are sick
37) Remember their names
38) Keep a prayer journal
39) Follow up with their requests later
40) Ask parents about their struggles
41) Find common ground
42) Celebrate little things in a big way
43) Send postcards when you go on vacation.
Teens
44) Use social media
45) Text them every day
46) Motivation Monday
47) Trivia Tuesday
48) Would You Rather Wednesday
49) Thankful Thursday
50) Fun Fact Friday
51) Saturday Sound Off
52) Sunday Thoughts
53) Offer to pick them up for activities if their parents can’t take them
54) Ask them to make visits with you
55) Take an interest in their interests
56) Go to their games
57) Go to their concerts
58) Take other teens from your class to cheer them on
59) Find out where they hang out
60) Tell them how God is working in your life
61) Ask them how God is working in their life
62) Listen carefully
63) Remember the details
64) Know their pet’s names
65) Ask about how you can pray for them
66) Send them texts to let them know you are praying for them before a big test
67) Send them cards
68) Do Bible Reading Plans Together on YouVersion app
69) Eat lunch with them at their school
70) Celebrate random holidays in class
71) Find out their unsaved friends names
72) Keep a spreadsheet of your group’s interests
73) Share about what you struggled with as a teen
74) Give Bible verses relating to their current struggles they can memorize
75) Partner up with a senior to teach a skill to your class
76) Read the same books they are reading (maybe even the school ones)
77) Teach them how to pray
78) Send a Postagram for no reason
79) Make up Class Superlatives
Parents of Teens
80) Keep parents informed
81) Create a phone “category” to keep all parents’ numbers in one spot
82) Ask parents how you can pray for their kids
83) Host a family event
84) Text parents encouraging things you see about their kids
Adults
85) Ask someone to run errands with you
86) Carpool to events
87) Host an apple tasting
88) Have a game night
89) Ask how you can pray for them
90) Have a playdate with your kids
91) Create a meal train for families in need
92) Venmo $5 for a coffee when someone is having a hard day
93) Remember important anniversaries. Not just the happy ones.
94) Wedding anniversaries
95) Death anniversaries of loved ones
96) Divorce anniversaries
97) Host an oil change event for the single moms in your class
98) Meet up at a local festival (Cider Days, Harvest Days)
99) Host a book club
100) Do Bible Reading Plans together on YouVersion app
101) Buddy up and volunteer to clean a widow’s home.
102) Ask someone to make a hospital visit with you
103) Workout together
104) Complete a class puzzle
105) Host a prayer meeting in your home
106) Bake cookies together and take to the local fire department
107) Christmas Carol at a nursing home with your care group
108) Follow up on their prayer requests
109) Have phone conversations
110) Meet at the Farmer’s Market
111) Make a Playlist on Spotify for someone who needs encouragement
112) Go on a float trip
113) Be real. Share your own struggles
114) Use a communication app with your class for prayer requests/updates
115) Take someone to lunch during the work week
116) Send encouragement on big days. (First day of school, graduation day)
117) Go for a hike
118) Invite someone to sit with you in church
119) Compliments are free
120) Smiles are freer
121) Tell jokes. But not inside ones.
122) Know their favorite sports teams
123) Also know their least favorite sports teams
124) Have a pickleball tournament
125) Observe stress levels
126) Sign your kids up on the same sports teams
127) Be present
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