Appreciate them!

October has been declared Pastor Appreciation Month.   I hope you found some way to show your pastor and his family how much you appreciate them for all that they do.    Our church held a  soup dinner, complete with desserts and gifts.   Just a small token of all their hard work.

 

I want to brag a little on my pastor.   He is probably one of the most consistent Christians that I know.  He doesn't preach one thing, and live another.   He doesn't preach to please anybody but God.  He preaches what is in the Bible and not his opinion.    He preaches hard and tells you like it is.  No sugar coating at Calvary Baptist Church from my pastor. He loves his God, his church, and his family.  He is always, always, always happy.  He knows his Bible inside and out and if he doesn't know the answer, he will study and find the answer. I know firsthand that my pastor and his family have sacrificed A LOT for our church - without complaining.   There is no way I can fully explain how much I love my pastor and his dear family.

 

With that being said, everybody needs to realize that your pastor is just a man.   Sometimes, we put them up on pedestals.   I don't think any true man of God wants to be put there.   Don't make him the fourth person of the Trinity, because at some point, he will probably disappoint you.  That is not fair to him.   Now, don't get me wrong, I think their position is to be honored and respected.   Just don't expect them to be sinless.   They have the same sin nature as we all do.   In fact, I regularly drill it into my Sunday School students that we need to pray harder for our pastor and his family.   Being the leader of the church, I am sure he and his family are under attack more that any of the rest of us.   If Satan can destroy his testimony, or  that of his family, then it will affect the entire church.  So be sure to pray for your pastor and his family daily.

 

Also, don't forget about his wife.   While you voted on him as a pastor, she is there supporting him.   Remember that you didn't get a" two for one" with the pastor.   Let her find her own place within the church's ministries and don't expect her to fill every position that needs to be filled.    My preacher would be the first to tell you that he couldn't do what he does without the support and love of his wife.  

 

While October is set aside specifically for all their hard work, take time all year to show them how much you appreciate them.  

 

Give them a kind word

Give them a "thank you"

Give them a "I appreciate you"

Give them an invite to lunch (your treat)

Give them a card for no reason

Give them the gift of being faithful

Give them the gift of volunteering when needed

 

 We will never know this side of heaven all that our pastor and his family have endured or sacrificed for the calling. 

 

 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

Romans 10:15b