As a pastor with a very loving and caring congregation who have celebrated Pastor Appreciation Month for years, let me say how wonderful it would be for you to help your pastor enjoy Pastor Appreciation Month. Of course you should make sure that you love and serve your pastor all year long; however, this is a special month for pastors and congregations all over America.
Even if your church never officially celebrates Pastor Appreciation Month, you can celebrate it and use it as an opportunity to say “Thank You” and “We love you” to your pastor. I talked with a pastor yesterday after the blog Your Pastor Needs You. He mentioned that he knew the month was set aside for this celebration, but no one in his church had ever mentioned it or celebrated it. To his defense, he did not have a poor spirit or was not ‘down in the dumps,’ but it did make me think, “Wonder how many pastors know about the month but never have anyone reach out to them?”
Therefore, be a committee of one or get a few others to come alongside you and celebrate your pastor and his family this month!
The Reason and History for Pastor Appreciation
Pastor Appreciation Month (originally called Clergy Appreciation Month) is a nationally recognized nonofficial holiday month, similar to Boss Appreciation Day or Administrative Assistant Day. People closely associated with Focus on the Family established the honor in 1992 to honor those who serve in ministry.
Three Bible passages encourage us to celebrate and honor our pastors.
17 Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. (Galatians 6:6)
As those who are served and cared for by pastors, it should be our joy to honor, celebrate, and appreciate those who do.
The Benefits of Celebrating Your Pastor
- Your pastor receives an extra shot in the arm of encouragement. Everyone – including your pastor – loves to be recognized and appreciated. A note, card, or text will bring a smile to his face and an extra ray of light onto his path.
- You will receive a blessing as well. Gratitude expressed is always greater than just gratitude felt. The one who expresses gratitude feels the joy of serving another person with a word that builds up (Eph 4:29).
- As you express your gratitude, your effort becomes a tool in the Lord’s toolbox to help your pastor in the future whenever he needs an extra measure of grace. As you express what has blessed you, that encouraging word will be filed deep in the pastor’s heart. Occasionally, a person or opportunity arises where it is necessary for the pastor to think through that file of past gratitude and expressed appreciation.
- Your pastor’s desire for ministry will be refreshed and stirred. Most of us love our jobs. We love serving Christ and people. However, there are seasons though where ministry is rough. People are tough and uncaring. The thoughtlessness and selfishness of others creates mountains of grief, disappointment, and additional work for the pastor. However, you will never know that is what is going on because the pastor will not tell you. He may be in one of those seasons. If he is, your expression of kindness will help refresh and stir his soul again toward love and good works.
- Often parents say, “Days are long but years are short.” This is true for pastoral ministry as well. In the midst of those long days, a word of kindness helps trim the candle, provides a few extra ounces of energy, and releases the tension lines on the face. Just yesterday in the midst of a tough project, I received a sweet text that read, “Love ya! Thankful for you!” The sender has no idea what a sweet drop of goodness that was in my day.
- You provide your pastor an opportunity to encourage his wife and family when he shares how you have encouraged him. Recently my daughter said, “Dad, you seem down tonight.” I hate that she could see the burden of the day. I seek to never bring anything home and burden my wife or family with either the church’s or other people’s problems. My goal at home is to just be an all-in husband and dad. However, she noticed something that was on my mind even though I was doing my best to conceal it. I told her it had been a long day, but I was delighted to be with her and her brothers. As people send notes, cards, texts, and express appreciation in other ways, it is great for the pastor to be able to share with his family the source of such encouragement. Thus, your expressions provide the pastor additional ways that he can also encourage his family.
- Your small act is one more tool for the Holy Spirit to use against the attack of Satan on your pastor.
Of course each pastor could add to this short list of benefits. Here is the point: your expression of gratitude makes a real and legitimate difference to your pastor! God can use your words and expressions of appreciation in major ways in the life of your pastor.
Creative Ideas to Help Celebrate Your Pastor
You do not have to do something crazy big to celebrate your pastor. If you do though, I do not know many pastors who will turn an incredibly gracious gift down. :) Your small, thoughtful expressions are meaningful to your pastor.
Of course as a church you can do something collectively for your pastor. Seek to mobilize a group of people, come up with a good idea or two, and have them pitch in as much as possible. It may be a bit late to plan something big but ideas include a slideshow during a service, a fun candy card, a small kids performance, collect cards of thanks, a surprise party, come-and-go coffee time, or have volunteers deliver dinner to your pastor(s) throughout the month. As a corporate gift from the church, you might consider giving him a bonus check, buying him his dream Bible study software, or providing a weekend getaway. Or literally whatever you want to do as a congregation to demonstrate your gratitude. As I mentioned earlier, our congregation loves on the pastors of Sonrise in incredible ways for which we have been and are so grateful. Our congregation created a committee that works on this month throughout the year. (Yes, we are blessed! That’s why it is easy for me to encourage you and your church because I know the benefits!)
However, you do not need your church to do something in order to show appreciation. You can show your own appreciation.
Here is a list of ideas: a handwritten letter, deliver his favorite meal, bring him his favorite drink, drop off his favorite dessert or baked goods, give him tickets he would not normally afford, provide specialty services to him that he would normally not enjoy (one list I saw included a house cleaner, landscaper, tailor, consultant, financial advisement, or the like – especially if you are a professional and can do it yourself), or a gift card (include restaurants and coffee of course, but you might also consider his favorite entertainment as well). Here are two links for some other creative ideas one and two.
Make sure though you do not miss the most obvious, easily repeatable, and oft needed note of encouragements. Consider a heart-felt text, email, handwritten note, Facebook or Twitter shout out, and a simple smile and pat on the back. Just these go an incredible way to uplift, protect, and bless your pastor.
Celebrate Your Pastor and Other Pastors in October
Your pastor does not always get it right. Just like the congregation and you, he is wrong at times, less than the best in a task, and just blows it occasionally. You do not have to convince us of that. We know. We live with ourselves and recognize how meager our efforts can be at times. However, your pastor gives his life and does his best for the sheep – that’s you – that God has given him. Just as the verses teach above, give him and his family some love.
The difference between insight and change is movement. Therefore, I encourage you – as a blessed man by my own great church family – to get moving. Plan now to do something today for your pastor and at least something else too throughout the month.
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KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
