"If you want a better pastor, you can get one by praying for the one you already have!"
From the Book Your Pastor Wishes You’d Read by Christopher Ash
Love Your Pastor...
Our pastors carry a heavy burden. They are called to bring God's Word to us. They hear all the compliments, but more so, complaints people have at church. When they are struggling or have a need, it may be hard for them to share it with the church, since many may judge and gossip. They and their families can be under a lot of spiritual warfare in order to prevent them from fulfilling their mission. We have a great opportunity to help and encourage our Pastors and their families.
Loving Your Pastor...
Have You God a Great Pastor?
I love my pastor because he studies and preaches the Word faithfully. He is consistent every week.
I love my pastor because he is a man of prayer. He knows he cannot lead and shepherd our church in his own power. He is totally dependent on God.
I love my pastor because he is always on call. His workweeks are long. He knows his vacations and days off will often be interrupted by crises and deaths, but he doesn’t complain. He views it as a part of his call.
I love my pastor because he is there to celebrate my victories and to comfort me in my difficulties. His life is a roller coaster of emotional events, but he remains constant and strong for our church.
I love my pastor because he leads our church with a vision. And he constantly seeks to make certain it is God’s vision and not his own.
I love my pastor because he endures criticism from church members. And though the critics hurt him, he perseveres and loves them anyway.
I love my pastor because he is authentic. He does not act spiritually superior or condescending. The pastor I see in the pulpit is consistent with the pastor I see in other settings.
I love my pastor because he bears the burdens of leading many people without complaints or self-pity. He hears of so many challenges and problems in others’ lives, but that does not deter him from listening and praying for us.
I love my pastor because he is sacrificial. He seeks to put us church members before himself. He is a selfless man and a grateful man.
I love my pastor because he loves to share the gospel and the power of the resurrection. He is truly passionate about seeing those without Christ become followers of the Savior.
I love my pastor because he disciples and mentors many. He understands that his role is not to do all the work of ministry, but to equip others to do the work of ministry.
I love my pastor because he loves our congregation with a Christ-like love. Though he can get frustrated and discouraged, his love for us does not wane. Indeed we get a glimpse of the love of Christ through the love of our pastor.
Pastor Appreciation
Pastor appreciation month is in October but you can lift them up and encourage them anytime.
Flood your pastor's mailbox with cards.
Plan a beach party or bonfire.
Have a plaque made with an inscription
Plan a special banquet.
Give a big gift from the church.
Send a pastor appreciation letter to the people in your church to remind them.
Pastors feel appreciated when their families are cared for. Adopt a child. Have seniors "adopt" each of the pastor's kids.
Make repairs to or paint the pastor's house.
Give your pastor and his family an extra weekend off to visit friends or family.
Give your pastor a cell phone and pay the monthly charges.
Upgrade your pastor's office
https://www.my-pastor.com/pastor-appreciation-ideas.html
Pray for Your Pastor
Pray for wisdom for your pastor. These leaders are often confronted with incredibly challenging situations and decisions. They need God’s wisdom to continue to be the leader of the church God has called them to be.
Pray for your pastor’s protection. Your pastor will be attacked in so many different ways. Your pastor will be tempted again and again. The Enemy seeks to destroy. The Enemy wants your pastor’s ministry destroyed.
Pray for your pastor’s family. They too are attacked, criticized, and sometimes bullied. They often feel isolated and alone. They need encouragement. They need prayer.
Pray for your pastor to withstand the critics and bullies. Some of the critics and bullies are overt and aggressive. Others are passive aggressive. All are painful. And every pastor has them.
Pray against discouragement from comparison. Before this week is over, a church member will likely tell your pastor to listen to a podcast by another pastor “to learn how to really preach” (actual words spoken to a pastor). Other pastors will hear numerous comments about the other great church in the community. The message is real and painful: You don’t measure up, pastor.
