Thank You Pastor!

If you’re not aware of it, October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  This initiative was birthed in 1992, and Focus on the Family made it part of their ministry paradigm in 1993. Interestingly, I remember this very well as my first year as a pastor was 1993. Our congregation went crazy with their appreciation. It was new, fresh, and an opportunity to do something for the pastors that many hadn’t even thought of. It is now 33 years later, and like any other initiative it has waned. Although some churches still try and do something nice for their pastor, many churches have forgotten it, or scrambled to do something before the month is over. 

I’d like to encourage you as church members in a couple of ways as you think through Pastor Appreciation month, and then I’d like to encourage you as pastor as a closer. 

First, let’s be reminded of what the Bible says about us as church members in how we need to look at our pastors. Hebrews 13:17 reminds us to “Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” Obeying your leaders is not to be a bobble head doll, doing whatever they say, no matter what. That is simply foolishness. We should sharpen each other, even pastorally when appropriate. However, in a culture that hates the word submission, it is important to realize that submitting to Spiritual leadership is not simply a good thing, it’s a commanded thing. Your pastor isn’t perfect, but I’m pretty sure they are doing their best to lead you. And I’m also certain they know the middle of this verse which says they will stand before God to give an account as to how they shepherded you. That is an overwhelming responsibility, and quite frankly, nauseating to think about sometimes. So think about how you can bring joy to your pastor. Send a note of encouragement. Send practical and tangible expressions of your appreciation for the work they do. 

Second, I say all the time that pastoring is the hardest job in the world. I recognize that there are more physically demanding jobs. I know that there are more stressful jobs out there. But this is what separates pastoring from other jobs. A pastor is the only job where the very gates of hell are unleashed to destroy the pastor and the church. I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.”  There is no one that the prowling lion wants to devour more than the pastor, their family and church. Are you praying for your pastor? Are you letting your pastor know you are praying? Are you actually praying for your pastor, with your pastor?  You get the idea. Nothing encourages a pastor more than knowing that the church is praying. 

Finally, a word to pastors. We often talk about how we need to encourage our pastors. It is clearly important, and hope you receive abundant encouragement. But my question for you is this: How are you encouraging your members?  Are you celebrating the people that God is using to build the body. Are you sending notes regularly to say thank you? Are you regularly celebrating God’s people by name from the pulpit. What about your staff? When was the last time you actually just encouraged each member of your staff without following it up with a to do list for them, or some sort of review? And what about your family? When is the last time you just thanked your spouse and your kids for all the support they give you. All the sacrifice they make for you to do what you do?

I like pastor appreciation month, and I am convicted even as I write this that I don’t encourage my pastor enough. However, I also wish we didn’t simply focus on Pastor Appreciation for an official month. I want us to be thinking throughout the year to encourage our pastors, so that they can serve with joy, and not grief, which would be of no benefit to any of us.