Believe it or not, there is such a thing as Pastors’ Appreciation Month, and that month is October! This special recognition dates back to the early 1990s when Focus on the Family began highlighting this event on their radio program.
Now you might ask, why should we appreciate our pastors? That’s a good question! Here are some of my reasons.
First, it is biblical. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12, Paul writes, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” Additionally, Galatians 6:6 tells us “let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” Finally, in 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul writes, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
The phrase “all good things” in the Galatians passage and “double honor” in the 1 Timothy passage could even be interpreted as monetary or financial gifts for the pastor. To honor a pastor ultimately honors God who called and placed them into their ministries.
Secondly, it encourages them for longevity. Some may think that pastors only work on Sundays but that is certainly not true. Pastors spend a great amount of time preparing for sermons, planning events, setting a vision for the future, setting up the budget, shepherding the congregation members, and responding to different emergencies ranging from disputes to hospital visitations.
In some sense, pastors are like spiritual doctors who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a member of a church needs encouragement or help in any way, the pastor typically gets the call. Often, this is the behind the scenes work that most people do not see.
Being a pastor certainly is a high calling but there can be a high toll that also accompanies this calling. Part of the fallout could include health problems, reduced time with family, tiredness, and fatigue. Encouragement goes a long way! This once a year appreciation could be crucial for greater longevity.
Most recently, during this time of pandemic and lockdown, pastors have now been required to learn a whole new set of skills that were never before imagined. These skills certainly were not taught in the classroom in seminary. This includes learning how to navigate Zoom, learning how to film and edit sermons, and doing church virtually rather than in person. This has also moved up the time frame for sermon preparation because of filming schedules and online announcements.
Some of us pastors may be good at Greek, Hebrew, and theology but learning to be tech-savvy is a whole different ball game! As a result, pastors are exhausted with the ever-changing demands of doing church during this unprecedented time.
It is surprising to me that so few people know that such a celebration exists. Even in my seminary classes, very few students who are preparing for the ministry are aware of this event. So, I take time in class to announce this time of appreciation every year. I also post on social media to alert lay leaders that there is such a thing as Pastors’ Appreciation Month. I even call elders and leaders to do something special for their pastors, especially those who have served faithfully for a long time. So please, get the word out so that we can all celebrate!
Practical Application
What are some ways to encourage pastors? Let me provide a list of some possible ways to encourage your pastors and their families, even through COVID.
- Send a text or call to your pastors to say, “Thank you.”
- Send a meal for their families through DoorDash, Grubhub, or another delivery service.
- Send an Amazon gift card or other kind of gift card.
- Set aside a portion of the online service to recognize the pastors & families publicly.
- Ask your pastors if they have any prayer requests, and then pray for them.
- Thank the pastors’ spouses for releasing them to serve the church.
- Send a gift to the children of the pastors, thanking them for sacrificing their time with their parents.
Of course, we want to appreciate our pastors all year round. But these are just a few ways you can appreciate those who lead you in the church during this special month of recognition. I encourage you to celebrate the rest of October for your pastors and their families and I’m sure they will appreciate it!