AS the semester begins to wind down and as some students are gone for the Thanksgiving Break, it is time to think about those tasks that do not get done often during the rush of the semester. If you follow my writing on college ministry much at all, you know I am a huge proponent of written thank you notes. First, I think we should not take for granted what our financial contributors (individuals or churches) do for us and we need to let them know their gifts matter and make a difference. But, there are others who need to be thanked for what they have done that made a difference in the ministry or encouraged you personally. So, here are some of my thoughts on thank you's.
HANDWRITTEN THANKS YOU'S SAY THE MOST.
It may seem old fashioned, but a hand written thank you note demonstrates more time and care was taken in doing it. It does not have to be long. On a half sheet or a card, it can be as simple as three or four sentences.
GIVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.
One way your note can be more is by giving a specific example of something that happened this semester that was a victory. It can be the story of "Joe" who came to Christ or "we were able to do our first Freshmen Retreat because of your gift." People remember and relate to stories.
PICTURES TELL STORIES.
Inserting a picture in your thank you note adds an extra dimension to it It could be a picture of the Freshmen Leadership Team or a group picture made at one of your events, etc. One year, one of my Associates sent a note to every Freshmen who was in a Freshmen Family Group and enclosed a picture of their group.
SOME OTHER IDEAS:
Go on line and make a card with a picture on it from this semester or a collage of pictures to use in writing your thank you notes. A picture with a crowd of students in it says way more than you can ever write down.
Take a book to someone who has been especially a blessing to you and or your ministry. It can be one you have just read and think they might enjoy it.
Take someone to lunch or for coffee (I do iced tea or diet coke). Tell them when you call to set it up, that you just want to say thanks for what they have done. This helps them know the purpose of the visit is NOT to ask for something else. AND, don't ask for something else.
Does your boss or supervisor deserve a thank you from you? Have they taken some heat for you or encouraged you when you needed it? Supervisors get a lot more blame than thank you's. Stun your supervisor with a thank you!
Saying thank you to your student leaders in some way helps them know they are not just taken for granted and what they do matters.
Remember to say thank you to your spouse who has put up with a whole lot this semester! Putting it into words matters.....a note left somewhere they will find it can be meaningful.
I am GRATEFUL TO YOU for reading my Blogs and for some I run into at meetings or wherever who tell me they read it. Writing a Blog is like writing into a black hole....it is not like speaking or preaching to a room full of people who are responding back to you. AND, SPECIAL THANKS to whoever it is that reads my Blog at 2:00 a.m. I hope it is helping your insomnia!
Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook and print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).
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