October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This is the month when many churches will take some time to show their appreciation to their pastor for his love and ministry over the past year. Some churches will take up a love offering for their pastor. Many will put a basket in the vestibule for members to place cards in with kind sentiments they want to share with their pastor. A few churches may even have a dinner or a reception — a nice time to get together to express their feelings for their pastor.
Here are 10 gifts to give your pastor, not just during Pastor Appreciation Month, but the other 11 months of the year as well.
• Your prayers. This is the greatest gift you can give your pastor.
• Your love. A pastor who really shepherds his people will expend a great amount of love. His heart will be stretched and often broken.
• Your unconditional support. Researchers say that other than being the president of the United States, the most stressful “job” is that of being the pastor of a local church. “The pastor is not always perfect … but he is always the pastor.”
• A little grace. The next time you start to get upset with your pastor, take a minute, breathe and consider that he is just human, too. He has good days and bad days. You never know what burden he might be carrying, what issue he’s having to deal with.
• A “good word” to your pastor. The average pastor hears a lot of things he’s done wrong. Share something that he’s done right.
• A “good word” for your pastor. If your pastor is a gifted Bible preacher, a visionary leader, or a caring pastor, tell your friends. Make sure everybody knows just how great you think your pastor is.
• Your faithfulness. Your faithfulness to the ministry of your church says volumes about how much you really love and appreciate your pastor. Don’t just say it or give it, show it.
• Time with his family. He won’t be any good to your family if he’s not any good to his family. No pastor minds taking a call or making a visit if there is a real need, but make sure it is a real need before your call in the evening or on the weekend when he’s with his family.
• Time by himself. The demands of being a pastor today are exponentially greater than they were just 25 or 30 years ago. Let your pastor get away to a good conference where he can refresh. Send him on a hunting or fishing or golf trip. Allow him to recharge his batteries so that he can come back energized for the ministry the Lord has for him there.
• A financial gift. Most pastors don’t become pastors to get rich or have a lot of money. They do it because of the call of God on their life. Consider giving a gift card for a nice meal. Or, even better, a little extra money to do whatever they want to do with it. (BP)
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