If you’re involved in a local church, you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month, otherwise known in the pastor-world as “The Most Awkward and Most Gift-Card Heavy Month of the Year.” It’s good and very much anticipated by pastors, but because of the nature of leadership, it’s hard to pull off without a few awkward moments.
For example, the pastor or staff can’t possibly initiative this effort, yet they initiate almost everything else. On the other hand, the lead pastor, who usually gets the most ongoing attention and affirmation wants the other pastors and staff to feel the love as well. So, just recognizing the awkwardness of this dynamic and taking some initiative helps relieve the pressure for everyone.
Now for a few Pastor Appreciation Hacks that may help encourage your pastors and staff this month:
Pray for your pastors regularly.
It’s simple, but powerful. The Lord hears your prayers, and acts in the life of your pastors in practical ways. Your pastors face all of the normal struggles everyone else faces. Family issues, financial issues, emotional issues, relationship issues, and the list goes on. But additionally, they are spiritual leaders of a congregation with multiplied challenges as well. Your prayers provide divine wisdom and power. Your prayers also attach your heart to them and the ministry you share.
But don’t just pray privately. Figure out a way to make time during your worship service to read Scripture and pray over your pastors. Model for your congregation what praying for those who shepherd your souls looks and sounds like.
Give healthy attention to the pastors’ spouse and children.
In some church settings, expectations on the pastors’ spouse and children are exaggerated. Don’t do that. Let them be who they are. If they do not serve on staff, you’re not paying them and they are not accountable as a staff member. They do, however, carry a unique weight in ministry. In their walk with Jesus and in their relationship to their husband or father, they have been folded into a calling to ministry that is often unexpressed and unseen yet one that indelibly shapes their lives. So, be abounding in your love, honor, affection, and generosity.
Compensate pastors and church staff well.
I’ll come to gifts in a moment, but gifts can create resentment when annual compensation is less than fair. Do your research and get good counsel from church staffing professionals. But the point here is that the cost of living in the community is the same for your pastor as it is for you, except it may be more. For example, there’s often an expectation of his time outside of normal work hours. So traditional side hustles that are an option for you may not be for your pastor.
While you're working up the career ladder doing what you need to do to advance, your pastor is called to a congregation and doesn’t take new jobs for a bump in pay. Another reality is that pastors are often expected to participate in activities that cost money. While you can choose to attend or not, that’s often not an option for the pastor. There’s no extravagance needed in this area, but just evaluate the compensation structure for your staff and be as generous as possible.
Give financial gifts.
Whoever invented gift cards should win the Noble Peace Prize! Gift cards are great. When we were in church ministry, we were always blessed to get them. The pro and con to gift cards are that they force you to use them for a specific application. That’s good in that they require you to go to a restaurant, for example, but that can be a negative if eating out isn’t the same blessing for everyone. (Additional hack: Make sure the gift card works. We’ve been stuck with the bill at a high-end restaurant because the card wasn’t loaded.)
Cash is also a great gift. It could be that the family is trying to save up for something extra, and cash accelerates that plan.
One final comment about financial gifts: Sometimes October is a budget buster for families in the church who want to bless the entire pastoral team. So, be encouraged. Little things mean a lot. So rather than give big gifts during October, consider giving something small. And then give more significant gifts throughout the year.
Speak (or write) words of life.
Money is great, but your sincere words of encouragement are life-giving. Pastors want to know their life-investment is making an impact. So, take a minute and think through something specific you appreciate about your pastor, and then write it in a card. The generic card from the corner convenience store only means something if there’s cash in it, but the hand-written, personalized note detailing the difference your pastor has made in your life is golden!
Personal notes are huge, but don’t forget to speak good words too. Yes, speak life into your pastors, spouses, and their children to their faces. But also speak well of your pastor when he’s not present. No one needs flattery. Instead, build up your pastor behind his back every chance you get.
Create experiences for your pastor.
This takes a little more effort and creativity, but work to create opportunities for your pastors and families to have great experiences. Generally, most pastors do not get out of town enough. They may struggle to have enough fun. So, this includes giving extra vacation time and the extra money needed to enjoy it, sending them to a conference, taking them to a concert, or funding some special experience you know they’ve always wanted to do. Blessing pastors with time away with family or friends not only encourages them but it refreshes them for the work of ministry.
Honoring our pastors is a privilege. Not just during October, but during October your intentionality reminds your pastors and their families that God is with them and that He will finish what He started. They need to know that, and they need to hear that from you.
Do you want to empower your church or business to make a Kingdom impact?
Whether it’s a weekend worship event, small group session, business executive team, or a company wide retreat, I’d be honored to serve your church, business, or organization as you build kingdom coalitions and develop proven practices for community transformation.
Just send me an email to darylcrouch@everyoneswilson.org or click the Contact Daryl button and complete the form. I’d love to hear from you.