It is very difficult to be loving, gentle, and kind toward people when a small group of nitpickers are constantly at him about trivial matters that have little to do with the overall purpose of the church. Thanks for reading! Over lunchto the best of my recollectionhe said these words to me: Pastor, I want you to know that I am with you. Let me encourage you to get behind the man who God has sent to shepherd his local church. Ask your pastor to make a list of commentaries he would like. 15 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor - ChurchLeaders 7:15). In our fallen world, sin knows no boundaries, sheep bite, wolves creep into churches, and life is hard. Kelly, After all, Scripture reminds us to honor elders that rule well, but especially to honor those who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Tim. You will reap the residual effects for it. After all, we want them to respect ours. He wants you to grow and mature into Christ. 3. I serve a great church, and nothing in this short piece should be read as a surreptitious complaint. Sometimes, this requires going against the grain of what has been the norm for a long time. Did you know that pastors share something in common with others who work in other people-serving positions, such as nurses, doctors, counselors, social workers, etc.? This task weighs heavy on the hearts of all faithful ministersnow and since the great commission. The job of your pastor is not to be your political advocate, nor your political adversary, so dont expect them to be. That is perfectly normal and welcomed behavior. I'm praying for you. Im not confident we would benefit from all these titles, but one book I cant find that Im certainwouldbe useful is something on how to encourage your pastor. Ask the elders to fill in a few times, or make the fifth Sunday in the month a special service. If there is a need and you can help, then do it. GUEST POST: Moodys Great Impact Upon My Life, Christians You Should Know: Adoniram Judson. Use these ideas for pastor appreciation month or for a special Sunday. And that in itself will be a support to him or her. Encourage Your Pastor Article 03.30.2021 There are books that tell you how to take care of your children, your spouse, your house, or your dog. All Rights Reserved. Their title does not make them immune to this, so give grace that allows room for their humanity because, trust me, they need it. As part of our community, you will receive content & communication from 9Marks. Its not hard to give a pastor an extra week of vacation, or a couple weeks of study leavewhich is not the same as vacation. Paying pastors a living wage is necessary, but I suspect that Paul would want to do more than honor our pastors with pay. Pray for him and with him. SiTerra Wallace is organizing this fundraiser. It should occur all throughout the year. Yes, some joke ministry would be great if it wasnt for people, and others may continue to pastor not knowing what else to do with their lives, but most serve because they love people and they love seeing lives changed by the power of the Gospel. Being a pastor is a challenging and sometimes thankless job. This question is not the result of pastors being overly critical of themselves. Those words can easily make people feel uncomfortable. The pastor has an obligation to his family just like you do, and we should acknowledge that. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. Sometimes the Lord may even use your pastor to speak a word of truth you do not want to hear in the moment but need to hear it. Your pastor needs spiritual refreshment too. Copyright 2023, Southern Equip. 1. On the other hand, the people should seek to minister to their minister and not just on pastor appreciation month! Speak to him with respect. It is giving glory to one deserving of respect, attention and obedience. But remember this before you speak a word of criticism or when you are tempted to voice your discontentment about your pastor, or about the way you feel things are going: your support and encouragement will go a lot further in bringing honor to Christ, blessing your pastor, and edifying the church (Eph. Pick out something specific from the sermon and comment directly on that. Who knows what discouragement constantly plagues him? (07159230705). Specifics tell the pastor that you mean what you are saying. As he thought over his ministry, he said, During these ten years, I have known more of vision fading into mirages, or purposes failing of fulfillment, of things of strength crumbling away in weakness than ever in my life., (Original source for this could not be found. No content from my-pastor.com may be Ask your denomination what else they recommend. Yet that doesnt mean he will always agree with you as to what you think is best for you. When her father could not be available because of a family obligation, many of the members would get upset. If he is to live out the maxim of John the Baptistthat Christ must increase and he must decreasethen he will need your prayers (Jn 3:30). My dad is a pastor and thought the mug was funny. What do you do for a living? This is not to call you into a pity party for our pastors, but to remind you of the encouragement that pastors