The Importance of Pastor Appreciation

Today marks the final official day of Pastor Appreciation Month, annually celebrated in the month of October. At Sonrise, we have a precious church family who diligently celebrates this month with us and have over the years. We are grateful for those in the church family who organize and lead this effort. Each year we receive encouragement from their efforts. We are served so well by our congregation at Sonrise not just in October but throughout the year. On this last day of the month, I want to just remind all of you who read the blog in various churches of the importance of pastor appreciation.

We are grateful to serve a congregation together as friends and fellow-servants.

Craig and Karla Carson, Kevin and Kelly Carson, Bill and Mary Ann Piatt

Showing Appreciation is Biblical

Taking time out during any part of the year to say “Thank you” to your pastors is biblical. Notice these key verses:

¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17).

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17).

¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

The Bible commands those of us who are in a local church to show appreciation for those who serve us as pastors. No doubt, God knows that pastors and pastors’ wives are but just clay. They experience all the ups and downs of daily living like everyone else in the congregation. Yet, they must not succumb to long periods of discouragement, frustration, or exhaustion since they are responsible for the spiritual condition of not just simply their church family but, more importantly, God’s family.

When you show appreciation for your pastor, pastor’s wife, and pastor’s family, you help them continue doing the work that God has called them to do – serve you spiritually and watch out for your soul.

Appreciation for Imperfect Pastors

Let’s be honest – pastors are imperfect. Maybe I should type that with more emphasis – pastors are imperfect!

Believe me, we know. Our wives know. Also our families know. We know you know as well.

No one is under the allusion that we are perfect. We understand our own sinfulness and proclivities to sin. Possibly one or two sins slip under the spiritual mat without noticing; however, most of us are dreadfully aware of our own sinfulness. And, we hate it. None of us want to teach or shepherd the congregation in any sense in hypocrisy on the one extreme or even simple inconsistency on the other.

This makes appreciation potentially harder for you but all the more necessary for you and your pastor.

You know your pastor is not perfect.

Your pastor knows he is not perfect.

In light of all that knowledge, yet, you honor God by honoring your pastor.

Two things happen when you do this: 1) You glorify God in your obedience, and 2) You magnify God’s grace at work in your life and that of your pastor, his wife, and his family. The results, of course, benefit you, your church family, and your pastor along with his family.

Take a Moment to Show Appreciation

Today, on this last day of the official Pastor Appreciation Month and throughout the next twelve months until October rolls around the calendar again, please take a moment to show appreciation for your pastor. Again, as I mentioned at the top, I get to serve alongside a group of pastors who are well loved and well appreciated by our church family. For this, we are eternally grateful.

But, what about you and your pastor? Does your pastor know that you appreciate his sacrifice, efforts, and energy to serve Christ, you, and your church family? Is it possible that your word, note, or expression of gratitude will be just the thing that lifts his spirits, reminds him of God’s goodness, or helps him face a difficult circumstance with more courage, hope, and energy.

As you know, the pandemic has taken a toll on pastors and churches as much as it has anything else in our society. Pastors have sought to walk a careful line of loving God and loving their neighbors while seeking to serve well. Individual members for various reasons hold a vast array of opinions and positions regarding the pandemic and its response. In some churches, this has brought great disunity and confusion. I’m grateful that is not the case at Sonrise. However, your pastor in your church may need encouragement now more than ever.

As we go to church and serve together, may God receive the glory even today through all of us.