Our pastors do so much for our churches and the body of Christ. Often, being a pastor is a thankless job; most of us don’t realize just how difficult a pastor’s job can be.
The pastor is responsible for the wellbeing and spiritual growth of the congregation and this can be a stressful thing. Pastors go through things that we cannot imagine and often suffer through the difficult times of the ministry so that they can be a light for the congregation.
So, it can be an incredible encouragement and blessing when the church comes together to show appreciation for their pastor!
- “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13: 7
The Bible tells us that we are to remember those who have led us, taught us, and instructed us in the Word of God. Making a special effort to recognize our pastors is a blessing and lots of churches celebrate their pastors during the month of October.
15 Incredible Ideas for Pastor Appreciation
- Pastor’s Appreciation Day
Pastor’s Appreciation Day is traditionally held on the 2nd Sunday in October and can be a great way to show our pastors just how much we appreciate what they do for us. Having a special day set aside specifically for showing appreciation for the pastor can be a great way to lift up and encourage your pastor.
Pastor’s Appreciation day shows your pastor that they are not forgotten and that their hard work and dedication to the Word of God and to the service of the church does not go unnoticed.
- Cards of Encouragement and Appreciation
This is a simple but effective way of showing appreciation for your pastor.
During the weeks leading up to Pastor’s Appreciation Day, have members of the church fill out small notecards with messages of encouragement and appreciation. Each card will serve as a special keepsake and memento of your appreciation to the pastor and help to show them that the work they do makes a difference.
A few tips:
- Place an empty basket in the foyer of the church and have blank cards and pens next to it so that the congregation can easily fill them out. On Pastor’s Appreciation Day, you can give the basket full of cards to your pastor.
- To maintain the element of surprise, consider keeping this activity quiet from your pastor until Pastor’s Appreciation Day.
- Include notes about times that the pastor helped you or encouraged you.
- Encourage every member to participate so that the pastor gets as much encouragement as possible.
- Potluck Dinner For The Pastor
Another great way to show your appreciation is to organize a church-wide potluck dinner in honor of the pastor.
Potluck dinners are always a great way to bring the church together and to enjoy some of the best food that you ever had. Having a potluck dinner dedicated specifically to the pastor can really mean a lot for them and will also provide him with a free all-you-can-eat buffet complete with fellowship and the blessing of being with the church family.
A few tips:
- Set up a special table just for the pastor and his family.
- Your pastor is always serving others, so this is a great opportunity for the church to serve the pastor by making sure they get the first plate.
- Consider collecting gifts for the pastor to be given at the Potluck Dinner.
- Free Dinner Night for The Pastor and Family
Some churches like to take a collection to sponsor the pastor and their family to go out to eat at the restaurant of their choosing.
Pastors often work so hard to make sure the church is taken care of and, as a result, neglect personal time. This can be a great way to give your pastor a special night with their spouse and children, allowing them to spend some quality family time.
You never know how much a small gesture like this can mean for your pastor and their families.
- Prayer Calendar For Your Pastor
Make up a blank calendar month page (30 or 31 days) and ask members of the church to make a commitment to pray for the pastor on a certain day. Members can choose one day or more days, putting their initials on the day(s) they choose to pray for the pastor.
This calendar can be given to your pastor on Pastor’s Appreciation Day as a great way of letting him know that the congregation has him sheltered with prayers every day!
A tip:
- Try to get at least one person for every day on the calendar.
- Pastor Appreciation Cards from the Children
Pastors have a special heart for the children of the church, as they are the next generation of believers and are precious in the eyes of God.
A great way to brighten your pastor’s day is to have the children of the church each create a personalized card of appreciation for the pastor. Be sure to bring lots of crayons, markers, and construction paper.
Your pastor is sure to feel loved and special to get all of the colorful cards from the children.
- Ask If Your Pastor Needs Prayer
Here is something that you can do on your own to show your pastor that you appreciate them. The pastor is usually the one who is asking what he can pray about for us, but our pastors have prayer needs too and simply going up to your pastor and asking if there is anything you can pray about for them can make a big difference!
This one may sound simple, and that’s because it is, but never underestimate the power of prayer and never underestimate the power of a small gesture of appreciation for your pastor.
