Churches make effort to say thanks to ministers

Day after day, Alabama Baptist ministers spend countless hours teaching, encouraging and serving their congregations. 
   
Throughout the year and especially during the month of October — Minister Appreciation Month — many church members work equally hard to make their leaders feel valued.
   
When asked what members have done to make them feel appreciated, ministers around the state gave varying answers ranging from simple tokens of gratitude to elaborate celebrations and gifts.
   
Bill Chester, youth minister of Wooley Springs Baptist Church, Toney, in Limestone Baptist Association, enjoys the verbal encouragement and other items he has received over the past five years.
   
“Occasionally I find things on my desk, small gifts — sometimes monetary — little notes, baked goods, things like that,” he said. 
   
Likewise Alvin Tucker, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Millry, in Washington Baptist Association, values keepsakes he receives from his members. “I have had letters through the years from people thanking me for leading them to the Lord or for what I’ve meant to them as a pastor, and my church usually gives me an honorarium during pastor appreciation month,” Tucker said.
   
Many ministers are thankful for strong relationships formed with church members. “This is a closed community, but this church has embraced our family and made us a part of their family,” said Chuck Oliver, minister of education at Centreville Baptist Church in Bibb Baptist Association. “We are not made to feel like outsiders, and we have no family around here, so it’s important that we have an adopted family. They made me feel accepted and wanted.”
   
Mike Skelton, bivocational pastor of Zion Community Baptist Church, Gordo, in Sipsey Baptist Association, was helped greatly by church members when he and his family moved to a new home.
   
“When we got ready to move, I had more people to help me than I imagined,” he said. “I just bought a farm, and my members showed up and I didn’t even ask them.”
   
In addition to gifts and support throughout the year, many churches organize special celebrations to express gratitude. 
   
Last year, Pastor Charles Stone of Oak Chapel Baptist Church, Goodwater, in Clay Baptist Association reached a milestone in ministry, and his church members did not take the event lightly.
   
“My wife organized an appreciation (program) for over 20 years of being in the pastorate and it really surprised me,” he said. “She invited the director of missions and his wife and other people from our past pastorates. Every Sunday School class and other outside people got up and said a few words about what God did through me to touch their lives.”
   
A bivocational pastor for many years, Stone’s long-time job at a nearby paper mill was discontinued about three years ago, and his church responded in love.
  
“The church stepped out on faith and put me on the field full time,” he said. “It’s always been my desire that God would allow me to be in full-time ministry to have more time to devote to God’s work. It was an honor that they would believe God by faith. It touched my life deeply.”
   
Similarly Mike Shirah, pastor of Maple Avenue Baptist Church, Geneva, in Geneva Baptist Association, felt loved when his members held a surprise party for his 55th birthday. 
   
“They had a cake and all kinds of cards expressing appreciation for me,” Shirah said. “I get cards like that throughout the year telling me how much they appreciate my ministry and what all I do for them.”
   
Gordon Welch, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Selma, in Selma Baptist Association, was also astonished when the church celebrated his 15th year on staff with a formal reception. 
   
“The outpouring of their love for me and my family to celebrate my 15th year of ministry was to send my wife and I on a week-long cruise to the western Caribbean,” he said. “I never expected it and it was just one of those blow-your-mind sort of experiences. This was far above what I felt like I deserved.
   
“Minister appreciation month is outstanding at First, Selma,” he added. “We’ve already gotten cards and cakes. I’m so glad that has become a norm for most churches especially during the month of October.”