October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Serving as the pastor of a church is one of the most rewarding and yet one of the most difficult jobs that you could ever imagine. Those who briefly observe pastors feel the job is an easy one. Too often, people misconstrue that a pastor works one day per week, he studies only one Book and he mooches off generous people who host him occasionally for supper. That may be true for a few "so-called" pastors, but that is far from the truth for those pastors who are serving the Lord with their whole heart.

Pastors who truly love people will invest themselves into the lives of their congregation. They will weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. They sympathize and empathize with those God has entrusted to them. In doing this, many pastors struggle to separate work from personal life. They cannot just leave the office and forget the events of the day. They take the needs of others with them, agonize over them in prayer and wrestle with them through many sleepless nights.

In taking on the needs of others, the pastor carries a heavy burden that can affect him physically, emotionally and yes, even spiritually. It can affect his family and his health. Years of data reveals that 95% of those who enter the pastorate will not retire from it. In fact, the data shows that hundreds of pastors are leaving the ministry every month; many pastors say that ministry has negatively affected their marriage and family; and many pastors admit they would quit, if they had some other career option. The majority of pastors admit to walking a very lonely road that lacks deep friendships and the suicide rate among pastors is rising rapidly.

In 1992, Focus on the Family was instrumental in establishing the month of October as “Pastor Appreciation Month” in an attempt to prompt churches to honor their pastor and staff ministers. They created a specific time to do what we should be doing all year long – offering encouragement and thanking ministers for the wonderful work they do in the life of the church and community. If your church has not participated in Pastor Appreciation Month, consider doing something special for your pastor and staff. I’ve listed some ideas below, but many more can be found through a simple Google search.

Focus on the Family - Clergy Appreciation Month Ideas
http://media.focusonthefamily.com/pastoral/pdf/CAM_Guide_2012.pdf

Pinterest - Pastor Appreciation Month Activities and Gift Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/rosepublishing/pastor-appreciation-month-activities-gift-ideas/

Things you can do to encourage & show appreciation for your Pastor:

Thank you cards
Public testimonies of appreciation
Bring breakfast to the office
Provide lunch at the office
Make his favorite dessert
Car detailing (wash, wax & vac)
Cut his grass
Clean his office
Present Gift Cards
- Audible book credits
- Gas
- Coffee/Donuts
- Shopping (Walmart, Target, Bass Pro Shop)
- Grocery Stores
- Lowes / Home Depot
- Restaurants
- Amazon
- Oil change / Tire rotation
- Movie tickets
Take him golfing
Buy him a gym membership
Provide a night of Childcare
Let the pastor’s family use your vacation home (beach, mountains, etc.)
Give him game tickets to his favorite sports event
If you are a handyman, offer an hour or two of work to help with some home projects
If you lack creativity, any pastor would appreciate a nice monetary gift or bonus check

Don’t forget something special for the Pastor’s Wife:

Notes or greeting cards expressing appreciation
Manicure/Pedicure
Hair Cut/Color
Massage or Spa Day
Fresh flowers
1x Maid Service
Take her to lunch
Gift cards (Walmart, Clothing stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.)
Provide the family with supper, so she doesn’t have to cook
Take her children for haircuts, ice-cream or to a park
Help send her to visit family who live out of state
Honor her publicly

These are just a few ideas and there are many, many more. You do not have to spend a lot of money to express gratitude and make someone feel special. The goal is for those in the congregation to be reminded of what their pastor does and to encourage him (and his wife) to keep doing it for God’s glory!

So start planning… October is just one week away!

Skewed Views of Church Ownership

Today’s thoughts are directed to vocational ministers, lay-leaders and members of local churches across all denominations. One of my long-time pet peeves is those who think of and call any ministry “theirs.” Have you ever heard a preacher or lay-person use the phrase “my church?” The verbiage may seem harmless, but that statement is the first step down a very slippery slope!

Jesus clearly claimed the Church as HIS when He said, “I will build MY Church” (Matthew 16:18). The Church is referred to as “Christ’s body, of which He is the Head” (Ephesians 1:22-23). In the same passage, the Apostle Paul declared Christ to be the Bridegroom, Who lovingly and sacrificially chose the Church to be HIS “bride” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Jesus gave Himself up for the Church, “to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word.” In addition, we see that one day there will be a wedding feast held in Heaven called the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” followed by Christ’s eternal union with His bride (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-2).

These passages are very clear and vitally important; because if we ever mistakenly believe the Church is “ours,” that skewed view will result in sinful behavior. During my 35 years of ministry, I have been a witness to pastors, deacons, and lay-people who have been willing to divide or harm a congregation in order to make a point or to get their way. I have seen church members manipulate people and/or circumstances for personal gain. I have seen people attack churches and church leaders through gossip, letter writing, texting and/or phone calling campaigns. I have seen cowards attack ministries using the weapon of a keyboard to post negativity on social media. Such actions clearly reveal those who believe the church belongs to them.

