Pastor Appreciation Month

There are a lot of smiles on the faces of Alabama Baptist pastors this month. That is because October is Pastor Appreciation Month and most Alabama Baptist churches are going the extra mile to make sure their pastors know they are loved.

Cards and kindnesses are being showered on Baptist pastors by grateful members who are taking advantage of this designated observance to express heartfelt thankfulness for the ministries of their pastors. Some of the kindnesses are tangible. Gifts, money trees, days away — these and more are being used by churches to demonstrate their appreciation.

The reactions of pastors is reflected in their smiles. The human side of us all lights up like a glowing light bulb when we hear words of encouragement and appreciation. Pastors are no different. Their broad smiles are like billboards declaring to all who glance their way the value of the kindnesses received.

Pastors’ reactions are not limited to smiles. Reactions to Pastor Appreciation celebrations can be seen in the pastors’ work as well. Obviously, no pastor preaches or visits or spends time with the sick because of Pastor Appreciation Month. The pastor works because he is called of God. He exercises his ministry in a particular place because that church has affirmed his ministry in their midst.

Sometimes pastoral ministry can be lonely. Sometimes it can be discouraging. Sometimes there are burdens for the church and for families of the church the pastor carries in a way no one else does. All of these can take a toll on the pastor and the pastor’s family. That is why special times of appreciation are important. Pastor Appreciation Month can be like high octane fuel for an engine that has sputtered along on low grade gasoline. The pastor can find some extra zip in knowing that “his labors are not in vain.” Such events also help him stay focused on the church being built by the Lord in that location rather than on the number of bricks the pastor has to lay day after day after day.

While Pastor Appreciation Month is good and appropriate, it is an observance that was unheard of a generation ago. Then it was assumed that church members would express appreciation to their pastors in an ongoing way. Many did. It was common for a pastor to get a call telling him to go to the local clothing store and pick out a new suit that had been paid for by one of the church families. The pastor was a recognized leader, not only in the church but in the community. His love and care for the congregation were evident. In turn, the church and community found countless ways to express their personal and corporate appreciation.

To that generation, Pastor Appreciation Month would have been like a couple celebrating Valentine’s Day but never expressing their love for each other the other 364 days of the year. It was simply unthinkable.

On the other hand, it would be unthinkable for a couple to tell each other of their love each day of the year and then ignore Valentine’s Day. The truth is that both are necessary. A couple uses the structure of Valentine’s Day to express in a formal way their love for each other. The same couple spends the other days of the year looking for ways to demonstrate and reinforce their expressions of love.

So with Pastor Appreciation Month. Churches need the structure of the special observance to formally express their gratitude for the pastoral ministry and leadership the church receives. All the other days of the year provide opportunity for individuals and families of the church to find ways to reinforce that formal expression through acts of kindness and encouragement.

In that way, the church is like a family. And it should be. The church is not a business nor is the relationship between the pastor and church a business relationship. The pastor and church are part of the same spiritual family. Every part of the relationship should be characterized by a healthy family’s concern for the well-being of another family member.

Pastor Appreciation Month is a good addition to the calendar of Alabama Baptist churches. It is good for the pastor and it is good for the church. We must all be careful, however, not to let the formal expression of appreciation by the church take the place of our individual expressions of thankfulness and gratitude for the ministry of the one called to be our pastor.