October: a time for gratitude
Pastor Appreciation Month gives congregants chance to show gratefulness
In a time when the United States is inching ever closer to a post-Christian culture, understanding the sacrifice our pastors make and honoring them during Pastor Appreciation Month is now more important than ever before.
For one month out of the year, the world is reminded of the incredible work church leadership accomplishes and is encouraged to show their gratitude.
“Pastors give their lives for the flock,” Elmer Towns, Liberty University cofounder and author of more than 190 books, said. “When you become a pastor, it’s 24/7 … You are on call all the time.”
Pastor Appreciation Month, a time specifically for showing your thankfulness for your pastors, occurs annually during October.
“God has established his authority in the church through the leadership of pastors,” Matt Willmington, director of ministries at Thomas Road Baptist Church, said. “Paul says that elders are worthy of honor in 1 Timothy 5:17.”
The Bible describes the importance of obeying our leaders and respecting their authority in Hebrews 13:17 (NIV), which says, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
In today’s society, it has become even more important to rally around our church leaders. To boil it down, it is our responsibly to let leadership know they are doing right by us. And when we show thanks to them, we encourage them to remain confident in their convictions and faithful to their beliefs.
“Commendation and honest appreciation has great power,” Towns said. “When you begin to support a pastor, it raises the bar for him to do even more for you.”
Being a leader in a church is a position that is constantly criticized and underestimated by society and the congregation itself.
“I think today there are churches that think a pastor ought to be like hired help,” Towns said. “They don’t realize that he has a higher calling and higher obligation than to the local church — it’s to Jesus Christ himself.”
Talking about the emotional toll the ministry can take on a pastor, Towns also said that the most difficult thing to deal with is having to “put up with ungrateful people,”
“The hardest thing is being misunderstood and complained about behind your back,” Towns said. “People on their way home, before they have roast beef for lunch, they have roast pastor in the car home, criticizing him for his sermon and what he’s done and how they think they
could do better.”
Making the decision to give thanks to a pastor can be a very easy one. Showing recognition can be done in countless ways. Most are simple, others can be extravagant, but all get the point across.
While gifts and celebrations in October are encouraging, church leadership should be cherished all year long for the sacrifices they make for their congregations. Honoring and showing gratitude should not be a chore, but
rather a lifestyle.
“We honor (pastors) by listening to their teaching and following the spiritual guidance they give the church and us personally,” Willmington said.
Pastors stand by us all year long. Take a minute to write a note, 30 seconds to say a prayer or ask your pastor how you could help him. No matter how you choose to do it, show appreciation and send some love their way.
STEFANICK is an opinion writer.