21 comments

Erin Davis

Because the Church Can't Tick Without Them . . .

Posted on 10.27.11 by Erin Davis | Twitter: @ErinGraffiti

Did you know that October is Clergy Appreciation Month? Clergy is just a fancy word for pastor. While October is almost over, I don’t want you to miss the opportunity to show your pastor some love—whether it’s this month or not.

Pastors are God’s idea. Verses like 1 Timothy 5:17-18, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, and Romans 10:14-15 show us that paying leaders to preach the Word is important, biblical, and practical.

In fact, in 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul provides Timothy with a pastoral job description that still applies to the leaders of our churches today: “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

According to God’s Word, a pastor’s primary job is to teach God’s Word to other believers. It is impossible for the Church to exist without God’s Word, and pastors feed it to us in regular doses week after week. It’s a pretty big job with huge stakes. Maybe you’ve never considered the task God has assigned to your pastor. You may also not realize how difficult it is to lead a church. Here are some alarming statistics about pastors:

  • 90% of pastors state that they are frequently fatigued and worn out on a daily basis.
  • 71% of pastors state they are burned out and they battle depression beyond fatigue.
  • 1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
  • 80% of seminary and Bible school grads who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
  • 70% of pastors do not have close personal friends, and no one in whom to confide.

These may seem like problems too big for us to tackle, but the stakes are too high for us to all bury our heads in the sand. If our pastors are too burned out, stressed out, and disconnected to stay the course, we loose traction in our efforts to preach Jesus to a lost world, and those of us who know Jesus miss out on much needed teaching from God’s Word.

You may not be able to do much about the 90% of pastors who are fatigued or the 80% of seminary students who will leave the ministry and never come back. But you can do something for the one pastor who leads the church where you go to learn more about God.

So, I want to issue you a challenge to do something radical for your pastor this month. An email would suffice, a card or note would work too, but in light of the fact that pastors are a huge part of God’s plan for the Church, and the grim reality that so many of them are struggling, I want to urge you to do something . . . bigger!

What can you do to bless the socks off your pastor this month? Talk to other people from your church and come up with a big idea for some pastor encouragement intervention. Then leave a comment and tell us about it. Do so by October 31 and we’ll give away copies of Don’t Waste Your Life, a book by one of my favorite pastors, John Piper, to the five of you that I think appreciate your pastors in the biggest and best ways.

I officially declare October Show Our Pastors Some Crazy Love Because The Church Can’t Tick Without Them Month. Go ahead, mark that on your calendar, and give your pastor a reason to mark it on his.

