Pastor Appreciation Month in October gives us as church members some unique opportunities to pause and express our appreciation and gratitude to our pastors. Here are some practical ways to say “thank you” to your pastor and his family this month:
As a congregation:
1. With your pastor’s permission, organize a prayer support group that will meet regularly and pray for him, his family and his special ministry visions. Establish a pastoral care team. Select a handful of people from your congregation who will be charged with overseeing the welfare of your pastor and his family. Learn about pastors’ retreat programs, pastors’ schools and conferences, as well as relaxing getaway locations, and, as a congregation, give your pastor the gift of rest and renewal.
2. Arrange a special Sunday morning service to celebrate your pastor’s call to ministry, his unique gifts to serve and the hard work he does for the church. Shower him with the congregation’s hand-written letters or cards of appreciation — notes of gratitude he can read again and again during those times he needs encouragement. Also schedule a time to express special gratitude to his family. Invite his entire family to attend and present his wife with flowers, cards and special tokens of appreciation, including gifts of service.
3. Ask deacons and other appropriate church leaders or committees to review your pastor’s salary package and benefits (medical insurance, retirement benefits, housing, etc.). Address and update financial issues that have become inadequate or obsolete.
4. If financially possible, arrange to send your pastor and family on an international missions trip and/or a much-needed vacation. Be generous in giving him time away from constant and heavy church responsibilities.
As an individual church member/family:
5. Thank your pastor (either verbally or with a handwritten note) for his love, concern and care for you, your family and the congregation. Your purposeful expression of gratitude will encourage him personally and in his ministry. By participating in their own note-writing/drawing, your children will learn to appreciate the sacrifice and hard work of church leaders.
6. Commit (or recommit) yourself to your pastor, to support him, his family, the church staff and the congregation with your prayers. Make him aware of your renewed prayerful commitment. Ask him regularly how you can better pray for him.
7. Show your love for your pastor and his family by giving them occasional gift cards to favorite stores and restaurants, and by including them (cost-free) in your own family recreational outings and vacations.
8. Volunteer to help your pastor accomplish various important tasks in the church. Give him the gift of hands-on help with the numerous details of ministry.
9. Encourage and respect your pastor’s times of needed solitude, especially those hours he sets aside for his personal prayer, Bible study and spiritual growth. Be mindful of what expectations you place on his time and energy and be willing to serve beside him when he needs assistance.
10. Make a sincere effort to personally get to know and befriend your pastor. Invite him to lunch or dinner, seek to encourage his family and show interest and support for his ministry dreams. Gain a better understanding of and appreciation for your pastor — as a church leader, a pastoral shepherd, a husband and father, and as a human being. In doing so, you and your family will become better equipped to minister to him as he responds to God’s call and ministers to your congregation, community and world in the name of Jesus Christ.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Denise George (www.denisegeorge.org) is the author of 30 books, including “What Pastors Wish Church Members Knew” (Zondervan). She is married to Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham.
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