Saying “thank you” costs virtually no time, energy, or money, but it can make a tremendous impact on the people around you and the vitality of your church. How?
To encourage people, John Ankerberg writes, literally means to put courage into them. People whose efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated in the church might think their work doesn’t matter or they aren’t very good at it. They might begin to doubt their gifting and even quit when the ministry gets too taxing. Recognizing people’s efforts and thanking them is one way to put courage into them so they’ll keep going. Encouragement has been called “the oxygen of the soul” for good reason.
Of course we shouldn’t live for people’s praise and appreciation, and we must press on in the Lord’s work even when no one else notices. But there’s no reason to be stingy in our appreciation of others—let’s dish it out generously. We’re exhorted in Hebrews to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24), and saying “thank you” might be the simplest way to do that.
People whose efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated in the church
might think their work doesn’t matter or they aren’t very good at it . . .
Recognizing people’s efforts and thanking them is one way
to put courage into them so they’ll keep going.
Imagine how each of the people below might feel if just one person (maybe you!) noticed and appreciated them this week. Faithfully doing this from one week to the next can even shift the culture of your church as the contagious habit spreads.
Here are a few easy ideas.
- Take ten minutes to email your elders to thank them for the hard work they do. Too often, the elders only hear from people when there’s a complaint—which can feel like the straw that broke the elder’s back when he’s spent years shepherding people through messy and difficult struggles, teaching them, laboring in prayer, and shouldering day-to-day ministry tasks. A word of thanks encourages those who are “keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account,” Hebrews 13:17 says. “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
- Thank the preacher after the sermon. If you were convicted or encouraged by something he said, tell him—or you can simply say, “Thank you for teaching us” as he walks by. Even if it wasn’t the most dazzling sermon you’ve ever heard, he spent hours preparing it when he could have been doing something else. Your brief acknowledgement of his labor will remind him that it’s worth it.
- Thank your kids’ Sunday school teachers when you pick them up—and teach your kids to do the same. After poring over the lesson all week, these precious people spend their Sundays feeding our kids spiritually instead of being fed themselves. Many parents give Christmas gifts to their kids’ teachers every year, and that’s great, but verbally thanking them every week can be even more meaningful, especially if you can mention something your kids learned or enjoyed about the class. When I was teaching Sunday school, a sweet pair of sisters always said “Thank you for teaching us!” every time they left my class, as I know their mom diligently trained them to do. Their words were a breath of fresh air after what was always a fun but challenging hour of teaching a roomful of kids who were hopped up on fellowship donuts.
- Thank the people who work behind the scenes. Kitchen and nursery workers get up early to get things ready or miss part of the service or fellowship time to serve you. Pop your head as they’re doing dishes or cleaning up toys and let them know you appreciate their hard work.
- Thank the people who have invested in your spiritual well-being over the years. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thes. 5:12-13). Take a minute to send an email, text, Facebook message, or handwritten note to an old mentor or Sunday school teacher, telling them specific ways they helped you. It’s nice to receive appreciation in the moment, but sometimes the impact of someone’s influence isn’t fully felt until years later. Sharing that with them will help them grasp the eternal impact their efforts have made.