The month of October is “Pastor Appreciation Month.” You may be wondering who started this recognition for pastors. It was actually the Apostle Paul.
In 1 Tim. 5:17, Paul says “The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” God’s Word says we are to give double honor, not just honor, but double honor to those who preach and teach the Word.
Honoring pastors in October actually began in 1992 with the purpose of uplifting and encouraging pastors, missionaries, and ministry workers. Everyone loves to be appreciated and encouraged, and probably no one ever gets too much appreciation and encouragement.
Yes, there are those who really do think that pastors only work one day a week. On Sunday, without any preparation, the preacher steps into the pulpit, and his sermon just starts flowing out of his mouth.
Though this is a common presumption, it is not reality. The pastor spends hours preparing just one sermon, and many pastors preach at least two if not three sermons a week.
Then there are the outreach, ministry and hospital visits a pastor makes each week. No matter the size of the church, there are several hours of administration work a pastor needs to take care of each week. Not to mention the phone calls, the drop-in visits, the counseling and so many other unplanned things a pastor has to handle on a daily basis. The truth is, a pastor is on-call seven days a week, 24 hours a day. You might say a pastor’s work is never done, and you would be correct.
Pastors are God-called servant-leaders who minister to God’s people. They spiritually feed the people of God through preaching and teaching God’s Word and lead God’s people by providing spiritual oversight of the church. They definitely deserve double honor, and the month of October is an excellent time to show your pastor your appreciation for all he does each and every day of the year.
Here are some ways you can show appreciation to your pastor:
• Send him a letter of appreciation for all the he does for the Lord and your church throughout the year.
• Put together a video to show on Sunday morning of members giving testimonies of what your pastor means to the members.
• Throw a surprise party or fellowship for him.
• Buy your pastor and his wife dinner, or invite them over to your home for a meal.
• Give them a gift or gift card to show them your appreciation.
• Offer to mow your pastor’s lawn or clean their house to show appreciation to his wife who also needs encouragement and appreciation.
• If they have children, offer to babysit, so they can go out for a date night.
• Take up a love offering for your pastor and his family, so they can go away for a short vacation or maybe a week’s vacation.
By the way, don’t stop with the pastor. Show encouragement and appreciation to all your ministerial staff. Sometimes they may need it most of all. If your pastor is a multi-vocational pastor, he is our hero and probably deserves triple honor.
Thank you, Pastors, ministerial staff, and all those who have answered God’s call to ministry. Oklahoma Baptists appreciate all you do for the Lord and for advancing the Gospel together.