- Write a Thank-You Letter to Your Pastor
Writing a personal letter to your pastor is a great way to remind him that he is making a difference in the lives of his flock. Writing letters may seem like a thing of the past, but a written letter is something that your pastor can hold in his hands and look back on as a reminder for years to come.
Tips:
- Include a special memory of you and the pastor or a sermon that really blessed you.
- Deliver your letter by hand…you’ll create a memory that your pastor will cherish for years to come.
- Invite Your Pastor to Dinner at Your Home
Another way to show your appreciation would be to invite the Pastor over for dinner at your house. Your pastor always shows great kindness to others and this is a great opportunity for you to share your home and your hospitality with your pastor. Having your pastor and his spouse over for dinner will not only be a blessing for them, but for your family as well because you will have the chance to bond with them in a more intimate setting.
This is another way that we can serve our pastors who are always serving us.
- Work Day at Your Pastor’s Home
Sometimes pastors spend so much time taking care of the matters of the church that they don’t have the time to take care of everything around the house.
Gather some of the members of the church who have experience with yardwork, handiwork, or repair work and schedule a day to go to the pastor’s house to take care of anything that might need to be done.
You can do things like:
- cut the grass
- clean the gutters
- rake the leaves
- fix the kitchen sink(or anything else that might need to be repaired)
- repaint the front door or the mailbox
- change the oil in the car
- Make a Church Thank You Video
Gather short video clips from different members of the church thanking the pastor for what he has done or sharing a special memory of the pastor. Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, so getting the videos should be quick and easy.
Present the video as a surprise before the service to show the pastor just how much they are appreciated. You can also make a copy of the video that the pastor can download and watch anytime!
- Gift Card or Money Tree
This is a great, fun way for everyone to contribute a little to provide the pastor with a small financial blessing.
You can either buy a small tree at the local nursery or you can make one yourself from a tree branch. Have small empty envelopes on hand with a string tied into a loop through a hole in one of the top corners. Members of the church can put gift cards or money into the envelopes and then hang them from the tree.
A few tips:
- Encourage everyone to give, no matter how small the gift. It adds up.
- You can find small trees like this at the local plant nursery. Young Ginkgo trees are the best.
- You can either give cash or a gift card…either way, it will be a blessing!
- Scripture Wall Art for Your Pastor
Buy a piece of art with a scripture on it to give as a gift to your pastor. It will be a blessing to their family and become a keepsake that they can use in their home for years to come.
Every time they look at the piece, not only will they be reminded of the Word of God, but they will remember that they are loved and appreciated.
- Buy a New Bible for Your Pastor
Chances are that your pastor has been using the same Bible for many years. If you notice that your pastor’s bible is old and falling apart, then one wonderful gesture of appreciation will be to buy a new one for him. This will be a wonderful sign of appreciation to your pastor and will provide him with a Bible to use for years to come.
A few tips:
- Find out beforehand which translation your pastor prefers.
- Buy a nice study Bible with a concordance, maps, and cross-references.
- Approach some of the other members of the church to see if they want to contribute.
- Go to Church
This is the simplest item on our list, but perhaps the most important. The best way that you can show appreciation for your pastor is to attend church.
Declining church attendance is one of the rising factors for stress among pastors. Sadly, our culture is drifting further away from the things of God and churches are often shrinking and even closing their doors.
The Bible emphasizes the importance of being fed spiritually and the importance of staying in church.
- “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10: 25
A few tips:
- Always make it a point to greet your pastor after each service.
- Give a kind word of thanks to your pastor for his sermon after the service.
- Respond during the service by saying “Amen” at the appropriate times.
- If you can’t make it to the service due to sickness, injury, or any other reason, let your pastor know so that he can pray and not have to wonder where you are.
Simply being in church every Sunday, as you are able, is one of the biggest signs of appreciation for your pastor!
Appreciating Your Pastor
Although it is certainly a great plan to have a Pastor’s Appreciation Day at your church using some of the ideas above, let’s not let our appreciation for the pastor be limited to just one day. We should show our gratitude for the pastor on a regular basis.
I pray that these ideas will be a blessing and help you all to make your pastor feel more valued and appreciated!
May God bless you as you shine the light of Christ back to your pastor and may your pastor truly be encouraged and strengthened to carry on the good work that God has called them to do!