and church leaders need on a daily basis. He is passionate about learning about God through his Word and teaching others to do the same. Shall they tender grace unto you, and you will resist it? He has questions, doubts, and even fails in faithfully following the Lord. Dont covet to have your pastor be just like a pastor you admire or idolize. Know the dates of when his parents (or child, sibling, close friend) died. The Bible gives a rather rigorous list of requirements the pastor is to do and spells out specifically the roles the pastor is to play in the local church. All ministers must remember that the work is done for Christ and it is Christ who will reward in the end. Support your pastor; build him up. You prayed for me (such as sending a note telling your pastor that you prayed for him). Nothing will encourage him more. The Lord knows how to keep his pastors humble so you can worry about keeping your pastor going. Bottom line: hes a person. Ten Ways to Encourage the Pastor: 1. (1) Very highly and in love (1 Thess. When we posted "59 things not to say to a pastor," my cousin Rebecca Kilgore Smith of Jasper, Alabama, suggested we should balance the sheet with a list of positive, encouraging things to say to pastors. Treat him for who he is and for the office he holds. Other congregations do this during another time of year such as the pastors anniversary or a special day in the life of the church. How should you/we Christians esteem their elders or pastor? Give, not merely monetary support, but give service to him and his family. Your Pastor Needs Encouragement Here Are 7 Ways You Can Help, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. If hes serving in a church where hes the only pastor, he likely feels alone and solely responsible for shepherding the church. Call a home-bound church member. 13:17). Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. He prays for you, and he desires for the Lord to bring about his purposes in your life. One of the best things you can do to support your pastor is continue to be faithful to your church. This means there may be moments where they are not available to you because they are spending time with family, on vacation, or just getting much needed rest. Most congregants dont do this. Then next Sunday ask him how things went regarding what you prayed for. Take their sermons to heart. Send an email showing your pastor appreciation to your pastor. Most think the pastor needs no encouragement or affirmation but think that we should always be aware of his or her need for encouragement and affirmation. Be a conduit of grace, hope and love to build up your pastor. Such honor can take many forms: respect, encouragement, affection, and obedience (2 Cor. Sing your heart out at your church worship service. No doubt, there are men in the ministry who could better serve the kingdom doing something else. Even pastors in ages gone by struggled with discouragement and depression. Order it, pay for it, and have it sent to your pastors home. In his lecture on The Ministers Fainting Fits, Spurgeon opened with these words: As it is recorded that David, in the heat of battle, waxed faint, so may it be written of all the servants of the Lord. The same way you need grace every day to do your job, they do too. Its quantifiable. The easiest thing in the world to do is complain about the pastor, but what do you do after that? Dont be surprised when that feeling even feels justified. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. 1:16). Buy your pastor something he will appreciate. There are books to aid teachers in helping students, lawyers in defending clients, or pastors in caring for church members. How to Encourage Your Pastor - CPC Resources They share a high rate of distress and discouragement, and oddly enough tend towards more frequent and serious bouts of depression and higher incidences of suicide. 5:13). As Moses arms became tired, Aaron and Hur supported him and helped hold up his arms. Paul taught in the church epistles that even when pastors must be addressed about some fault (and preachers are not perfect!) Certainly, the pastor must maintain his own reputation and integrity in Christ. The weight and responsibility of a pastor is not an easy task. Tell him on these Sundays he has no responsibilities other than to let the church bless him. Starting with quiet reverence helps clear away any thoughts that might be distracting you. Instead, prepare your heart by being still before him as you begin your time together. of Most people who criticize pastors have never been one. These are the emotions of a person who needs a word of encouragement. You can be the person who gives it to them. Its difficult to adequately express all the ways the Lord used the words of this godly man to refresh my heart and spirit, but I can assure you it was timely and life-giving to my weary soul. Invite him to lunch. 