Pastor Appreciation Month (October) is a great opportunity for individuals and the church, as a whole, to show love and appreciation for their pastor.  Here are 10 ways to express gratitude, honor your clergy, and thank your pastor’s devoted family members during Pastor Appreciation Month:

1.  Pray for your pastor.  Your prayers are the greatest gift you can give your pastor during Pastor Appreciation Month.  Since prayer is an essential part of our Christian life and important to our spiritual health, it needs to be extended to our spiritual leaders.  Christians should be praying for their pastors and other pastoral team members such as the associate pastor, youth minister, children’s minister and worship leader throughout the year.  Pastor Appreciation Month is a great time to be reminded of this.

2.  Surprise your pastor and spouse with a vacation package to a special destination you’ve heard them talk about.  You can also nominate them to win a week-long vacation retreat from Faith Radio.

3.  Invite a guest speaker to conduct worship and give your pastor an extra paid day off and let him enjoy Pastor Appreciation Week (13th-19th) outside of the church with their family and friends.

4.  Plan a special banquet in honor of your pastor and your church. Have guest speakers and an entertaining program that highlights the accomplishments of the church under the pastor’s leadership.

5.  Creatively communicate words of encouragement.  A handwritten note is a great way to do this (need help getting started?).  You can also encourage the Sunday school and other children’s groups within the church to put together thank-you notes for the church staff using construction paper and bright colors.

6.  Plant a tree in honor of your pastor and clergy.  Make sure to touch base with your church’s groundskeeper to determine what type of tree will survive the elements.

7.  Provide for the unique financial needs of the pastor’s children so that they may attend camps, youth group retreats, missionary trips, or school activities.

8.  Pay for dinner and a movie for the couple – provide babysitting if necessary.

9.  Invite your pastor over for dinner or a party with family and friends.

10.  Take your pastor’s children out with your kids (get permission first) and give the pastor and their spouse some quality time together.

Pastors are ordinary human beings, with limited energy, time, and strength. They have down days and challenges to their faith, just as we all do.  God tell us that the elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor (1 Timothy 5:17), and he asks us to honor those leaders who work so hard for all of us.

Do you have a unique and easy way that you show your Pastor appreciation? Leave a reply.