At the end of each calendar year, the staff of Calvary Monterey gathers for a nice Christmas dinner party. But, for over a decade, I have turned it into a year-end celebration and awards ceremony. It has become an anticipated event, and over time other leaders I've known have emulated it with their teams. As word has spread, I am sometimes asked how it works.
I believe leaders should take time to verbally appreciate and affirm the people working alongside them. I pray I will become freer in encouraging others in the years to come. So, with the hope of increased encouragement, I thought I would detail my process for you. Perhaps, especially if you are a leader of any kind, it will help you as you think through ways to honor your team.
For me, it all started as a youth pastor. After each mission trip we went on, I held an awards ceremony. All I would do then was go to a dollar store or market and pick up a bunch of trinkets on the cheap. During our final dinner together, I would stand in front of the group and hold up each item. Each one represented someone on the team. For instance, let's say I found a sweet pair of striped athletic socks, super 80's looking. I would hold up that pair of socks and talk about how athletes in the 80s used to rock gorgeous knee-high socks, taking their athletic prowess into a fashion zone so wonderful and beautiful it has yet to be repeated. And socks like these, I would add, were worn by the most enduring of athletes. So my "endurance award" goes to...and then I named the kid. After everyone clapped for them, I would then talk straight to them in front of the group about what I saw in them on that trip that showed me their endurance. Everyone got an award. Each award was weird and funny like that. Everyone loved it.
Fast forward to senior pastor time. God has given me a fantastic team. Right now, they are so dialed. I love them. So each year, during our Christmas party, I pick a theme and prepare these funky awards, an excuse to talk about each one of them. After eating dinner, I stand up and talk about them. Currently, it takes me about 90 minutes to get through the entire roster.
Various Themes
As I said, I always roll with a theme, and they are always weird. Here are some of my favorites from previous years:
Nacho Libre Quotes
I love the movie Nacho Libre. Many people on my staff love it also, while many hate it, and a couple have never seen it (don't worry, I have rebuked them privately for their sin). So for this theme, I looked up the entire script online and combed through it, looking for quotes or scenes I thought I could turn into awards.
For instance, there is a scene in the movie where Nacho is looking for that cutting edge to turn him into a stronger luchador wrestler. He turns to a strange mystic who tells him to drink from an eagle egg to receive its magical powers. Nacho says, "So, what you're saying to me is if I can eat this yolk, my moves will become the best in the whole world." So I gave one of my pastors the "So-what-you're-saying-to-me-is-if-I-can-eat-this-yolk-my-moves-will-become-the-best-in-the-whole-world-award." It was my way of saying his counsel and wisdom were an incredible aid to me personally, and that I am so glad for the direction he has given me over the years. Also, it was not my way of saying I believe in magical eagle egg powers. Don't misquote me!
Plastic Army Men Battle Scene
One year, I ordered a few cheap packages of various military and police figures. Then I went to a local craft store and bought a massive piece of cardboard. With a little time, some spray paint, and lots of hot glue, I was able to transform that board into a massive (and interesting) battle scene. There was a castle everyone on the board was trying to overcome.
I used every piece I could find. For instance, I made a boat scene on a lake with a soldier wake-boarding into action with his machine gun a'blazin. That award was the "Going Into Battle And Havin' Fun While Doing It Award." It went to our youth pastor, a guy who had just charged that year and had thrown himself into all kinds of crazy scenarios for the Lord. I had pre-cut the cardboard so each team member could keep their piece of the battlefield. I still see many of those pieces in their office spaces.
Action Bible Bookmarks
One year, I bought an Action Bible and searched through it for scenes I felt depicted each staff member. Then I cut out part of the scene, laminated it, and put a little yarn on the end to make it into a bookmark.
For instance, because our Tech Director does such a fine job building a platform for our Bible teachings to go out to the congregation and world online, I gave him the "Ezra's Platform Award." I cut out a picture of the platform Nehemiah had built for Ezra (and others) to declare Scripture to the people in Jerusalem.
Baseball Cards
One year, I bought an old box of baseball cards online, cards from the 80s-90s mostly. I just kept scanning those stacks of cards until it came together.
I gave one pastor a card of Cincinnati Reds player Dave Concepciones because this pastor has great ideas (you know, great conceptions). I found a card of White Sox player, Mike Deveraux, whose photo was of him talking on a massive mid-90s cell phone while in uniform. I gave that card to one young woman who was particularly adept at handling business. I gave another woman who is a very servant-minded and strong an Orel Hershiser card because his nickname was "the Bulldog."
Candy
This past year I went with a candy theme. One staffer received the Skittles award because I cannot decide which flavor of the candy I like best, just as I cannot decide which of her many likable qualities I like best. Another received the York Peppermint Patty award because that is one refreshing candy, and, as the leader of our hospitality ministry, she creates a refreshing atmosphere on campus. Someone took home the Jujyfruits award because that candy gets stuck in my teeth, and her counsel would often linger in my mind. Someone else received the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup award because there is no one way to eat a Reese's, and he was particularly good at figuring out ways to motivate each person God set before him. I gave each one of them their candy but also hot-glued every candy and name to a board, which will be displayed in our office throughout the year.
Giving the Award
I like the award ceremony to be as public as possible. If they are married, I want their spouse to be there. In no particular order (don't follow the org chart!), I pick up an award and talk about it for a bit. I want them all silently guessing who I might be talking about. Then, after announcing the person, I talk about what made me want to give them this particular award. For instance, in our most recent year, I gave someone the Snickers Award, so after presenting it to him, I explained how the Snickers' commercials show people who aren't themselves until they've eaten a Snickers. I then talked about how, after times of fellowship together with him, I recall what I got into ministry for in the first place. I feel more like my true self after spending time with him.
For me, though, after explaining the award, I like to riff on the year they just had, personally or in ministry, and celebrate it. I am greatly helped at this point by conversations with other leaders on our team who have watched each staffer work and serve the Lord over the previous year. They help me prepare by telling me stories of how each member of the team performed during the last year. That said, I try not to parrot what someone else has told me but rather talk about what I have witnessed myself. Somehow, hearing from the senior leader about your performance and life is always a blessing.
Finally, I like to end each award with something I feel I've received from the Lord for that person. For instance, this previous year, I spent some time praying for each staff person, asking God for one word I could give to each of them. As an example, I gave one young leader on our team the word "strong," because, though a quiet guy, he has a strength we all admire. I wanted to affirm that strength in him in front of the whole team.
After I've explained the award, praised the recipient, and given them a specific word, I say, "so this award goes to..." and everyone applauds them. I then walk to them with their award, hug them, and tell them I am proud of them. After they return to their seat, I move on to the next award. The entire award takes me about five minutes, and I do have to keep the night moving, but it is so much fun.
Be Creative
The ideas for how to conduct a time like this are limitless. I've never searched online, but I'm sure the interwebs are full of great ideas on how to honor your team. My awards are never professional-looking, nor are they expensive, but they are totally and completely and fully from me. As lead pastor, it seems meaningful when I take time out of my schedule to shop for candy bars, construct a battle scene, or dig through movie quotes in an attempt to praise each team member. The year is busy and fast-paced, so it is loving for a leader to slow down, push out competing tasks, and take some time to think about their team. Be creative in the process. Do you. But bless your team.
Other Elements
We connect our award ceremony to our annual Christmas party. I don't know if we'll be able to do this forever. Our current staff is a lot larger than when I started, so it takes quite a bit of time to get through each award. Someday, we might have to separate our Christmas party from the award ceremony, but I will only make that move if we are absolutely forced to because there are considerable benefits to having it during our Christmas gathering.
For one, the Christmas season occurs at the end of the year, so it is a natural time to have a year-end celebration. Second, it gives us a natural time to look forward to the year to come. Third, spouses are present at the party, and it is incredibly important for them to hear the praise being heaped on their mate.
I cannot understate the importance of this last one. For someone on staff, it is lifegiving to know their spouse has heard a little more about their importance to the church. They give a lot of their life and energy to the ministry, and I know there are moments they go home needing understanding and compassion. They need to feel that they are in this with someone. To know their spouse has heard a little of what their work has done helps foster that unity. For the spouse who isn't on staff, it is helpful to hear about the spouse's importance to the organization. The ministry year requires sacrifice, and that sacrifice touches families and marriages, so it is good for those families to stand reminded of why we sacrifice.
Closing Thought
Go for it! However you celebrate your team, make sure you do it. I love the way we do things, but if I could improve anything, it would be to get in a better rhythm of praise throughout the entire year. I want to grow in this area because I admire the people around me so much. And I know how much encouragement means to me.
