So, please give him a little grace and cut him some slack. You never know what burden he might be carrying, what issue he's having to deal with. Maybe, like you, he has good days and bad days. The next time you start to get upset with your pastor, take just a minute, breathe, and consider the possibility that he might just be human, too. Usually, it is because of something somebody did or said, or didn't do or didn't say. I'm amazed at how often people get their feelings hurt in church. Then he added, "But he is always the pastor." I didn't think that somebody would say it from the pulpit. He said, "The pastor is not always perfect. I remember years ago when one of my associate pastors was preaching, he made a statement that at first made me think that he was going to have to make a trip to the pastor's office. Jim Henry told our staff recently that researchers say that other than being the president of the United States, the most stressful "job" is being the pastor of a local church. I can't tell you how many times I've received a card expressing a member's love and prayers just when I thought nobody in the church liked me, much less loved me.ĭr. Despite what some people think, I don't know of any pastor who can read minds. By the way, if you love him, let him know it. Next to your prayers, the most important thing you can give your pastor is your love. His heart will be stretched and often broken. That's fuel for more ministry!Ī pastor who shepherds his people will expend a significant amount of love. I've had several of our senior adults tell me when I call just to check in on them how they pray for me every day. Of course, if you already love him, then you'll naturally want to pray for him. If you don't love him as you should, begin to pray for him, and you will. This is the greatest gift you can give your pastor. I want to suggest 10 terrific gifts you should give your pastor, not just during Pastor Appreciation Month but the other eleven months of the year as well: I know that the pastor had to appreciate all they did to show him their love.Īs I sat in my office this morning, I spent some time thinking about some of the gifts I know I have appreciated over the years as a pastor. I remember him telling me how his former church would try to outdo themselves every year when it came time for pastor appreciation month. He couldn't understand how a man so successful in business could overlook something so simple as expressing love and appreciation for a year's worth of ministry. We just always paid 'em good." My new associate shared how strange that sentiment was to him. When I'd first come to a previous church, one of our new staff members, who had come from a larger church in North Carolina that knew how to show their love for their pastor, approached our deacon chairman and asked him if the church ever had a "Pastor Appreciation Day." The deacon chairman said, "No. I've been blessed to pastor churches that do that. In fact, I believe it is an excellent idea for a church to take one month out of the year to do something special to show how much they appreciate the time, effort, love, and concern their pastor has for them. A few churches may even have a dinner or a reception - a nice time to get together to express their feelings for their pastor.Īll of these things are nice and good. Many will put a basket in the vestibule for members to place cards with kind sentiments they want to share with their pastor. Some churches will take up a love offering for their pastor. This month, many churches will take time to show their appreciation to their pastor for his love and ministry over the past year. By Brad Whitt, Op-ed contributor Monday, OctoUnsplash/Christian Walker
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