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Bethel Temple Community Church in Evansville, Ind., has ended a 21 day campaign aimed to stop its congregation from complaining. The challenge started when church pastor Steve Schwambach passed out 1,900 purple wristbands sporting the phrase “No complaining! Php. 2:14” to his congregation.Schwambach took the challenge before he introduced it to his congregation. The challenge originated at a church in Missouri. Schwambach found the challenge to be difficult and powerful.“For the first month, I didn’t make it even 24 hours,” Schwambach said. He broke his first bracelet from switching wrists so often.“I got a little head start on this campaign with the Summit team and one of the first things I realized was that when I started a sentence with, ‘This is not a complaint, but...’ well, it usually WAS a complaint! It really does help a lot to do this with a friend or family, you will be amazed at how much of our ‘normal’ language is complaining!” said Jill Kincaid.The challenge worked with Cheryl LeClaire, a Bethel Temple participant. The first day of the challenge, she caught herself in about five complaints. So far she’s made it for three days without a complaint.The challenge was the campaign of Christ Church Unity in Kansas City, Mo., where the Rev. Will Bowen came up with the idea of using a wristband memory aid. “When you’re complaining, you’re focusing on what you don’t want,” Bowen said.“If you stop complaining, then you’re open to the blessing.”Kathy Schaefer, a bus driver in Tacoma, Wash., also had an experience with the “no complaining” bracelet. She said, “I want to do my little part to make the world a better place so I try to contribute something positive whenever I hear a complaint. It’s hard sometimes not to add to it. I think these bracelets (I ordered 5 and I hope it’s OK to order more as I may need to, I have a feeling) will make it even better. Thank you for putting positive intentions into the world and for helping all of us do it better.” As in the days of Noah...
