After all, God has commissioned pastors with the responsibility for spiritual oversight. What can you do to encourage your pastor? Encourage them with an active demeanor, note-taking, and the occasional nod of understanding. They have spent hours getting ready for the teaching event; encourage them by being an active listener. Getting involved in church is more than just a Sunday morning event. Find ways to get involved in the church beyond mere attendance.
The church needs volunteer participants like you in order to function. Get involved and encourage your pastor by cheerfully sharing the load of the ministry. Prayer is huge. Pray for your pastor daily, in your own quiet time.
Pray for your pastor as the service begins. Pray for them as they enter the pulpit to teach. Beyond private prayer, start a prayer time with others in the church for the specific purpose of praying for your pastor.
You may also want to ask your pastor if they want to pray with anyone. Pastors may not be in the habit of praying with the people in their congregation, but if your pastor is able to do so, this time of prayer with your pastor can be a very encouraging time for them. Scripture commands in several places that we support pastors with our money 1 Thessalonians ; 1 Timothy ; 1 Corinthians Small cash gifts, given personally, above and beyond your typical tithe, may also be an encouragement to them.
Out of the entire list, this is probably the most significant means of encouragement. Pastors face a barrage of criticism. Immediately after the service, listeners scuttle to their homes or restaurants to hurl epithets of disdain and spite upon his sermon.
Be an outspoken defender of your pastor. Scripture prohibits unkind speech, let alone unkind speech directed at pastors. For that reason, be vigilant to defend your pastor.
Squelch criticism and never be guilty of dishing it out yourself. Speak highly of the pastor before your family, before others in your church, and before your pastor and their family.
Thank your pastor regularly. One of the marks of an encouraging person is the way that he or she expresses appreciation to others. As you thank your pastor, you are encouraging them. True thankfulness goes beyond the generalities. Thank you so much! I can tell you did a lot of studies to prepare for your teaching.
I really appreciate it. The occasional thank you note or email goes a long way too. True thankfulness encourages a pastor. The pastor is not the only one who has a tough job. Their family does, too. Constant observation, quick criticism, and life on a pedestal are not easy for the long term. Pastors will be encouraged when they know that their family is being cared for.
Regular deeds of kindness and goodwill are an excellent way to show your pastor that you care. When your pastor notices that someone is mowing his lawn, washing his car, trimming his hedge, or cleaning out his gutters, they are encouraged. Recognizing that the people he shepherds appreciate his ministry and are giving back in tangible ways. Use your gifts, training, resources, or time, to encourage your pastor.
The big acts of encouragement deserve a mention, too. Use these events as an opportunity to give them some major encouragement. Plan a birthday party, an anniversary reception, or a special service to commemorate the event. There are other special ways to encourage your pastor.
Sponsor a secret fundraiser to gift your pastor with a designated amount of money for them to take a vacation with their spouse. Grant them a sabbatical if you know they are wanting to write a book or attend a class. Give them a week or two from your vacation timeshare.
Send them on a first-class cruise. Sponsor their trip to the Holy Land. Think big, and you will encourage your pastor in a big way. You may recognize his humanness and identify his weaknesses, but you can stick with him.
Pastors need people to go through the tough times. They need you. Encourage your pastor by being loyal to them. If you really want to show appreciation — to give your pastor his greatest joy — walk in truth. He was shopping at Home Depot, quickly grabbing a few items for a home project. After checking out, he bumped into a congregant in the parking lot.
You can probably guess what happened—a short greeting turned into a much longer conversation. The congregant shared a number of difficult things happening in the church and in his own spiritual life. Each question from the pastor uncovered five new frustrations.
Forty-five minutes later, they finally parted ways. I asked the pastor how he felt in that moment. I mean, when am I not a pastor? Over the years I have made a career out of studying the most challenging management roles out there. After all of that I am now convinced the two most difficult jobs in the world are these—one, to be President of the United States, and two, to be the leader a church.
I know this firsthand. I served as a local church pastor for 15 years. Pastor Appreciation Month originally called Clergy Appreciation Month was established in by a group of pastors and church leaders to honor those who serve in ministry. And chances are, your pastor is thinking about it this month.
Last year a pastor called me on November 1. I knew exactly what he was saying. He felt invisible, like his congregation was taking him for granted. This pastor is not self-serving. But during that phone call, I realized that one of the greatest gifts someone in his church could have given him at that moment would have been a simple, hand-written card or a quick text of gratitude for his faithfulness to the congregation. I was also struck by another thought: How was the congregation supposed to know he was in such need of encouragement?
Doing so would seem grossly self-serving. Of course not. I transitioned out of my pastoral role in the local church about a year ago. I now focus on caring for and investing in hungry kingdom leaders—mostly pastors and church planters. It felt too self-serving and … complicated. My family and I were part of a healthy church. Also referred to as Clergy Appreciation Day, this day of showing national gratitude for clergy members is celebrated on the second Sunday in October.
As of mid, there are approximately 51, people in the United States who are officially employed as clergy. When we consider all that religious leaders do, it becomes clear how important it is to celebrate and uplift our hardworking clergy. Reason 1: Pastors and clergy serve the church daily. On a daily basis, clergy members prepare weekly messages, manage the maintenance and financial obligations of their church, and, most importantly, nurture the spiritual well-being of their congregants.
Reason 2. Pastors and clergy serve the church and community during major life moments. Aside from these daily duties, clergy members participate in the highs and lows of the lives of their church-goers and other members of the community.
Clergy members lead mourners during funerals, pray over the sick, and minister to the imprisoned and abandoned. Moreover, clergy members bear the emotional pressure heaped upon them by disgruntled congregants and also absorb the hostile criticism of an increasingly anti-religious society. Our clergy members also oversee our most joyous occasions. The clergy play a vital role in marriages, baptisms, Holy First Communions, and requests for special blessings.
Reason 3. Missionaries sacrifice their comfort and safety for the gospel. Clergy serve as missionaries in hostile areas worldwide, cares for people with contagious diseases, and literally stands at the front lines of social justice movements. Given everything that the people who serve pastorally do, we should take time to appreciate and encourage them and their staff members.
Whether you choose to honor your spiritual leaders and their staff during Pastor Appreciation Month or another time of year, here are 7 ways to show your gratitude for their service and sacrifice:. Send your religious leader a clergy appreciation greeting card or a hand-written note with a message of gratitude for him or her.
Ask your children to draw a picture or create other artwork for a clergy member or Sunday school leader. Lend your pastor a hand by volunteering at the organization where he or she ministers, such as a hospital or nursing home. Take a group photo with fellow church-goers in front of the church or other organization where the clergy member works.
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