50 Creative Ways to Show and Share God’s Love for Your Pastor and Staff
50 Creative Ways to Show and Share God’s Love for Your Pastor and Staff
Editor's Note: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Many pastors are struggling across our nation and our world. They aren't some form of super humanity, they are human just like everyone else. Our pastors need our encouragement and support now more than ever. ZealousHomes is excited to partner with Brian Kluth and the Bless Your Pastor Movement to support our pastors. Listen to our ZealousHomes Podcast Interview with Brian to learn more about the movement. Also, you can read their press release here. If you love our content, subscribe to our Zealous Nation Newsletter so you can stay up to date!
Guest Post By: Brian Kluth, National Director of National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) Financial Health and spokesperson for the Bless Your Pastor movement.
Why Do We Need The BlessYourPastor.org Movement?
Across America and the world, pastors and church staff members faithfully serve and love their congregations. Many pastors and staff members have followed God’s call on their lives to serve the Lord and their churches, regardless of the sacrifices they make.
National research shows that most pastors are operating with limited financial resources to meet their families’ current and long-term needs. Fortunately, God is bigger than church paychecks and has many ways he can provide for his shepherds and workers through the generosity of God’s faithful people.
12 “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,”
1 Thessalonians 5:12 (NASB95)
1 Thessalonians 5:12 calls Christians to show their deep appreciation to those who minister to them.
6 Let the one who is the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
Galatians 6:6 ESV
Galatians 6:6 says people are to “share all good things with the one who teaches” them.
So, the Bless Your Pastor and Staff movement invites church leaders and Christians to intentionally show and share God’s love for their pastors and staff members.
Below is a list of over 50 creative ideas for how you and others can Bless Your Pastor and Staff. You can get a free downloadable copy of this resource by clicking here.
50+ CREATIVE WAYS TO BLESS YOUR PASTOR
FAITHFULLY PRAY
The best way to help your pastor and staff is to faithfully and regularly pray for his:
- Intimacy with God
- Marital love and unity
- Spiritual protection
- Divine guidance
- Emotional and physical well-being
- Parenting skills
- Genuine friendships
- Financial provisions
- Daily wisdom
- Personal encouragement
- Helpful mentors
- Effective ministry
- Time management
- Quality study and prayer times
- Helpful training, courses and books
- Leadership skills
FONDNESS
- Let the pastor and staff know how God is specifically using them to bless, help and teach you to follow God.
- Remember their birthdays and anniversaries with a card, gift or social media post.
- Show appreciation for their strengths and give grace in their weaknesses.
FREEDOM
- Give their spouses the freedom to be themselves and to find their own niches in the church.
- Let their children “be kids,” care about them, and pray for them.
FOOD, FELLOWSHIP & FUN
- Prepare meals or baked goods for them (ask about favorite meals or certain foods to avoid).
- Give them a gift card for groceries, restaurants, fast food or coffee shops.
- Give them food from your garden, orchard, hunting or fishing trips.
- Invite them to your home or a restaurant for a meal.
- Invite them or their family members to go fishing, sailing, camping, hunting, to the gym, concerts, plays or sporting events. Offer to cover some or all of the costs.
- If you have a vacation home, timeshare, recreational vehicle or camping gear, offer to let them use it.
- Share frequent flyer miles that can be used for conferences, vacation, mission trips or holiday travel.
- Offer them the use of your dependable vehicle, SUV or minivan for a holiday family trip or vacation.
FREELY SHARE
Share your skills and time to help with any of the following items:
- Babysitting
- Auto maintenance and repair
- Home repairs, maintenance and projects
- Decorating, painting and wallpapering
- Haircuts and beauty treatments
- Medical, dental and chiropractic care
- Lawn and garden upkeep
- Legal, estate and financial services
- Tutoring or lessons for children
If needed, communicate in advance if there are any out-of-pocket costs they will need to cover (e.g., parts for a car repair or materials for home repair).
FINANCES
Faithfully give to your church, so your pastor and church staff can be properly compensated. Beyond the church salary, the Lord may prompt certain individuals to provide personal funding to help with any of the following items:
- Bless Your Pastor and Staff Appreciation Offering
- Marriage conference or retreat costs
- Christian camp fees
- Back to school fees, clothing or supplies
- Children’s college tuition
- Mission trips
- Lessons or tutoring
- Family or couple’s vacation or getaway
- Pastor’s conference, seminar or training
- Seminary courses or sabbatical
- Student loan debt
- Retirement savings
- Medical expenses
PAY IT FORWARD TO BLESS YOUR PASTOR
Most people have heard about “paying it forward.” Do you know you can also pay it forward by passing along possessions you no longer use or need? Possible items could include appliances, furniture, musical equipment, clothing, sports equipment or electronics. Ask if the items you may have available are actually needed and wanted by your pastor or staff families. Also, be sure they are in good condition and will not need costly repairs.
Please Note: Please be prepared to graciously allow your pastor or staff member to decline anything that you offer. Also note that most items mentioned here are not normally tax-deductible to the giver but are to be given out of gratefulness to God for what he has given to you.
For more free resources that your church can use to launch and spark excitement for Bless Your Pastor and Staff in your church, visit BlessYourPastor.org. Did you know that your church can even gift your pastor a free $200 Amazon gift card if you participate in their free campaign? Also, their campaign can be run at any time during the year, not just Pastor Appreciation Month! Check them out! Follow BlessYourPastor on social media.
FACEBOOK @NAEBlessYourPastor
INSTAGRAM @BlessYourPastor
TWITTER @BlessYourPastor
DO YOU HAVE A CREATIVE WAY TO BLESS YOUR PASTOR THAT WE COULD ADD TO THIS LIST?
LEAVE US A COMMENT BELOW AND HELP EDIFY OUR ZEALOUSHOMES COMMUNITY!
Until next time……
#bezealous #stayzealous #livezealouslyforChrist #BlessYourPastor