Comments

  1. As someone on the receiving end of Pastor's appreciation, I want to say thank you for this post. It' a good perspective to remind people that in this instance looking towards home and not at what is going on in the rest of the ministries world wide is a helpful thing. Perhaps if had those who failed had the prayer support they need, the statistics would be better. Our congregation of 18 years does the wildest things for us, not just one Sunday, but every Sunday during the month of October. One year they gave our bathroom a face lift. They took turns coming to the house and doing whatever they could. One did the electrical, another the painting, one monogrammed new towels, etc. Every year we get dinner delivered every night for a week which is such a blessing. We get gift cards, snack baskets, ammunition (you have to know us to understand), cards, skits made up to thank us, clothing, snack bags with pennies from little children with pictures and notes, one year I got $150.00 to spend at a jewelry party plus all the bonuses that should have gone to the hostess....well, you get the idea. For us, it's not how big they do things, it's that each gift is well thought out and lets us know that someone is paying attention to us personally through the year. The gifts don't have to be big, just done and said in a genuine manner.
    posted by honey
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:37 am
  2. Pastor Kemp from Rolls mo. is awesome . he is filled with love for all who cross his path , he has a great sense of humor too. he is highly devoted to the Lord and he listens to our father faithfully. he's not one to tell you what you want to hear , but gives you what the Lord tell him you need too hear . i am so very grateful to the Lord for putting pastor in my life . thank you father .
    posted by liz
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 12:20 pm
  3. Our church has gone through a really rough patch for about a year now. Our pastor has had a lot of persecution aimed at him that he did not deserve. We're a pretty small congregation, a lot of elderly living on fixed incomes and even some have lost their jobs, so as much as we would have loved to take up a big, big collection for his family, it just wasn't possible this year. So we came up with a bunch of little things to show our appreciation. We are doing our pastor appreciation service this Sunday. But every night this week, one of us is cooking and delivering dinner to their home. We are also flooding their mailbox with letters and cards of appreciation this week. He had someone to preach for him for Wednesday service, and will also be off this Sunday, under strict orders to spend the time with his family that he would normally spend studying for messages. Of course, we'll have a dinner at church for him this Sunday, and he doesn't know it yet, but his father will be the one preaching for him on Sunday morning. I am in charge of the youth group, and we have a special service prepared for him on Sunday night, and the young people are going to send him and his wife on an overnight trip for their anniversary, which is next weekend. Sounds like little tiny things, and they are, but our members don't have much to give financially. We just want them to know how much they are loved and that they are appreciated.
    posted by Tara
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4:12 pm
  4. And I forgot to add the bulletin board that will be done secretly on Saturday night so he'll see it when he goes in on Sunday: the children have drawn pictures of him and answered the question: "Why do you love Brother Scotty?" Their answers were hilarious! Especially the one who answered, "Because I want to."
    posted by Tara
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4:14 pm
  5. I see my husband tired and lonely a lot. He serves selflessly year in and year out as the sole pastor of a small yet vibrant church. He never complains although he is often under-appreciated. I know God sees and will reward his faithfulness. I see my role as his primary confidante, encourager and cheerleader. Is it wrong for me to try to rally our church family to promote a "crazy love" campaign on his behalf or does that look ungrateful and selfish coming from the pastor's wife?
    posted by Tish
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 4:30 pm
  6. Tish, I don't think it's crazy at all For some people, it may be purely selfish reasons that they don't show their appreciation for their pastor, but for others, it's sheer ignorance. Some people truly don't know all that goes into being a pastor. I know because I was raised by one, but some just don't know. They don't know all the hours a pastor spends on their knees praying for them, the hours they put into studying the Word, how many miles they put on their cars visiting the sick, or how much sleep they lose in being on-call 24/7. You may need to raise awareness.
    posted by Tara
    on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 8:28 pm
  7. We had Pastor's Appreciation day on October 2...which we also called "Friends and Family Day" because we wanted the Pastor to have a large crowd that morning.

    It has been a very serious time for our church because we have a small crowd and several families have left our church for a larger church and younger pastor. I told our pastor's wife that unless the Lord moved me, my family and I would be right there. You see, our pastor is an elderly man. He is not as lively as he once was but his personality is larger than life. I love him to pieces. I told our pastor's wife that when I look up at that pulpit, I don't see age, I see wisdom and wisdom is one of the greatest needs of the church today. Needless to say, she shared that with the pastor and he told me how much he appreciated the compliment.

    I love my pastor and pastor's wife. There is not enough room to tell you what I think about them nor tell you of the times that just watching their lives have been an anchor for me in the midst of the storms. I appreciate them and I think I will tell him again just how much I appreciate his wisdom and his example to the flock. Jodi C.
    posted by Jodi C.
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 8:16 am
  8. Tish,

    Youth pastor's wife here! I can so relate to your words.

    I think it's fine for you to try to rally the troops to encourage your husband, but be careful in your approach. In fact, I'm not sure there is a need for you to say much of anything and better not to risk coming across as jaded or angry. Just ask some church friends you trust if they have any ideas about how to bless the socks of your husband. Come up with an idea (there are some great ones in these comments) and implement it and ask everyone in your church to help. Just say "we are going to do _______ for my husband, how can you help?" Instead of "my husband is tired, lonely and overworked and we need to do something about it!" Pastor Appreciation Month gives you a great excuse to act on your husband's behalf.

    Everyone loves a wife who is kind and generous to her husband, and if her man happens to be a pastor, even better! Go ahead, love on him and ask others to do it too. They may just have been waiting for you to say the word, "Go!"

    Grace and Peace!