6:1113). Tell him how God has used him in your growth. The Reformers Were Not Innovators: An Interview with Matthew Barrett, Confessions of Faith and the Baptist Tradition, Giving It All and Getting It All: Puritan Women and Their Spiritual Practices, How Three Friends Dropped Out of Princeton Theological Seminary, Joined the Inaugural Class of Fuller Theological Seminary, and Changed Evangelicalism, A Simple Way to Help Get 100,000 Bibles to Kids in Africa, You Can Be Right and Wrong Simultaneously. Believe it or not, he probably wants to laugh and, for once, be able to let his guard down and not be taken so seriously all the time. Most pastors are underpaid for their level of education. You showed me tangible appreciation (such as small gifts like a gift card to a coffee shop). God does something special in the heart of a true shepherd; the Lord gives him a genuine love for the flock entrusted into his care. What do we do in those moments? The pastor may have done some things wrong, but they have also done some things right. When possible pray with him. The truth behind this joke is not that pastors only work one day a week but that most Christians do not know how hard their pastors work. Pray for them about this. Before you read anything else, stop and pray for your pastor now. One is to honor the minister. 5:13 cp. www.lifeway.com. He hurts like you and is doing his best to live a life that honors Christ. But being a pastor is unique in that every week our workand really our heart and soulis put on display for everyone to see, savor, or sleep through. This kind of encouragement is particularly important right now. (2) By showing respect for their needs (Acts 28:9-10). Do you want your church to be a strong church? We should want to give them relief from their labour. 3:8). He is thrilled in your excitement, and he hurts with you in moments of pain. 7:15)! So many people tell him his sermon was great that he realizes their comment is the same as an American asking, How are you? We dont really mean it its just a greeting. 3:8 ). First she would like to thank you all for your prayers spiritually she appreciates you. How To Encourage Your Pastor During Uncertain Times It is a high calling of the Lord. I think we can all agree that weve done enough tearing one another down. This is not just something we can do, it is something we should do. Read books about how pastors struggle and use them to inform your prayers for your pastor. The New King James uses the word, recognize in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, but it means the same. From your heart. There may be things they are unwilling to share, but the gesture will tell them you care about their life as much as they care about yours. But overall, I think ministers spend a lot of time quietly wondering if they are just whistling in the dark. Invest in Your Pastor's Joy for the Good of the Church. In the same way, pastors need others as a source of help and encouragement. Im not talking about stroking your pastors ego just to make him (or you) feel good. Send a letter to his son or daughter who is away at college. On Sunday, ask him what you can pray about for him this week. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. All rights reserved. Never publicly criticize him. "I just don't understand the mentality of somebody who gets up in the morning, thinking that he's going to prove his worth by competing over who can make life hardest for a hard-hit . The third way is to esteem the pastor (1 Thess. Perhaps you have a deacon in the church who can preach for a Sunday, or maybe you can offer an extra day off during the week, along with a hotel . Im a pastor. If he calls them to be leaders, then we must follow wherever the Word of God takes us. A friend of mine was a pastors kid (PK) and she told me how she resented the church because it demanded so much of her fathers time. Nothing will inspire your pastor more or give him more joy than to see how you are growing in Christ. He often sees how the Lord is working within the church and how the enemy is attempting to trip up, grab a foothold, or lure away disciples. Lift him up, inspire him, and bless him in Christ. Why not incorporate that into your prayers for your pastor? See to it that you come to his aid and help him in his weakness. Maybe even raise some funds and send him and his family on a cruise or a study leave. He has quirks that sometimes attracts the fixation of his critics. A hand written message will usually be read in private which provides a more personal "thank you". They cannot walk on water, neither can they change water into wine. There is a theological aspect to eldership. You may unsubscribe at any time. Pick a Ministry (a Job) and Be Faithful As a visiting preacher once asked a congregation, speaking about their pastors, Shall they beg mercy for you, and will you reject it? Cookies enable you to enjoy features such as social sharing. We have opportunity for a lot of things. If you are a pastor, what act of kindness from those in the church has encouraged you most? One suggestion is to give him tools to study the Word of God. The minister who provides spiritual food is to be treated at least as well as the ox that grinds grain. Caveats in place, here is one simple and very important thing you can do to encourage your pastor: tell him you are grateful for his preaching. And if your pastors sermoneven once in a great whilefalls into the category of these things, give thanks to God. The pastorate is a demanding and consuming vocation. These are ten, simple and practical