By Rev. James W. Moss, Sr.

It constantly amazes, and at times distresses me, that many Christians have poor self-images. Frequently, the first step in any strategy for spiritual or numerical growth must be to improve people’s self-image. Following are two prescriptions to improve a sense of self-worth.

Go somewhere alone. Look into a mirror. Repeat your full name and say, "I love you." Then compliment yourself on something you appreciate about you. Each time you do this exercise, change the compliment. Repeat this prescription three times a day for two weeks. Does it work? Yes! Just as you believe the bad you tell yourself about yourself, so you’ll come to believe the good as you practice this exercise.

When self-doubt appears, repeat the following litany: "I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. That makes me a brother or sister of Jesus. That makes me a child of the King. That makes me royalty. That means I’m OK." Repeat this prescription as often as needed, at least daily.

Just as each individual has a self-image, so does a church. It’s very difficult for a church to have a good self-image if all the people have poor ones. You must make conscious efforts to improve both the corporate self-image and the image of each of those who are part of your church.

Fact: People in churches with poor self-images don’t invite others to participate in their churches.

Intentionally pass out "warm fuzzies" rather than "cold pricklies." A warm fuzzy is a word or deed calculated to make someone feel good. Warm fuzzies work! A cold prickly is a word or deed calculated to make someone feel bad. Cold pricklies work as well!

Fact: Any affirmation given must be the truth. False affirmation is manipulation.

The pastor should share a word of affirmation in each worship service. Sometimes the affirmation may appear in the announcements, during the worship or even during the sermon. Each week, compliment some aspect of the life of the church.

Express confidence in the church’s capacity to function. Constantly affirm that you believe the church can do what you’re being asked to do.

Create a minimum of two victories for the church over the next 12 months. Do at least two projects or programs that you’re nearly certain will work. These will be different for each church. One church may host an old fashioned hymn sing. Another may hold a festival or project to help someone. Then celebrate the victory.

Build a victory list for your church. List everything your church has done well over the last five years. Encourage your people to build personal victory lists, too. Individuals should list 25 things that they’ve done well in their lives. For example, among other things, I played the part of Hiawatha in a school play in third grade. Important? Yes! I’m telling you about it 46 years later.

Do you know the difference between winners and losers? When losers are about to make decisions, they review their past defeats. Winners review their past victories and then make the decisions. Distribute your church’s victory list each time you have all-important decisions to make. Individuals should review their victory lists each time they must make decisions.

Recruit five people in your church to send two thank you notes a week to people in the church who have done something well. Blanket your church with thank you notes.

Host an annual banquet to celebrate someone who has given unusual service to your church.

Fact: Affirmation generates a positive spirit and reproduces itself in others in the church.

And remember: Celebrate… Celebrate… Celebrate…Celebrate!

(This article appeared in the "Fall, 1996" issue of "The Herald.")