    Erin
    posted by Erin Davis
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 8:50 am
  9. Dear readers who love the Lord,

    I have a humble question for you. In the Bible it talks about pastors (plural) and refers to bishops or elders. Where does the Bible teach to put one person to preach every week in the pulpit? I have not seen in the Bible where one person is paid to preach every week to the congregation. Paul went and stayed for a while but his job as an evangelist was to get the congregations of Christ started and then let the local brethren run the congregation.

    When you are putting all the work on one person to preach no wonder they are tired! It puts a lot of pressure on a person to have to get paid to do this job at one congregation every week. And is this following a Biblical example? At our congregation we do not have a "pastor." We have 2 pastors or elders who watch over the flock and then deacons. The preaching is done by the male members of the congregation as they study and read the Word. This way, they are learning and growing as they do the lessons and we as a congregation are getting different perspectives. (All members should be studying on their own also). The elders watch and correct as needed. The male members may make comments with love as needed also.

    And if we are Christians as you probably know we are all ministers of Him we just all have different jobs. One example in the Bible, I Corinthians 14, the whole chapter talks about the assembly of the church and how it should be done decently and in order. I Cor 14:29 talks about "let 2 or 3 speak" and the others judge.

    So some food for thought. I hope you will look into this further and consider it.

    Blessings in Christ,
    -Sarah P.
    posted by Sarah P.
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:26 am
  10. From what I read of the instructions given to sheep in the Bible, a good shephard would encouage the sheep in something like Pastor's appeciation month because it gets a blessing to them! About once a year, my husband addresses his in a sermon and reminds folks that there are blessings to obeying the commands of scripture that cost us somethingl. God is not a taker, He is a giver but He uses our obedience to His commands to open the door of blessing. My hubby feels funny every year preaching this, but like he says, I'm not trying to get anything from them, I'm trying to get something TO them! Now, that is a Pastor's heart. Who wouldn't want to bless a man like that?
    htttp://atypicalpastorswife.blogspot. com/
    posted by Cyndi
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:50 am
  11. I am a pastor's wife and although I appreciate the kind gifts and such, I still struggle being on the receiving end. I truly do love being the "other half" of my husband's ministry but I see it as exactly where God wanted me to be in life. He has blessed me with gifts and with understanding to be able to be in this roll. Perfect in all situations? Not hardly! But thank God for our loving congregations it is our pleasure to be called to serve. My struggle (in this appointment) right now is hoping other see that my husband doesn't just work on Sunday's (LOL). It is a community where hard physical labor is prominent. Vision and equipping others for service is my husband's gift, and often times, it has been a struggle to have others see that it isn't the pastor's roll to do "everything" the church needs to have done. The mindset of "we hired you to do that" has been a challenge to train differently. God calls us all to serve in one capacity or another. He equips us all with special gifts that we need to unleash and use. Thank you for your article. I have enjoyed reading it.
    posted by CM
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:53 am
  12. Erin, my late husband and I were in the ministry 27 years plus. (He took his own life 2 1/2 weeks ago due to major depression) Can I encourage your readers to not just remember the pastor, but the PASTOR'S WIFE needs some major loving too and she is the "unpaid" partner that keeps the pastor going forward. In Christ Alone, Rhonda Schueren
    posted by Rhonda Schueren
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11:16 am
  13. Dear Rhonda,
    My heart goes out to you. As I was reading down the list of comments... I too, thought of the pastor's wife. How could anyone honor the pastor without including his wife? They are one and certainly more so in the ministry as they work tirelessly together, she often times, behind the scenes. It can be a very hard road and a very lonely place.

    I once read an article that was supposed to be a prayer for your pastor. It was so filled with 'things to do' for the pastor that it literally made me sick as I read it. I had to write the author and tell her how I felt. How in the world could I pray a prayer for any pastor that just loaded more and more work on his back with more and more responsibility? I never got a response from the writer, who wasn't in ministry, by the way.
    After reading it though, and feeling heavier and heavier in my spirit, this is what I heard in my heart from the God I serve, Jesus.

    Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
    Matthew 11:30 (KJV)
    For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

    You know in your spirit things are too overloaded when your burden is too heavy. That is where Jesus can take it all from you and give you relief. His burden is light! That is a wonderful thought. When the ministry piles on such a heavy burden, run to Jesus. He is the burden bearer.

    Take care Rhonda and know that you will be in mine and I am sure many others' prayers. Don't forget... Jesus is walking beside you through this valley. Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh.... keep waiting and you will see.

    God Bless & Keep You!

    P.S. Ladies, let's keep Rhonda in our prayers in the days ahead!
    posted by ~Lynn
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11:50 am
  14. Dear Rhonda Schueren,
    Know that you are being prayed for!


    "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
    ~Isaiah 41:13 (KJV)
    posted by Emily
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 12:36 pm
  15. I work in full-time ministry as an assistant, and I see the long hours, commitment, and genuine love & care that pastors and their wives put into the ministry. We have 7 pastors, so I can't do something big for each of them, but I send them cards every October and try to encourage them (and their wives) verbally throughout the year. From my perspective, pastors and their wives need time for rest more than anything money could buy! I wish I could give them all a full day off every week -a true Sabbath rest.
    posted by Elle
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 3:52 pm
  16. P.S. Erin, I am not jaded or angry in any way. I love our church family. They are mostly previously unchurched and have probably never heard of Pastor's Appreciation Month. Also, I believe my husband has been called to lead this church, and I've been called so support him. Christ is all we really need. Date nights, gift cards, etc...are wonderful, but the joy of serving Christ is far superior!
    posted by Tish
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 3:55 pm
  17. Thank you Lynn for your kind words. GOD is good all the time and I am choosing to give thanks for MONDAY. (Oct. 10th) The day GOD chose for my husband to go be with his Savior before the foundations of the earth. The sovereign plan of GOD is amazing. This was GOD's plan and He has and is answering many of my prayers through this. This was never my prayer for GOD to take my husband home, but I can trust my sovereign that this is a good thing. GOD makes NO mistakes. Reconciliation in the family has been restored, two cousins raised their hands for salvation at the end of the memorial service, countless people asking questions, CHRIST exalted, salvation shared. Even though I do not understand the mysteries of GOD, if He says this is good for me...I choose to be thankful. If you would be interested in watching the memorial service it is at bigelowchurch.org

    I do covet your prayers as we have 4 children still at home, ages 22-8 and as I make financial decisions in the days ahead. I truly would like to stay in full-time ministry, this is where my heart is. We will see what GOD has and how He will provide for us. He is our PROVIDER.
    Again, thank you.
    In Christ Alone
    Rhonda Schueren ps115_3@yahoo.com
    posted by Rhonda Schueren
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 5:15 pm
  18. Rhonda,

    I don't have the right words to say to you, but I have learned that not saying anything in the face of such grief is not the right thing either. I am so sorry for the tremendous loss you have suffered. I am thankful for your lifelong service to the Lord and take great comfort in knowing that His promises will not fail you in the days and weeks to come.

    Kim Jaggers is a woman who has been interviewed several times on ROH, TW.com and LYWB.com. Here husband also committed suicide. I wanted to pass on her website, http://www.morethanchocolate.org/. There is a place to contact her through the site.

    I will be praying for you Rhonda. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do.

    Grace and Peace,

    Erin Davis
    www.graffitiministries.com
    posted by Erin Davis
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 5:39 pm
  19. Tish,

    Didn't mean to imply that you were jaded or angry. I just know as a youth pastor's wife, myself, that we have to be very careful not to be overly defensive of our husbands.

    Sounds like you are in a great place and approach your role with great. Go, girl!

    Erin
    www.graffitiministries.com
    posted by Erin Davis
    on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 5:42 pm
  20. Thank you Erin,
    I will take a look at that web-site.
    I am grateful for your prayers. GOD is good....all the time.
    Rhonda Schueren
    posted by Rhonda Schueren
    on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 8:25 pm
  21. Congrats to Tara, Jodi C., Elle, and Tish! You've won a copy of Pastor Piper's book, "Don't Waste Your Life." Check your inbox for more details.
    posted by Paula Hendricks
    on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 3:35 pm

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