suggestions for encouraging your pastor(s). First Timothy 5:17 says an elder (pastor) who serves well is worthy of double honor. Tomorrow Ill share 10 more great ways you can encourage your pastor. "Adopt" one of his children as someone you pray for, encourage, and support. Loving your lawyer. God is the one who has given the pastor the personal talents, the spiritual gifts, and the call to the church; not the former pastor, the famous pastor, or any other admirable person. How you pay your pastor is an expression of how much you value the gospel, 10 more great ways you can encourage your pastor, Pastor Appreciation Month The Pastor's Soul, Top 5 Books For Burned-Out Pastors (and Those Who Love Them) The Pastor's Soul, 10 More Great Ways to Encourage Your Pastor The Pastor's Soul, 6 Things the Bible Says About Loving Your Pastor The Pastor's Soul, Why you should make your pastor take a sabbatical The Pastor's Soul. Be proactive to make sure he is getting spiritual, emotional, mental and physical rejuvenation. There are a number of ways to do this, but the most practical may be to encourage lay leadership at your church to establish a pastoral care team that is tasked with overseeing the wellbeing of your pastors and their families. 15 Things a Pastor is Supposed to Consider When Preaching. Pastors need our prayers to continue living this way. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. If time is given during a service or event for public sharing, talk about something positive your pastor did recently that few people know about. His wife and children had better not miss a beat, always be on their A-game, and never let anyone down. Do everything you can to pump life into his soul. 5:18). Its biblical and the right direction for our church. It was during a particularly difficult season of ministry, and Im sure he could sense the hardship I was walking through. How 'catch-up contributions' can help grow your retirement account Please make sure all fields are filled out. Here are a few things that faithful church members should do regularly to encourage the undershepherd God has given them: There is a great deal of talk about the responsibilities and role of a pastor today. To appreciate means to give deserved recognition for the position he has and the work that he does. Give him time, and your pastor will let you down. Lift him and his family up to the Lord in frequent prayer. What I could handle when fresh I no longer feel up to. Your pastor is not perfectand he knows it. However, they are not commanded to make "home delivery" of the feed. Giving Thanks for Harry Reeder (19482023), Explore the Heart of Jesus Through His High Priestly Prayer. Pastors must also be self-controlled and upright, not swayed unjustly by large numbers or powerful personalities (does your church have any of those?). Second, talk with two or more other people in the church and conspire to do at least one encouraging thing together for the pastor(s). Nothing will inspire your pastor more or give him more joy than to see how you are growing in Christ. In moments like those, pastors need some members to stand with them. I decided to write this post now, while I still have four weeks left in my summer study leave, so that it can be seen that I am making general comments about pastoral ministry and not scheming for more compliments from my people. Author of A healthy church? 5 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor. Who and what are "officers" of the Church? Here are five ways you can do that: 1. Sometimes we forget the emotional toll that comes when you must lead people, especially because there are some who are difficult to lead. BONUS. Pastoring a group of people known as a church is a great honor. Looking after your teacher. Offering counsel on a wide-range of questions from actual readers like you! Hes not above sin, and hes also not above sinning against you. Pray for God to give them grace to lead, courage to make tough decisions, the ability to endure, and the heart to follow Gods will. This was Pauls aim and prayer as well. Visit someone in the hospital. It is hard enough finding volunteers to help in the church. He enjoysspending time with his wifewatching shows and cooking together. Include him and his family. There are books that tell you how to take care of your children, your spouse, your house, or your dog. 1. 1:79b). He has hobbies and interests. He has a vested interest in your spiritual growth and maturity. Remember his family in prayer. 4:15). If there is one way you can make the job of your pastor more enjoyable, it is by leaving the political stuff at home. The prophet Habakkuk said, "The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him" (Habakkuk 2:20 NIV). How to Encourage Your Pastor The pastors wife and kids often feel like there are extra expectations placed on them. The pastor is on the front lines of waging spiritual warfare. Instead of tossing this mug out with the rest of the junk in the attic, I carefully set it aside to give to my father for his upcoming birthday.
Jefferson County Pediatrics,
Apartments In Mansfield, Nj,
Alameda Enrichment Foundation,
How Many Soccer Teams Are There In Italy,
Define The Term Factory Overhead,
Articles H