When the letter from a state Baptist official arrived in the summer as a reminder of Minister Appreciation Month in October, the congregation at one church got a bee in its collective bonnet and went right to work.
Barry Fields, who was chairman of the deacons at that time at Circlewood Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, took the floor during a business meeting and suggested that the congregation, out of gratitude, purchase a vehicle for the pastor.
Ten years before, the church had given a vehicle to its pastor, Herb Thomas, which he was still driving, said Fields. But that car had, well, seen better days.
The motion passed unanimously and funds began to come in quickly for the purchase. There was so much excitement about it that the church members just couldn’t wait until October to give the gift.
So in the summer, said Fields, the church gave a new Buick LeSabre to Thomas, who is approaching his 25th anniversary at Circlewood in Tuscaloosa Association.
Jeff Huey, minister of students at Cropwell Baptist Church near Pell City, St. Clair Association, didn’t get a new car. But a group of women did pull together a Cadillac-size service to honor him in October.
The night service featured the band Wealthy Peasants, whose members mostly were participants through the years in the youth group at Cropwell Baptist. Speaking during the service were three men who grew up in the church’s youth group and have gone on to work in ministries to young people.
Margi Pitts, one of the event planners, said the group decided that seeing these success stories that attest to Huey’s faithfulness would be an encouragement to him.
Huey’s special service was not the only event for the month, however. On another Sunday, the church’s pastor, Kenneth Bullard, was treated to surprise visits from longtime friends and encouragers, two of whom traveled all the way from Orlando, Fla., to share in the service, said Pitts. The pastor was given a framed poem written by a church member, a cash gift and also heard a special song composed by the soloist.
On another Sunday, Pitts continued, the church recognized Wayne Polk, minister of education and administration, with money, a gift certificate and a time of testimony about the positive impact of his joining the staff.
Setting aside a time to recognize or show gratitude to ministers is important because of all that they give, said Pitts. “Part of their job is to always be sensitive to other people’s needs.” They are constantly giving, but rarely receive in return, she noted.
Theresa Mayo, director of children’s ministries and the financial secretary at First Baptist Church in Albertville, Marshall Association, concurred.
“They work so hard,” she said of her church’s four ministers. “They’re on the clock 24 hours a day.”
Often, she continued, ministers are told what needs to be changed or what they should be doing.
Yet, people tend to forget to express thanks for what the ministers are doing and the way they are shepherding.
Her church held a fellowship to recognize the four ministers and collected a love offering, which was divided among them.
Indeed, many churches — such as Austin Creek Baptist, Blount Association, Camp Springs Baptist in Columbia, Judson Association, and First Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Tennessee River Association — had fellowship meals to honor their pastors. And some choose to give love offerings to the ministers.
Even if the ministers know about the event ahead of time, the outpouring may still catch them by surprise. Bryan Wagner, pastor of Camp Springs Baptist, and Jim Bernard, pastor of Bridgeport First, can attest to that.
While Wagner said the time of recognition at his church “certainly” made him feel appreciated, Bernard had one word in particular to describe what his congregation did — “Cool!”
Building up one another is actually biblical, noted Dale Huff, director of the office of LeaderCare and church administration for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). Minister Appreciation Month is “a time of applause … and affirmation is good for anybody.”
Taking ministers for granted or focusing on their shortcomings is easy to do, Huff said. Observing a time of appreciation is an opportunity to “focus on things that are nobler and higher.”
Having been a pastor for 22 years, Huff speaks from experience as to the load a minister carries. “Pastoring a church is a challenging job.” One person cannot meet all the needs and expectations. Plus, that person is always aware of and constantly bears a burden for what isn’t getting done.
A pastor, he continued, has a sense of the eternal aspect of his work, which also weighs heavily on his heart.
If appreciation isn’t expressed, bearing these burdens can lead to burnout, he stressed.
Jim Swedenburg, coordinator of annuity and insurance with SBOM, referred to an article in Focus on the Family, which states being in the ministry is near the top of the list for most stressful jobs.
Too often, church members just assume that their pastor knows they love and support him, said Swedenburg. Though church members may frequently say, “Good sermon,” to their pastor, these men of the cloth hear those words so frequently that they become as benign as “good morning.”
Previously as an associate for church administration, Swedenburg helped to develop materials for packets on minister appreciation. He noted that ideas for gestures of appreciation are quite plentiful, including giving a love offering, a trip, a videotape of sermon bloopers during career, a sabbatical, notes of encouragement and a framed resolution or presentation of a plaque by a city official, just to name a few.
Some churches choose to have a time of appreciation on the minister’s anniversary date instead of during the month of October. Such a practice is fine, said Huff. The point is to have a plan and to schedule the event on a regular basis. Don’t just assume it’s going to happen.In St. Clair Association, church members of Bethel Baptist Church in Moody gave cards and a love offering in October. The congregation of First Baptist Church in Pell City gave monetary gifts to the ministerial staff. Members of First Baptist Church, Tuscumbia in Colbert-Lauderdale Association presented a restaurant gift certificate to its pastor.
At First Baptist Church in Fulton, Clarke Association, “we emphasize the whole month,” said Judy Hope, the church’s secretary and treasurer. She noted that the pastor, Mike Ariail, places the cards he receives on his desk and puts letters on the walls of his office, an indication of just how important and encouraging they are to him.
Showing appreciation not only is good for the health of the minister, but also for the congregation, Huff said.
Bernard of First Baptist, Bridgeport, agreed that appreciation is a two-way street. In the ministry, he said, there is not a measure of success as in other vocations. “Sometimes, you can’t see it.” However, when the congregation shows gratitude to the pastor, it gives him a measure of his effectiveness, a sort of commentary on his ministry. In addition, it leaves the door wide open for the pastor to thank the church as well.
As congregations were finding their own ways for showing appreciation, at least two efforts were going on to spread gratitude throughout communities.
One gesture — a breakfast at the Thomasville High School cafeteria — reached into about 12 counties. The Christian radio station WMBV-FM, situated between Thomasville and Linden and operated by Moody Bible Institute, offered free tickets to churches in its listening area. That included Marengo, Clarke, Wilcox, Monroe, Washington, Choctaw, Sumter, Greene, Perry, Hale, Dallas and Tuscaloosa counties.
Various businesses assisted in underwriting the cost of the event, said Rob Moore, the station’s manager and worship leader at Putnam Baptist Church in Marengo, Bethel Association.
Having served as a pastor himself — at Catherine Baptist near Camden — Moore says he has a heart for other ministers.
This breakfast, he said, “shows them in a tangible way we love them.”
Jean Causey also believes in edifying ministers. “It’s biblical to honor those who provide spiritual leadership,” she said.
As director of EAMC Cornerstone, the employee crisis program of East Alabama Medical Center between Auburn and Opelika, she has been in a position to spearhead a project to recognize pastors in Lee County.
Businesses and individuals partner with EAMC Cornerstone to sponsor the banquet, which was held this year at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn. It was expected to draw about 300 people.
For information packets on Minister Appreciation Month, call 1-800-264-1225 or visit www.alsbom.org/appreciation.
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