How to Celebrate Ministry Appreciation Month

Pastors, members of clergy and others serving in ministry are typically on-call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. October has been designated Ministry Appreciation Month. While pastors certainly do not minister to others for recognition or gifts, wouldn't it be nice to let your favorite clergy know how valuable he is? Even if it is not Pastor Appreciation Month, you can use these steps to show your heartfelt gratitude.

Instructions

1. Talk to your pastor. Shake his hand or give him a hug and tell him how much you appreciate him, pointing out something specific such as his wonderful sense of humor or talent for applying scripture to daily life. Let him know that you pray for him daily, and follow through with it. Ask him if there is anything specific you can pray for him.

2. Write a sincere letter to your pastor, relaying your thankfulness for his service to you and your church body. This is a good option if you have a hard time voicing your feelings. If you just are not a letter writing type of person, find a fitting card and jot down a few personal lines.

3. Plan a potluck event for the entire congregation to honor your pastor together. Talk to your pastor or his wife and find out a good date and time for them (immediately following a service is always nice). Ask a few members--both longstanding and new--to speak on behalf of the rest of your church body.

4. Offer a way to serve your pastor. If your pastor has small children, you could give him and his wife a certificate for a night or day of free babysitting (if you can also afford to give them a gift certificate to a restaurant, even better). Handy around the house? Provide a day's worth of honey-do jobs. Think about what you are good at or capable of and minister to your minister!

5. Ask members of the church to pitch in. Take up a collection and purchase something very nice, meaningful, or even useful. Think about--or ask--what your pastor and his family could really benefit from. Find a way to bless him for all of his service to your church.

Tips & Warnings

• Show appreciation for your pastor all year long by attending services attentively and inviting others to come with you.

• Don't forget your pastor's wife and kids. They make sacrifices as well, such as when Dad has to miss a special event to be with a church member in need.

Resources

• 52 Ways to Minister to a Pastor