Some churches or friends truly want to show appreciation, but don’t always know how. Or they don’t have a plan. Or they express thanks to pastors in a way that feels forced, insignificant, or shallow.
On one hand, most pastors will feel encouraged just because someone attempted to appreciate them and their families.
On the other hand, LovePastors is here to help all of us be strategic, connected, and yes, LIFE-GIVING to our leaders. So here are SIX (hopefully) memorable ways to show care, honor, favor, and joy to those who lead and serve in your church…
PRAY for the Pastor’s Family:
Most pastors will encourage you to pray for a thousand other things, and that’s great. We are reminding you to pray FOR your pastor, for their family, and for their overall health.
Pray that all of them would know God’s love, presence, joy, and healing in their lives. Pray that God would fill them with a renewed sense of God’s favor, direction, and comfort as they play unique roles in the church. Pray for your Pastor’s relationships, physical health, wisdom, and intimacy with God.
ASK how your Pastor is Doing:
Spoiler alert – Pastors are people, too! It feels good when someone else asks how he or she is doing, how their weekend went, what challenges they are facing, and how you can pray specifically for them.
Most of the time, the Pastor is asked to stand as a “light” giving hope, truth, and encouragement TO others. But they also personally need hope, truth, and encouragement FROM others. The habit of “asking” your pastor can help you and your church pay attention to their needs too.
SHARE what God is doing in your life:
Pastors LOVE hearing specific stories of God’s work in the lives of their people, their church, and their community. It can even be something specific that the Pastor encouraged or challenged you with in a recent sermon, and how God used the pastor’s words to speak personally to you.
Pastors frequently need stories and examples of God’s people at work in their midst, and love hearing how their ministry, teaching, encouragement, and prayer has impacted your life!
THANK them with a Written Note:
Yes, thank you notes are GREAT, in October and any other month. Some pastors actually have a large file where they save hand-written notes, appreciation cards, or personalized crafts that their church friends have made for them. You don’t have to break the bank at Hallmark.
Just write and send a personal encouragement note to your pastor – and do it today! In fact, you can stop reading this blog right now, and start writing a note to your pastor or to their whole family!
OFFER to do something generous for Pastors’ Family:
Sometimes, Pastors have weeks where they tend to emergencies, visit the hospital, speak at funerals or weddings, or don’t get to eat dinner at home. You could offer to do yard work, run errands, bring dinner over, give a DoorDash gift card, or have your Pastor’s family over for a game night.
Perhaps you could ASK your pastor what “thing” would be most helpful to them and their family/home/church/food needs this week and OFFER to do that thing. Even if your pastor says “No, thank you,” they will LOVE the fact that you offered to do something tangible to show them love this week!
REMEMBER your Pastor is human:
Even with best intentions, your pastor is going to let you or your family down at some point. You might wish they had said or done something differently. You might wish he preached more like your favorite famous pastor. You might be annoyed or offended by something your pastor said.
Remember that your pastor is human and give him/her the benefit of the doubt. Don’t expect your pastor to be Jesus, Superman, or anyone else.
Hopefully, this P-A-S-T-O-R acronym will at least get you started thinking and acting strategically when it comes to Pastor Appreciation month. I love the way Hebrews 10:24-25 says it – “let us CONSIDER how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON toward LOVE and GOOD DEEDS.”
Caring for pastors means that WE CONSIDER how to spur them on. In prayer, in asking, in sharing, in thanks, with offers and remembering the God-given shepherds who love and care for us too!
