“Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls.” – Hebrews 13:17
Pastor Appreciation Month is observed in October of every year.
My dear brothers and sisters, if you have a moment of time this week, I encourage you to read the attached article: https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-stress/ about pastoral statistics.
When someone enters the ministry, they do so because they are fulfilling a calling by God. I am certain the vast majority of pastors would declare that it is an extreme honor to shepherd and to guide a church, and to draw its members closer to the Lord.
But ministry can be an exacting path.
The apostle Paul wrote the following about those who serve in ministry: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work. An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach… self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.” (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
My own husband was a Director of Christian Education for close to twenty years. For the first five years of our married life, he served in ministry. It was an honor for us to serve together at a church, and to form friendships and close relationships with many individuals and families there. But I can attest first-hand that ministry is not for the faint of heart.
The Bible calls pastors to a higher standard, and rightfully so. For how can someone guide others if they are not prudent, wise, measured, and moral?
“For where there is no guidance, a people will fall…” (Proverbs 11:14)
But at the end of the day, pastors are human beings. They still have the same amount of energy and time in the day as everyone else, must make the same daily choices we do, have families to love and support, and face the same struggles as ordinary people. Even though they are close to the Father and find solace in His presence, they can still be worn down by the grievances of this world.
Our pastors are there for us during life’s hardest moments. They offer us counsel and support, they encourage and influence us, they grieve and rejoice alongside us, and they pray with us and for us. Our pastors love us and desire for us to know Christ in a personal and intimate way.
Our pastors face a challenging task. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5.)
It is both a difficult and noble undertaking to deliver the Truth of God’s Word to a generation who often wants their ears tickled.
But where there is strong guidance, the people rejoice.
Therefore, I am calling on my fellow brothers and sisters to offer these small acts of love to encourage our pastors, not just in October, but all year long:
- Pray for them.
- Show them grace when they cannot immediately return a call or message.
- Respect that there are many things that happen within a church that they cannot share with members of the flock. But we can still offer them our support when they need a safe place to rest or to express their emotions.
- If we approach them for Godly counsel and they convey Biblical wisdom to us, be mindful of our reaction to receiving God’s Truth. During life’s more difficult moments, the Truth is often what we do not want to hear.
- Volunteer our time and talents within the church, as we are called by God to do.
- Reconsider offering criticism about an area of the church until we have volunteered our time in that particular ministry, in order to fully understand how it operates.
- Express our gratitude for their leadership whenever the opportunity arises.
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the Word of God to you.” (Hebrews 13:7)
Happy Pastor Appreciation Month to Journey Church’s pastors and leaders! Thank you for pouring your time and your love into the lives of your flock.