Pray against discouragement from members leaving. It’s hard for your pastor not to take it personally. It’s really hard when the departing member tells your pastor to take it personally.
Pray against discouragement from decline. Two out of three congregations in North America are declining. That is a painful reality for your pastor. That is a discouraging reality for your pastor.
Pray against discouragement from disunity. “I wish I had every minute back I had to spend refereeing church members.” Those are the actual words of one of the Church Answers’ pastors I serve. The Enemy loves it when church members fight one another.
Pray for discernment for “yes” and “no.” Pastors are pulled in a multitude of directions. They are expected to be in so many meetings, so many social events, and so many pastoral situations. They are really expected to be omnipresent. Pray they will be able to say “no” more often. Pray for their families who often get the scanty leftovers of the pastor’s time.
Pray for financial pressures. Many pastors are underpaid. They struggle day by day with financial challenges. Actual quote from a deacon: “I like for our pastor to be underpaid. It keeps him humble and dependent on God.” That deacon is enjoying a life of leisure from inherited wealth.
Pray for gospel opportunities. Pastors are energized when they have the opportunity to share the gospel. Unfortunately, many of them are too busy to take time to do so. The demands of the church are just too great. These pastors live lives of inverted priorities and frustrating days.
https://thomrainer.com/2018/01/eleven-specific-ways-pray-pastor/
Supporting Your Pastor's Family
The Pastor's wife position can be very lonely at times. She supports and cares for her husband and the rest of the family while her husband is caring for the entire church. Regardless if it is fair or not, the pastor's kids are held to a higher standard. Let us pray and love on the pastor's family.
Take the pastor's kids to a water park. Or pick them up and go out for bowling and pizza. Take the kids shopping for school supplies before the start of school in the Fall. Upgrade the family computer or pay for high speed internet access.ave seniors "adopt" each of the pastor's kids. The adopted parents or grandparents would commit to pray daily for their adoptee, send them birthday cards and Christmas presents.
Show your appreciation to your pastor's children too. Preachers Kids have a unique lifestyle that can only be understood by those who've experienced it. Here are a few suggestions:
1) Don't single them out in front of the congregation. Being "different" than any of the other kids is often part of their lot in life.
2) Do give each of them unique gifts...gifts that show that you know what each child really enjoys.
3) Don't get them a Bible or a Christian book. Many pastor's kids feel that church dominates their lives and they just want to be "normal." Check with their parents first, but purchase things that you buy for your own kids at Christmas: video games, gift certificates to clothing or music stores, toys, bicycles, etc.
4) You might also pay for a year of music lessons, or karate lessons, or gymnastics. Or you might pay to send a child to basketball camp, or some other unique opportunity.
5) It might help you generate ideas if you ask the question, "What do my kids have or what have they done that my pastor's son or daughter does not have or has not done?"
6) Make sure that the pastor's children know how much you genuinely love and respect their parents. Pastor's kids see their pastor/dad come home from a stressful meeting. They hear people complain about their dad or mom. They attend congregational meetings where people get upset with each other and with the Leadership. They see their mother's tears. https://www.my-pastor.com/pastor-appreciation-ideas.html
Love Your Church Family...
Churches are supposed to be a safe place where people can feel accepted, loved, and be part of a family. Like the old Cheers song,
"Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you got
Taking a break from all your worries
It sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
The troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name
You want to go where people know
The people are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name"
So get to know people in your church. Start with your Sunday school teachers or those who sit around you in church. SMILE! Be patient with one another. We are all broken, imperfect human beings. Remember, they are also having to deal with your issues.
If you see a problem, don't criticize; help to solve it. Volunteer. Serve one another. Celebrate with one another. Grieve with one another. Ask one another about your struggles. Really listen and then pray for one another. Ask how you can help. You can be a bright light, a beacon of God's love.
10 Ways a Church Family Can Love One Another
by Aaron Gray
Love One Another Tip #1. Pray
One of the most loving things that we can do for each other as a church family is to pray for one another. Great love can be shown not by merely saying “I’ll pray for you” but by putting a hand on someone’s shoulder right then and there and lifting up the need in prayer.
