By Karen McBride
October is Pastor Appreciation month. We should consistently pray for our pastors as we are told to do in the Bible. When Apostle Paul was establishing the first Christian churches, he wrote:
1 Timothy 5:17 ESV – Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
Pastor Appreciation Month was started by Focus on the Family, an American Christian organization, in 1994 as a mission to uplift, support, and encourage pastors, missionaries, and religious workers. Now there’s a day within the month of October devoted specifically to our pastors, priests, reverends, ministers, and clergymen. Please spend time on October 8, 2023, and throughout the year praying for your pastors and church leaders.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-2 ESV, we learn that being the spiritual leader of a church comes with high responsibilities:
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…
With these high expectations come many blessings, but it can also become a burden. When a pastor gets burned out, he becomes ineffective, and the spiritual well-being of his congregation can suffer. Offer to help him with tasks to free up his time. Words of encouragement can lift his spirits during stressful times. Send him a gift card to his or his wife’s favorite restaurant or send a gift basket of goodies.
This month challenge yourself to think of something special you and your fellow church members can do to uplift your pastor!