Pastor Appreciation Month

[Phil Miglioratti]

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Pastor Appreciation Day

Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. (Heb. 13:7, The Message)

Think about your pastors and the long hours they put in, the criticisms they face, the personal sacrifices their families make. They do all this to serve as the shepherd of your flock.

"Serve one another in love," encourages the apostle Paul (Gal. 5:13, The Message). What better way to serve your pastor than to honor him or her on Pastor Appreciation Day? Your remembrance can be large or small, detailed or simple, but whatever you choose to do, you can be assured that your pastor will appreciate it.

A good way to start planning for Pastor Appreciation Day is to spend time in prayer for your pastors and their families. 

 

[Phil Miglioratti]

October is Pastor Appreciation month, and we want to support you as you honor and affirm your pastor! Some of the latest research indicates that the "downstream" symptoms of ministry stress and challenges are significantly impacting pastors and their families. We've compiled some simple strategies to bless your pastor and family. The Lift Pastor Appreciation strategy is an initiative designed to see God prompt the church to become the pastor's greatest source of support.   5 SIMPLE STEPS TO LIFT UP GOD'S SERVANT IN YOUR CHURCH:   1. Download the Lift flyer, poster, bulletin insert, and certificate for a planning meeting with your deacons, elders, or lay leaders. Click here http://www.greatcommandment.net/lift-for-lay-leaders.htm for these resources. Make plans to affirm each of your ministers and families.   2. Schedule the appreciation event, service, or reception and promote them using the resources above. Make sure to edit poster and certificate to include ministers' and family names, plus date of appreciation event.   3. (Optional) Purchase a VISA gift card at any local retail store. This gift card is for your pastor to use for their own get-away retreat at any bed and breakfast that is part of the Christian Hospitality Network. Click here (www.thechn.us) to find a CHN location.  Pastor discounts range from 25-50% off. Sun-Thursday nights are most available, and a $300-500 gift card would typically cover a multi-night stay. This process will give your ministry couple the privilege of selecting the bed and breakfast location that blesses them most.  4. Download the Reboot Spiritual Life and Reboot Marriage Apphttp://greatcommandment.net/lift-for-pastors.htm to familiarize yourself and then assist your ministers in doing the same; Reboot apps are perfect resources for your pastor's self-guided Reboot Retreat. These Reboot apps and ministry discounts are a part of the Lift Pastors Appreciation initiative and brought to you by the Great Commandment Network and their Reboot Leaders resource team.   5. At your appreciation event, present the Appreciation Certificate (after editing names), then print and distribute the bulletin insert entitled, "50 Ways to Bless your Pastor" for your entire congregation.

[Phil Miglioratti]

Thanking Your Congregation
	By Ted Cunningham Last month was Clergy Appreciation Month. How did that go for you? Some pastors received cards, emails, small gifts, and a few meals. Others received appreciation face-to-faceon Sunday morning. For some, it went unnoticed all together. Whatever last month looked like for you, let's consider a new kind of appreciation this Thanksgiving season. What if we turn the tables on our congregations and appreciate them? I am guilty of taking Woodland Hills Family Church for granted. Like most churches, we've seen our share of highs and lows over the years. During times of growth and ministry wins, we ask for more. When giving does not meet budget, we ask for more. When children's ministry wears out volunteers, we seek fresh recruits. Our tendency is to ask for more out of those who already give so much. Thanksgiving is a great season to pause and say, "Thank you."  Here are 7 ways to say, "Thank you," to your congregation...Read more.

[Phil Miglioratti]

 

 

Dear Friend, 

 

As you know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  We need your partnership this month in an important effort to offer vital and tangible help to pastors across the nation.  We want to help our spiritual leaders with profound tools to provide encouragement and spiritual health.  You can play an essential role as you join us in October. Together we can make a difference.    

 

Did you know?

• Almost 1700 pastors leave the ministry every month in the U.S. due to church conflict, family problems, health concerns and, in some cases, moral failure.
   
• Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
   
• Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their roles.
   
• Fifty-five percent admitted that they are lonely and have no close friends. 
   
• Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
   
• Eighty percent of pastors' spouses feel their spouse is overworked.

 

This month join us in a step of faith to help pastors all across our nation. 

 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE AND TO JOIN US IN THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE!