Wallace SC&W
Creating an Encouraging Environment
One of the most wonderful blessings is to be part of a congregation where encouragement, appreciation and gratitude overflow.
Have you ever gone over and above to do something for others but the effort has gone without so much as a “thank you”?
We need appreciation and, as we face the struggles or challenges of life, we certainly need encouragement. But for most of us
(individually and congregationally) these traits don’t just happen by accident. Nor do they remain without some intentionality.
So what can we do to create and maintain an encouraging environment?
1. Start personally. Work on expressing appreciation at every turn possible. This is certainly a challenge for me because I find it
easy to “evaluate” situations. We need to be careful to not focus first on what “can make things better” but instead give praise. How?
Say it…who can you praise right now? Who has tried, offered herself/himself, accomplished?
Write it…make it a habit to write notes to the Elders at least once or twice a year. Also the
officers could use some valuing for their efforts.
Praise in front of or to others…let others know that you appreciate this person. This is good to do
for our kids but adults are nurtured by it as well.
Make it real…do praise but make it honest and real. I know people who give praise to others in
public but then in private complain and tear them down. Appreciation must be honest and
true or people will find out and then discount all of your praise.
2. Involve the Congregation. There are some people that are just naturals at giving encouragement and praise. Others of us need some help.
So why not provide a way for people to encourage one another. At one church I served we used what we called “Encouragement Cards”.
These were cardstock cards of postcard size with the Church’s return address/logo on one side and on the other the scripture from
I Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This passages was printed
on the upper part of the card leaving plenty of room to write a note below it. Placed in the rows or handouts on Sundays people
would fill out the card with a word of encouragement, appreciation or gratitude and then either hand the card to the person or put
them into the offering plate (then the church would address and send them out in the mail). These cards created a very positive and
thank-filled environment.
3. Create the job of “Praisers”. Have a ministry team whose job it is to notice and to lift up others. They can do this by:
Watching for special events or actions…notice when Joe fixes the lights and mention it to him.
Have them keep their ears perked for scholastic achievements, sporting accomplishments,
business successes and then congratulate them and lift them up to the congregation. One
person on this team could be a journalists whose “beat” is to write newsletter articles about
the past or present accomplishments of members.
Lift up the ongoing efforts…it is easy to put someone in a position and then move on to other
things. This can lead to feelings of being alone or even abandoned. How about this team
having a group that focuses on consistently showing appreciation on behalf of the
congregation? For instance, once a month have a surprise for the teachers such as a
Mound of Joy with a note, “The gift you offer is a Mound of Joy (Ps. 66:1)” (NOTE: Surely
you can come up with some better text for this.) There are several others groups that could
use this regular “touch” such as Deacons, Deaconesses, Committee Chairs, etc.
Another possibility is to have an annual celebration dinner for volunteers. During this time
have a sit down served meal with a program that highlights the difference made by their
efforts.
Be creative in how you express appreciation and thanks but by all means be intentional and consistent.
People need to hear it, feel it and know that they are valued and are making a difference!
3/30/08
