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Creating a Culture of Appreciation
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12:13 pm
March 11, 2009


Jane Fryar

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“If you tell them they’re doing a good job, they’ll get too proud of themselves.” I once worked with someone who actually said that out loud one day about those he supervised. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what eventually resulted. This approach creates the exact opposite of like to call “a culture of appreciation.” (I wonder what the apostle Paul would think about this approach to motivation? See Ephesians 6:22 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Hmmmm.)

A culture of appreciation notices what people do—the small things (like watering plants) and the big things (like leading this weekend’s junior high lock-in). A culture of appreciation creates more and more volunteers. And it instills confidence in those volunteers so that they are more likely to step up to bigger challenges.

I just wrote an article for CTA’s April newsletter. It gives several examples of ways everyone in a church or Christian school can contribute toward a culture of appreciation. (You can sign up to receive our newsletter for free here–left-hand column, scroll down.)

Such a culture won’t just happen. Everyone needs to contribute toward it. Everyone can help to create momentum toward it. You don’t need to be the pastor or women’s ministry director or Sunday school champion (though if you are in leadership, your influence can matter a lot!).

Is your church especially good at showing appreciation? Or do you have a horror story? Either way, I’d love to hear about it. We might actually encourage one another in encouraging one another!


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11:02 pm
August 11, 2009


Traniese

Member

posts 3

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Post edited 11:05 pm – August 11, 2009 by Traniese


I attended a church for almost nine years and most of the people there didn't appreciate anything.  They just didn't care.  The Pastor wasn't given respect like he should have been given.  The members used to take advantage of him because he was so nice and kind to everyone.  He used to buy members and non members food, give people money and never asked for it back.  Sometimes he would be very sad cause people wouldn't show up to Bible class or for Friday night worship.  They always had excuses. 


I used to contribute so much time there, taking pictures of the congregation and making beautiful posters for the church.  The more I gave the more they wanted and then they used to get an attitude if I tell them that I didn't have much ink or enough paper to do my projects for them.  I never accepted anything from any of them because I did these things from my heart and that's what I loved to do. 


When my husband and I got married there hardly anyone gave us any gifts at all.  The pator just kept saying that the people didn't have much money.  The members had money for what they wanted to have money for.  My husband and I used to pay our tithes, give offering and we was told that we have to pray for the other people cause they've been doing the same thing before we ever came there.


Anyway the last thing we did for the church was bought new curtains, tablecloths, cleaned the eating room where everyone eats and never clean up, fixed the blinds that people kept bending to look out the window.  The people just didn't care what we did.  They were very unappreciative. 


We no longer attend that church.  The Pastor passed away earlier this yearCry and his wife and son took overConfused.  We attend a church where people care SmileSmileSmileand accept us just for attending there.  They are very respectful and they are very considerate of others.

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