The Bible tells us that our good works do come back to us. Here is a little true story about how appreciating and helping a pastor came back to help our family.
Some years ago, my mother's church got a new pastor who had a very young family. My mother volunteered to take care of the kids while they moved into their house. She continued to help with the kids off and on while they were preschoolers. Because of this, my mom became friends with the pastor's parents, who, it turns out, have a summer home in my town, so we sometimes saw him here.
Two pastorates later, this pastor's new church was in the city down the road. When my mother would visit me, she would stop to see this pastor, and when she would drive through another city, she would stop to see the pastor's parents. I urged my son to meet up with my mom at these peoples' house. He got along well with the pastor's parents and did chores for them. He became friends with another son, who, two years later, did some networking to get my son a coveted internship in a business in a large city.
Meanwhile, when I was hospitalized, that pastor visited me in the hospital because it was in the same city as his church.
I doubt that we would feel this close to a pastor that my mom had so many years ago if she hadn't gone out of her way to help him.
I copied this (see below) from Singing Owl. No matter what our job, there can't be too much appreciation.
From http://www.pastorsretreatnetwork.com/ via Singing Owl http://pastoretteponderings.blogspot.com/
12 Ways to Appreciate Your Pastor
When we look at our pastor or minister what do we see? A spiritual giant? Someone who can go it alone? Someone who works a day and a half a week? A servant of the congregation? Someone who does it all?
The truth is that clergy are real people with real families, dreams, needs, desires and gifts. And like all of us, they shine best in situations where they are appreciated and supported. Here are a dozen ways you can bring out the best in your pastor:
1 Write a note of appreciation.
2 Pray for your pastor regularly.
3 Stop the rumor mill.
4 Invite him or her out to lunch, golfing, or some other shared interest, without an agenda.
5 Offer to baby-sit the kids so pastor and spouse can have an evening together; even better, offer them a gift certificate to a restaurant they enjoy.
6 Honor his or her day off – allow time for rest, personal renewal and family time.
7 In times of loss, offer sympathy, care and practical help.
8 Consider holidays and other family days – if the pastor is far from their family of origin, invite them to your celebration – no strings attached.
9 Ask him or her how you can help and then follow through.
10 Tell him or her what you’ve learned from their sermon.
11 Go to http://parsonage.org/cam/index.cfm for ideas on how to celebrate your minister during Pastor Appreciation Month.
12 Consider a sabbatical time for your pastor and find a way to provide one as needed.
Pastors Retreat Network provides pastors and their spouses with a five-day, self-directed retreat experience that is free of charge. It is a time to rest, spiritually renew, and reconnect with God and spouse. Consider how an experience like this might benefit your minister. For more information, please visit our Web site -- http://www.pastorsretreatnetwork.com/
Great post! I think this goes undone in many congregations, not because people are uncaring, but because they simply don't think about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say that #2 and #6 are BIGGIES! The folks where I serve are really good about those two, and it makes so much difference.