As many of you know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month in churches and denominations around the world. So when I found a note I had written years ago in my Bible titled “10 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor,” I thought this might be a good time to share it.
I wish I could tell you who was speaking when I wrote these notes, but I’m afraid I can’t. And since my notes aren’t verbatim of his message, I feel free to write them here. It was a good reminder to me, and I hope it’ll be a good reminder to you.
Gary and I have a wonderful pastor, Larry Scott. He is everything you’d want in a pastor! I’m going to be working on these specific ways to encourage him and can show him how thankful we are to have him at Westside Church, in Simpsonville, SC.
10 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor
- Live a biblically-successful life. Tell your pastor how much you’re growing through his ministry.
- Make a personal commitment to help him know true success through biblical faithfulness, love, service, holiness.
- Don’t ask or expect him to be involved in everything.
- Let him be the person God has planned for him to be. Maximize his strengths and celebrate them; talk about his strengths behind his back; minimize his weaknesses and flaws by filling the gaps respectfully.
- Provide adequately for him.
- Love his family.
- Guard and protect the pastor and his family. Believe the best in him; refuse gossip; share kind words.
- Treat your pastor with respect.
- Find or create opportunities to thank him and his wife for their ministry and service.
- Pray constantly for him, his marriage, and his family.
There they are, 10 things we can do to help our pastors be who God created them to be…and they don’t cost us a cent.
Part of #4 was my favorite: “Talk about his strengths behind his back.” Wow. It’s sad, but there are so many times that the opposite is true. Wouldn’t it be great if we all spoke lovingly and graciously about our pastors behind their backs? Can you imagine the encouragement that would be for them?
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
What about you? Did you find a favorite way to encourage your pastor this month?
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
(Photo courtesy of ChristianPhotos.net)
