In our last post we talked about 5 Reasons To Appreciate Your Lead Pastor. Today I want to share some practical ways to actually do that!
- Simply say thank you for what he does. Most pastors don’t hear these words enough. So send him a card, say it personally, or even just send an email saying thanks for who he is and what he does.
- Thank his family. Being a Pastor’s wife is about as hard as being a pastor! And so can be being a Pastor’s kid! Do something to say thanks to them. Again, something as simple as a card, or go more elaborate and include a gift card for a family activity they can enjoy.
- Recognize special days for the Pastor & his family. Take time to find out when their birthday’s are, their anniversaries, etc. and recognize these days.
- Pray for your Pastor. Don’t just say it…do it! Find out what his primary requests are and pray. Follow up and ask how these things are going.
- Organize people in your ministry (kids, parents, leaders) to provide some sort of recognition for the pastor. This can be as simple as everyone signing a huge thank you card, or something far more elaborate – use your imagination!
- Protect you pastor. He is an easy target. People talk and criticize in private very easily. Don’t let this happen. Whether you agree with him or not on any given decision or issue, never, never, never undermine or engage in ungodly criticism of your pastor (this is called gossip). Instead, as a leader, you must support him. This does not mean that you must agree…but handle disagreement appropriately. And once a decision has been made or direction has been decided, give your support or get out. Do NOT allow yourself to be sucked in to dissension. Knowing you’ve got his back will be a huge encouragement to your pastor!
- Lead your ministry well. Your Pastor has more on his plate than most people realize. If he knows you’ve “got it covered” with solid leadership, it’s a huge blessing to him. That’s not to say that he won’t be involved, won’t give input and won’t keep you accountable. But there’s a different between “getting to” and “having to” follow up with your work.
