8 Ways To Show Your Pastor Appreciation

As members of a local church, we should recognize the very real challenges our pastors face, and show appreciation to those who lead us spiritually.

A day to celebrate our pastors is time well spent! Here are some ways you can show appreciation to your pastor:

1. A Handwritten Note

We, as a society has lost the art of handwritten notes. Out of a desire to be efficient with our time, we will draft a quick text or email.

However, a handwritten note is a treasure for the recipient.

Let your pastors know how much they mean to you and your family. Share how they helped you and your family grow spiritually.

Give examples of times when they were there for you and may not have even known that their presence spoke volumes to you and your family. Perhaps your pastor was there when your teenager was struggling. Let them know how important they are in your life.

Take the time to write a handwritten note and express your gratitude to your pastor.

2. Gift Cards

Gift cards are always a good choice if you simply want to bless someone. Find out what your pastors’ favorite hobbies are and pick up the tab to enjoy those hobbies.

For instance, if a pastor loves to golf, give him a round of golf on you.

Let them do their own shopping by gifting with a shopping spree.

Or find out what kind of food they enjoy and purchase a gift card to their favorite restaurant.

Either way, pastors will appreciate shopping or enjoying a great meal on someone else’s dime.

3. Plan A Celebration At Church

Plan a celebration after church and invite members to participate.

Call out the good cooks of the church to share their best recipes and organize a luncheon for all.

Use the youth group or children’s church to create artwork or write notes of thanks to the pastor. Use these works of art as decoration for the event.

4. Video Testimonies

Call on your youth group to organize video testimonies. Have them set up a place to videotape outside the church and ask members to share their appreciation on camera.

Have them ask direct questions, like:

• What is one thing the pastor has done to help you grow in your Christian walk?

• How has your life changed under the pastor’s teaching?

• In what ways has the pastor supported you and your family during a difficult time?

Incorporate these videos into a church service to let your pastors know how much they are loved.

5. Ask Members To Share During A Church Service

Recruit church members to share a testimony during the church service.

Identify a member or two who are comfortable speaking in public and who have a story to tell.

Try to schedule a rehearsal prior to the service to work out all of the kinks so that there are no surprises when the message is delivered.

6. Yard Work

Pastors work every weekend when most of us are home doing yard work.

Recruit a team to do some fall yard work. Rake the yard, cut the grass and freshen up the landscaping.

Bring in some mulch, weed the flower beds, and plant some fresh fall flowers.

Your pastor and his family will surely enjoy driving home and seeing a freshly manicured yard.

7. Gift of Babysitting

Many young pastors are raising small children.

If you are like me, you would be shocked to learn how much a teenager charges to care for children.

Give a gift of free babysitting so a pastor and spouse can go on a date – without the kids.

If you can, offer to keep the kids overnight and let them enjoy time together as a couple escaping those parental duties.

8. Sabbatical

Churches offer sabbaticals to pastors as a way to thank them for their service and to offer them a time of refreshing.

Call the board together and write a sabbatical policy, budget for its funding in your annual budget meeting, and offer the blessing to your pastor.

You might be surprised at what a difference some focused time away from ministry might have for the man who is leading your church.

Don’t Let Your Pastor Burn Out

It is a sad fact but pastors are burning out and quitting at a record pace.

According to a Barna report, “the percentage of pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year sits at 42 percent.”

The reason for these numbers is stress, isolation, and political division.

It is our responsibility as church members to help our pastors endure the very real challenges they face.

Take the time now to call your team together and plan ways to show your pastors that they are loved and appreciated for all that they do!