Thank a Pastor

Pastor Appreciation Month, spearheaded by organizations like Focus on the Family, has been around since the early 1990's. The idea is to recognize pastors and the work they do to "shepherd the flock". As the wife of a pastor for over 30 years, I can say with some authority that being a pastor - whether the senior pastor, children's pastor, youth pastor, or associate/jack of all trades pastor - is not an easy job. The notion that pastors really only work on Sunday's couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, pastors are always on call. Burn out is common, and the number of graduates looking to go into full-time ministry is dwindling. If your church has tried to find a youth pastor recently, you may have noticed that the number of resumes was a bit underwhelming. Being a pastor is not for the faint of heart!

The world we live in is full of distractions that are pulling believers away from regular church attendance, while social media is filling the minds of once devoted followers with theories and doctrine that are a far cry from biblical truths. We are a society that demands to be entertained, which puts immense pressure on the worship and preaching pastors who grace the church stage every week. That's not to mention the difficulty in engaging young children - flannel graph certainly doesn't cut it anymore! In other words, the work of the pastor is harder than ever.

The good news is that the compassion and dedication of our pastors is still there even during these difficult, often anxiety-filled days. I have seen my pastor bring my daughter a Starbucks when she had knee surgery, and I have seen my husband take multiple phone calls and follow up with whatever needed to be done on his day off or even on vacation. The senior pastor near the school where two of my children went to college knew many of the students by name and was personally invested in their lives, always greeting them like a best friend. 

If you are blessed with a pastor or team of pastors who are engaged and devoted to helping the congregation know God more, now is the perfect time to show your appreciation. On the other hand, if you feel your pastor is a bit burnt out or struggling, reach out with a note of encouragement and gratitude. It doesn't take a grand gesture to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, maybe it's just a note saying thank you, a batch of cookies, a coffee, or a family meal (especially for those pastors' families with young children - that was always a huge blessing to me!). Maybe it's a gift you purchase with a funny saying or inspirational quote. Just saying thank-you and letting your pastors know that you see and appreciate the work they do is what Pastor Appreciation is all about.