“Brothers, pray for us.” —1 Thessalonians 5:25
Love One Another Tip #2. Gather
In this age of technology and digital “friendships,” one of the most loving things we can do is gather together in person to worship our King Jesus. When the church gathers together, I like to think of the analogy of the family sitting down for a meal together. The band provides the soundtrack for the party, the preacher is like the cook who serves the meal, the volunteers help set the table, and all the adopted children of God gather around the table to spend time with their Father.
“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.” —Hebrews 10:25
Love One Another Tip #3. Community
There are approximately 90 “one another” verses in the Bible: greet one another, comfort one another, seek good for one another. It is pretty hard to live out these commands when you don’t actually spend time together in community. At Mars Hill Church, we want for our Community Groups to be places where these “one another” verses can be lived out in love.
“Live in harmony with one another.” —Romans 12:16
Love One Another Tip #4. Serve together
Serving the church is both corporate and individual, both in large groups and small. We can serve by showing up early on Sunday and helping make the church building welcoming. We can serve by giving money to a friend in need. We can serve by leading a community group. This service is a practical, tangible way to show others the love that God has already shown us.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9
Love One Another Tip #5. Show honor
In many cultures, honor and respect are huge. American culture is not one of those cultures. In fact, a good argument could be made that our culture actually encourages dishonor and disrespect. God’s children can show love by speaking words of honor where honor is due: for a job well done, for a particular servant-hearted act, for longevity in the faith, etc.
“Outdo one another in showing honor.” —Romans 12:10
Love One Another Tip #6. Encourage
I recently heard from one of our Mars Hill Shoreline members how a simple phone call of encouragement meant so much to him and his wife as they faced some challenging circumstances. In this fallen world, trials and hardships are all too frequent. God has put us together as a church family so that we can encourage each other as we face these difficulties.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11
Love One Another Tip #7. Forgive
People who are looking for a conflict-free life will not find it in following Christ. In fact, there are many verses warning us to expect bumps and bruises as we live out this life together. However, the one thing we cannot do is bail on each other just because we fight. The family of God can love each other by hanging tough even when we disagree.
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” —Colossians 3:13
Love One Another Tip #8. Play
A godly family is one that also knows how to enjoy each other. I think that sometimes we forget that joy is one of the attributes of God. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding. He was known for going to parties, so much so that he was accused of being a drunkard. Kids loved spending time with Jesus, and if there’s one thing I know about kids, it’s that they love to play. As a family, we can love each other by simply having fun together.
“Everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” —Ecclesiastes 3:13
Love One Another Tip #9. Speak truth
God is a truth-speaking God, and as his image bearers, one of the ways that we show love to each other is by following his example. Speaking truth includes, but is not limited to: doctrinal correction, calling to repentance, teaching the Bible, confessing sin, giving wise counsel, not lying or exaggerating or gossiping, and using our words to build up.
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” —Ephesians 4:15
Love One Another Tip #10. Pursue godliness
God is love (1 John 4:8). As we become more loving we become more like God. Flee from sin, leave unrighteousness behind, and seek the Holy Spirit’s help to become more and more godly in your words, your thoughts and your conduct.
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, & godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” 2Peter 1:5-7
May God grow us to love one another as we seek to be the family that God wants us to be.
Places Showcasing God's Love...
Hands and Feet of Jesus
Unfortunately it can be difficult to find a good church home. Here are some tried and tested churches where they excel in displaying the love of God. Tell them I sent you!
Lyndon Christian Church
8125 La Grange Rd, Louisville, KY 40222
Liberty Bible Church
2111 Sodom Hutchings Rd NE, Vienna, OH 44473
If you know of a place that also shows the Love of Christ, contact me and I will try to visit anonymously. If they are welcoming, I will add them to our list.