Celebrating Pastor Appreciation Month--0ctober
Author: Bishop Ray Boggs
October is Pastor Appreciation Month and is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people. It is also important to remember that appreciation, affirmation, and prayer support of our spiritual leaders is appropriate throughout the entire year.
The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments — the spiritual well-being of His flock. When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered. When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.
Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.
That’s why God has instructed us to recognize His servants.
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).
Our goal is that every pastor (including staff ministers) and his or her family would feel appreciated by those they serve. The good news is that we can make a difference! Pastor Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.
Here are just a few ideas to celebrate Pastor Appreciation that might help you get started:
• Handwritten Note
• Favorite Meal
• Group Gift - Grill, Espresso Machine, etc.
• Weekend Getaway
• Monetary Gifts
• A Sunday Off
• Gift Cards
• Bible Study Software
Thank you for taking time this month to show your love and appreciation for your Pastor and Pastoral Staff. They need it now more than ever!
Bishop Ray Boggs
Author: Bishop Ray Boggs
October is Pastor Appreciation Month and is a special time that congregations set aside each year to honor their pastors and pastoral families for the hard work, sacrificial dedication and multiple blessings provided by these special people. It is also important to remember that appreciation, affirmation, and prayer support of our spiritual leaders is appropriate throughout the entire year.
The nature of the service provided by pastors and their families is unique. God has entrusted to them one of the most precious of assignments — the spiritual well-being of His flock. When a pastor becomes ineffective, the very souls of his or her parishioners are endangered. When eternity is in the balance, we should all be concerned.
Pastors and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.
That’s why God has instructed us to recognize His servants.
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).
Our goal is that every pastor (including staff ministers) and his or her family would feel appreciated by those they serve. The good news is that we can make a difference! Pastor Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.
Here are just a few ideas to celebrate Pastor Appreciation that might help you get started:
• Handwritten Note
• Favorite Meal
• Group Gift - Grill, Espresso Machine, etc.
• Weekend Getaway
• Monetary Gifts
• A Sunday Off
• Gift Cards
• Bible Study Software
Thank you for taking time this month to show your love and appreciation for your Pastor and Pastoral Staff. They need it now more than ever!
Bishop Ray Boggs