As fall descends and we approach the Thanksgiving season, October is Pastors Appreciation Month. During the month of October, church boards, pastor’s councils, volunteer leadership teams and congregations have the unique opportunity of making space and time to honour and appreciate their pastor or pastors intentionally.
Pastoral ministry is not simply a career or profession – it is a calling, a labour of the heart and soul that does not neatly fall within business hours. Pastors devote countless unseen hours to serving God, their congregation and their community that very few will ever know about. Here are five ways that you can appreciate your pastor or pastors this month.
Tsunami of Encouragement
We can easily assume our pastor knows how thankful we are for them, but they may not. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” The pandemic has been wearying for everyone, especially your pastor, who has tried to serve you well and lead your congregation. They carry a lot of responsibility, expectations and burden of care. Encourage everyone in your congregation to email or text your pastor or pastors with a word of encouragement during the month of October, during a certain week or on a specific day. Imagine the joy that your pastor will feel seeing their inbox full of emails of affirmation and appreciation.
Gift Cards
Give your pastor or pastors a gift card that will allow them to have dinner out or order in a nice meal. If your pastor is married with children, perhaps offer free childcare so they can make it a date night with their spouse. Consider purchasing a grocery gift card for each of your pastors. They will appreciate this practical gift amid rising costs of living.
Give Time
As Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on the weekend this year, consider giving your pastor additional paid days off. The holiday season can be especially challenging for pastors who do not have family nearby and must travel significant distances to be with them. Your thoughtfulness in accommodating and providing time for your pastor or pastors to be able to be with family and loved ones during the holidays is an invaluable gift.
Celebrate
Take a few minutes on a Sunday in October and surprise your pastor with a tribute of thanks from the congregation. Have a few people or email congregants to provide a Top 10 List of things they appreciate about their pastor and put it on the screen as a PowerPoint slide for all to see. Make a short video asking the children of your congregation what they like most about your pastor or pastors. Their answers will be genuine and heartfelt. Celebrate your pastor with words of appreciation and affirmation. Include their spouse or family where applicable, as they, too, make sacrifices to serve the local church.
Act of Kindness
Fall is a busy time in the life of the local church, relaunching ministries and entering a new season. Consider getting volunteers to surprise your pastor by raking their leaves or taking on a task they would ordinarily do. Slide a thank you card under their windshield wiper and surprise them with an unexpected note – perhaps even include a gas gift card. Drop off baked goods or something they would enjoy or order it online and have it delivered to their home or the church office.
Whatever you do, do it with genuine thanks and appreciation. Reflect on the impact your pastor has made in your life, your local church and the community. If your church is multi-staffed, consider the areas of ministry emphasis each gives and the difference they make.
Make space, take time and be intentional in appreciating your pastor throughout the month of October and throughout the year.
Hailey is the President of the Sub Arctic Leadership Training College and the Director of Northern Initiatives and Church Partnerships for the ABNWT District Resource Center