This article from Christian Personal Finance, which I am posting here, touches my heart. You know why? Because I am a pastor! Sounds self-serving but who else can say this? Among the four pastors in our church, I am sort of serving more in the marketplace. I like it because I feel it is what God wants me to do. I love what He gives me. He also gives me the chance to say what other couldn't say specially in the area of taking care of the pastors.
I believe, it is a blessing to take care of our pastors. Do you think so too?
20 Ways To Thank Your Pastor
1. Simply Say “Thank You” – While blatantly
obvious, sometimes weeks go by for a pastor without someone verbally saying thank you.
2. Provide a Vacation – Without a doubt,
there is one thing that every single pastor absolutely needs no matter who they
are: rest. Whether this is a dubbed a vacation, trip, or sabbatical, all
of the above allow for your pastor to break away from life for a set amount of
time for the purpose of rest, relaxation, and recovery. Consequently,
this period usually serves to restore fresh passion and vision as well,
decreasing the likelihood of pastoral “burnout.”
3. Handwritten Notes – These are always
special to receive, especially if you highlight something that “struck you”
from a recent message or sermon.
4. Photo Book – This is an
inexpensive way to show your appreciation by gathering photos and notes from
members that showcase special moments in the history of your church.
5. Prayer – This may not seem
like much of a thank you, but there is no greater way to support your pastor
and encourage or appreciate them than forming a prayer group that prays
regularly for him and his family. This can also be done as a group during
a prayer meeting/breakfast or a special night of prayer involving the entire
congregation.
6. Gift Certificates – This can range anywhere
from restaurants to bookstores to movie tickets. The possibilities are
endless and the pastor usually gets to include his wife on this one as an added
bonus!
7. Lawn Care – This is a unique gift
where you can arrange for free lawn care, whether you do it yourself or arrange
to pay a service to do it.
8. Special Acts of Service – You can ask families in
the church to do something creative or special, such as provide a meal with
dessert, wash their cars, etc . . . .
9. Remember Special Dates – Everyone, no matter who
they are, loves to be appreciated. Show your pastor how much you love him
by remembering special anniversaries, such as his birthday, the date that he
came to this church, or his wedding anniversary.
10. Lessons/Gifts For a Hobby – Many pastors love to
golf. Some like to read while others like to fish. No matter what their
hobby is, you can always find a way to appreciate him by paying for lessons or
going along with him to “play” and not talk about church!
11. Plant a Tree – This is a great
way to say thank you in honor of your pastor.
12. Video Interview – Be creative! You
can record video interviews from members of the church sharing how they have
been blessed by his ministry to them.
13. Cards/Crafts – Ask members of the
church to send cards or gifts that they’ve made to his home. Remember to
include the pastor’s wife and her supportive role!
14. Special Service – Hold a special
celebration service to pray and thank God for the lives of your pastors and
their families.
15. Kid’s “Thank You’s” – Have the kids
design and create posters with their handprints/footprints and hang them around
the church.
16. Money – Many pastors take a pay
cut to serve in this role. The gift of money, given by members during a
special appreciation event, can help to pay for car repairs or any other
financial burdens that are unexpected.
17. Gym/Health Club
Membership – This is always a great investment for your pastor!
18. Free Repairs – Organize a group
that is willing to say thanks by helping the pastor take care of any repairs
around the church or their personal home or car.
19. Child Care – If your pastor is
younger, you can offer to say thank you by helping to watch their children
while they have a night out or go to a Bed and Breakfast for the weekend.
20. Thank the Pastor’s Wife – Remember the
statistic: 60% of pastor’s wives work full time to support the home.
Thanking your pastor’s wife for all that she does to support her husband and
God’s church can be an incredible lift to her spirit and, consequently, your
pastor’s spirit as well.
Although the list
above is not exhaustive, it’s a great start to some innovative ways to thank
your pastor! My personal favorites include any ideas that help the pastor
to get time away in order to get refreshed and refocused and also any ideas
that show sincere appreciation to the pastor’s wife.
Do you
have another creative way to say “thank you?” Meet me right now in the
comment section by sharing any additional ideas and insights that you have for
thanking our pastors!