One such illustration is seen in a lady who left a church over five years ago, but still regularly and “religiously” tries to convince members to leave “her” former church and start attending “her” new church. Did you catch that…she wants them to attend “her” church. Such proselytizing only happens when a person has the mindset that the church belongs to them. Attempting to poach for or solicit members from the former church is evidence of a skewed view of church ownership. You might expect such action from a layperson; but sadly, I have witnessed pastors, staff members, Christian School employees, Deacons, and other lay-leaders who have intentionally tried to inflict harm as they left a ministry. No one who understands Scripture and believes the Church belongs to Christ; would ever try to harm, divide, damage, or destroy God’s church – EVER!

The Apostle Paul states in Ephesians 5:25-27 that Christ “gave up His life for her (the church) 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish.” You see, when a person truly understands that Christ died for HIS Church, we realized how much He really loves her! Realizing that, who would dare throw mud on the wedding dress of Christ’s bride? Who would speak ill or maliciously against Christ’s bride? Who would try to cause division within or gossip about Christ’s bride? Answer – only those who do not know or respect the Bridegroom.

The greatest indicator of your belief about church ownership is not seen while attending a specific church; but rather when you leave that church. Serving while attending is easy, but a person’s true character is seen by the manner in which they leave. Some feel the church owes them something because of their tenure, how much money they have given, or how influential they have been. Some take credit for past successes, while hoping for future failure. Some wreak havoc, while others aide in a smooth transition. Some encourage those who remain, while others attempt to proselytize. The bottom-line is that how you treat the Bride (the Church) reveals the level of respect you have for the Bridegroom. This is a great reminder that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ, so let us behave with integrity and treat her accordingly.

Remembering 9/11 and 9/12

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? Some events stick in our minds, as though that moment is just frozen in time. Some of those moments for me include: the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, the night the Persian Gulf War started, and the day my wife told me she was pregnant with our first child. Those moments are all as vivid in my mind today, as they were the day they occurred.

Another such day is September 11, 2001. I was working at Berean Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, FL at the time. I remember it was a beautiful, sunny, South Florida day. I had just returned to my office after visiting in the school office. Only a few minutes after returning to my office, I remember our Preschool Director, MaryAnn B., running into the church office hallway and shouting a plane just hit the World Trade Center. People gathered near televisions to see what was happening. I gathered with others in the courtyard area of our Preschool to watch the scene unfold. Before long, the second plane and later the third.

The news reports stirred a panic in the hearts of those on our campus and there was a heightened security alert as parents started showing up to sign their students out from school. Parents just wanted to embrace their children and the magnitude of the event brought families and our country close.

Those who are 23+ years old probably have some recollection of the events of 9/11. For those who are younger, it is a part of history that has been skewed by those who rewrite history with their slant toward political correctness, inclusivity and tolerance. The fact is that America was attacked! We did not go looking for war; the Islamic Extremists brought it to us.

That attack brought Americans together! On 9/12, stores ran out of American flags as people installed them on their houses and attached them to their cars. People were Americans first, before they were upper or lower class; Jewish or Christian; Democrat or Republican; liberal or conservative. People did not care about the color of your skin, whether you had a flag on your T-shirt, or if you ate at Chick-fil-A or shopped at Hobby Lobby. Americans simply cared about one another. People stood tall, shouted the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem at the top of their lungs. You did not see ANY American kneeling during the National Anthem and the outcome probably would not have been good if they did. Patriotism was on display as we were united and ready to take-on anyone who would dare attack our nation!

Sadly, it seems as though many have forgotten the tragedy of that day. Today we argue over long TSA lines, securing our borders and homegrown terrorists now attack fellow Americans simply for having differing opinions. Politicians show more zeal for climate change and endangered species than they do for the safety of American citizens. Inexperienced Congressional rookies want to change the Constitution and usher in Socialism. First responders who were then hailed as heroes are now disrespected and doused with water. We built a beautiful tower on Ground Zero to remember the husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents among the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001; but wouldn’t unity, peace and patriotism be a better tribute to those who died in the attacks?

Romans 12:18 tells us “…as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Maybe today, September 11, 2019 is a good day to hit the reset button and start being instruments of peace and patriotism. Maybe today is the day we pause to thank God for the privilege of living in the land of the free and home of the brave. Maybe today is the day we realize that America is the greatest nation in the world, as proven by the number of people trying to get here. Maybe today, is the day we reflect on those who died on 9/11, we remember the spirit of Patriotism seen on 9/12, and realize the problem with forgetting the facts of that day.