120 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor

Transcription

1 120 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor Daniel Sherman My-Pastor.com 1

2 PLEASE! DO NOT FORWARD OR GIVE THIS DOCUMENT AWAY. You may print as many copies of this ebook as you need. But please do not forward this or give it away to anyone even others in your church. The contents of this book took me 20 years to learn and three years to write. I hope you will honor the work I put into it. To purchase a copy of this ebook, please visit My-Pastor.com Daniel Sherman My-Pastor.com All Rights Reserved 2

3 Table of Contents Introduction...4 Things to Say or Write...5 Things to Do...7 Things to Pray...9 Things to Give...10 Conclusion

4 Introduction My-Pastor.com is dedicated to helping congregations better encourage, partner with, and support their pastors. So an ebook like this one seemed like a logical step in that process. But why 120? I had to stop somewhere! Actually, these 120 ideas will eventually become a much longer list and form the heart of a book. But that's still a long way off so I am starting with a smaller ebook right now. If you are at all helped by these ideas, I would appreciate you sending others to my web site: My-Pastor.com. Together we can spread the word about encouraging our pastors. 4

5 Things to Say or Write So many people I hear from want to send a note or simply say something that encourages their pastor. In my experience, the most helpful and supportive things people can say are often the simplest. Don't try to be too elaborate just say what's on your heart. Here are a few ideas. Thank you. I appreciate you. Is there anything I can do to help? I'm praying for you. I'm glad you are our pastor. Your sermon encouraged me. Thank you for being an encouragement to me. God is teaching me a lot through your ministry. I appreciate the work you put into your teaching and preaching. You are a wonderful example for me and my family. Your integrity challenges and inspires me. I'm grateful for your service to our congregation. Please know I support you. What can I do to be an encouragement to your family? I would like to provide your family a meal this week, what day is best? What do you recommend I study with my Bible study partners? Can I ask your advice? What is your passion for our congregation? Is there anything that needs to be cleaned around the church? Do you need a babysitter this week? Can I fold bulletins or help any way in the office? What do your kids like on their pizza? I'll drop one off for supper. 5

6 Do you have room in your freezer for some meat? Can I clean out your rain gutters for you? I made a cake for your family, when should I drop it off? I pray for you every time God brings you to my mind. May God hold you securely in His grace, give you the deepest peace, and grant you fullness of joy. I am moved to gratitude and praise every time God brings you to my mind. May the grace of God give you assurance of hope, confidence of faith, and steadfastness of peace. My prayer for you is that you sense the warmth of God's love, the assurance of his forgiveness, and the joy of His presence. 6

7 Things to Do Life is so busy sometimes that we just don't have the time to think creatively about pastor appreciation. I think that is probably the biggest reason that we don't show our gratitude as much as we would like to. So I offer these ideas to help you over that hump. Open House host an open house at your home in honor of your pastor. Pastor Appreciation Sunday set aside a Sunday to honor your pastor. For help, see my workbook at My-Pastor.com. Celebrate Pastor's Anniversary make the date of your pastor's first Sunday at your church an annual celebration. Create a Pastor Tribute for ideas, and a form to put a tribute online, see My-Pastor.com. Clean the Church Wash His House Windows Flood His Mailbox encourage people in your congregation to mail a letter or note to your pastor on a particular day. Send an ecard you could even flood his inbox with ecards from people in your congregation. Send a Thank You Note Send a Birthday Card to your pastor, his spouse, and/or his children. Provide a Meal Take them Out for a Meal Loan Your Toys - do you have a boat, 4-wheeler, camper, Wii game System or some other toy that your pastor would enjoy playing with? Send an Anniversary Card Buy Gifts or Send Cards for the Kid's Birthdays Mow the Lawn either your pastors or the church. Give a Hug 7

8 Adopt a (Pastor's) Child make a point to pray daily for one of your pastor's children; send them notes of encouragement, pay their way to camp, speak to them each week at church. Detail His Car wash, vacuum, clean the windows and the dash, use a carpet cleaner on the floor. Form a Prayer Team get a few people in your congregation to commit to each other and to your pastor to pray daily for him and for his family; ask your pastor for weekly updates on things he would like to you pray about. Sit Closer to the Front during services and meetings. Volunteer to Serve Say, Thank You Babysit Write an Article for the Church Newsletter use the article to encourage your pastor. Put a Note in the Bulletin a note of thanks for your pastor or his spouse. Weed a Garden at your pastor's home or at the church. Clean Rain Gutters I hate this job! Offer to clean them out on your pastor's house in either the spring or the fall. Provide a Dessert Clean the Church Oven Donate to a Local Charity in your pastor's name Create a Memory Book with pictures and notes from your congregation Put a Picture of Your Pastor's Family on Your Refrigerator and Pray for Them Each Time You Open It Pray Daily with your family for your pastor Organize a Pastor Support Team in your congregation. When your pastor has a need, you team ensures that the need is met. Your team might include a mechanic, a gardener, an electrician, a handy-man, a babysitter, people who can cook, a nurse, some who like to clean, others who can transport kids, etc. 8

9 Things to Pray There is no better way to encourage and support your pastor than to pray for him. The beauty of prayer is that even if he doesn't know you're praying for him, he will still be helped. You will find that it helps you too! Health and strength Wisdom Spiritual discernment to identify temptation and the inner strength to resist it Sermon preparation To love his wife or respect her husband Be an effective parent Set a godly example Insight into Scripture Sensitivity to the Spirit Holiness Joy Contentment Financial needs Counseling Leadership Time management Strong prayer life Increase in knowledge Understand the culture Boldness Openings for the gospel Financial stewardship Endurance through Hardship Increasing Faith Love for God and for Others 9

10 Things to Give Gifts are a practical way to say, I appreciate you. They don't have to be expensive to encourage. The best gifts are ones that are thoughtful that help meet a need in your pastor's family. Food for the Pantry or Freezer meat, vegetables, soup, cereal, etc. A Gift Certificate to a Favorite Restaurant Dry Cleaning Gift Certificate to help keep your pastor's suits clean. Computer Upgrade Magazine Subscription Flowers a corsage on Sunday or an arrangement delivered to the home. A Meal or Dessert Clothes, Shoes, Coats especially for the kids. Money cash is always helpful. A gift card to Walmart or a local grocery store. Health Insurance Deductible or Co-Pay Music Lessons for the kids. Gymnastics or Sports Fees Bicycle Diapers or Formula if your pastor has an infant. Tires for His Car Oil Change Gift Certificate for His Car Piano or Other Musical Instrument Postage Stamps Printer Ink Travel Expenses Money to Pay a Babysitter Conference, Retreat, or Seminar Fees 10

11 Prepaid Gasoline Card Hunting License Round of Golf Tickets to Sporting Event Tickets to Concert Summer Camp for your pastor's children. A Wii Game System I've seen few games that bring a family or large group of people together like the Wii game system; your pastor would use it for their family and for church gatherings in their home. 11

12 Conclusion I hope that after reading this ebook you realize that encouraging your pastor really doesn't take much. Often it's the little things that make all the difference. No matter who you are you can do something... you can pray for your pastor. That, above all else, will contribute to the health and success of your congregation. Please encourage your friends to visit My-Pastor.com so that they too can learn to better encourage and support their pastor. 12