While Sunday is traditionally considered a day of rest, for pastors, the Lord’s Day is a long one.
In larger churches, the pastor will have to preach several times in the morning as well as in the evening. A pastor’s job lasts 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Church members seek advice on various subjects from the pastor and seek comfort from him in times of grief.
This October is a time for church members to show their appreciation.
“Most ministers have some appreciation due them,” said Dale Huff, director of the church-minster relations/church administration office at the State Board of Missions (SBOM). All of us respond better to appreciation rather than rebuke.”
The state convention passed a resolution at the 1998 meeting to designate the month of October as Pastor Appreciation Month, he said.
“A church sensitive to affirming leadership signifies a healthy church,” Huff added.
So anytime during the month, churches can show their appreciation and affirmation of their pastor.
Roger Willmore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Weaver, said it is “refreshing” to get up in the morning and know he is loved by his congregation.
Willmore emphasized that it is important for pastors and congregations to show appreciation on a daily basis.
“That makes the little things they do that much more special,” Willmore said.
Last year one of the members of Willmore’s congregation in the Calhoun Association gave him a basketful of individually wrapped goodies, one for each day of the month.
“That was a special treat for me,” Willmore said. “I’ve never received anything quite like it.”
Each item contained a Scripture passage as well as a daily thought. For instance, a candy bar would have this message: “to sweeten up your day.”
Willmore said he displayed each gift and message on the front of his desk so the person who gave him the package would know he appreciated it.
Robert Taylor, who has been pastor at Ocmulgee Baptist Church in Selma for seven years, said his church had a special service for him in 1999. Members at the 180-year-old Cahaba Association church talked about the role of the pastor as a leader and as a friend. Taylor’s birthday is also in October.
Taylor said some of his most meaningful times as a pastor are when he hears from children. He even keeps candy on his desk so children will feel welcome to come talk to him. When he receives note from children he said he knows those scrawled messages, “came from the heart.”
“It’s important for the (children) to not feel intimidated,…to get to know the pastor,” Taylor said.
Willmore said he was thankful the convention has a special time for pastors, but said it takes more than one day or month to appreciate someone.
“It should be a reciprocal thing,” he said.
Pators aren’t the only leaders church members can recognize.
In September 1999m, Etowah Association’s James Memorial Baptist church, Gadsden, present a tribute service to it minister of music and youth, Darwood Santmier. Member s presented a sort of “This Is Your Life” event with songs and skits to demonstrate the many tasks Santmier performed at the church.
He was presented with a plaque and a love offering was taken in his name.
“Any good that has come out of my life has come from Jesus Christ,” he said in a Setp.24, 1999, article in The Gadsden Times. “Anything worthwhile that I’ve done, He deserves the credit for.”
Willmore said he wasn’t sure if his church was planning anything this year, but even if they did, he wouldn’t know about it: “They keep things quiet.”
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