Do you love and honor your pastor?  Well, October is Pastor Appreciation Month and every second Sunday of October is the Pastor Appreciation Day.  It’s a perfect time and a great opportunity for us to express our love and gratitude to our dear pastor for his love, labor and dedication. Our pastor helps make our lives better through his faith and compassion.

And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.  1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Here are 5 awesome ideas to give back to your pastor who gives so much love and compassion to all of us.

1. First and foremost, pray for your pastor.

Your pastor has their own trials and difficulties and he is more exposed and vulnerable to temptation, tests and burnout, so it is very important to pray for him. Let’s pray for him and his family consistently.

2. Organize a potluck dinner.

Send out an invitation/request (maybe you can use pass it on cards) to each member the week before to bring something for a potluck dinner after your Sunday service at your fellowship hall.  Each family may bring your pastor’s favorite dish, drinks, cakes, fruits, candies, etc.  Your pastor will surely enjoy the dinner with his whole congregation.

3. Surprise him and his wife with gifts.

You can also surprise your pastor and his wife with a gift like this beautiful Wall Decor-Pastor & Pastor’s Wife or maybe this awesome Mug-Cafe-Faithful Servant and Mug-Thank You-Pastor’s Wife to appreciate and encourage both of them.  Oops… don’t forget his kids with this Box Sign-Jesus Loves Me.  Your pastor will surely appreciate how you value his wife and kids too.

4. Give him appreciation cards.

One week before the big day, you could pass out greeting cards or pass it on cards to church members and ask them to write a nice, personal note of appreciation or encouragement and bring them back on Pastor Day.

5. Be obedient in God’s Word.

The best way to show respect and appreciation to your pastor is to follow his instructions to follow Jesus.  There’s no greater gift we can give to our pastor than to be obedient in God’s Word— to see us walking in the Truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

Our pastors watch over our spiritual well being—they are a gift from God.  Thus we ought to give him double honor, respect and appreciation.  Let us send him some appreciation today that he may continually be encouraged to do his ministry with joy and thanksgiving.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.  1 Timothy 5:17

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7