Monday, October 28, 2019

Thank you, Pastor.


Thank you, Pastor.                                       



Pastor Appreciation Month is coming to an end, but I appreciate my pastors all year through. 


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Dear Pastor, 


I can count on you

-      like a lamb counts on the shepherd.

-      like the daisies count on the rain.

-      like the sick counts on the doctor.

-      Like the calf counts on her mama.

-      Like the book counts on the reader.

-      Like the hungry counts on the farmer.

-      Like the tired counts on the rest.

-      Like the bird counts on the sky.

-      Like the student counts on the teacher.

-      Like the rocket counts on the fuel.

-      Like the tree counts on its roots.



Humm—I think I’m talking about Jesus. Pastor, you’re a lot like Jesus. 


Thank you.



©Copyright 2019 Connie Wohlford


Thursday, October 10, 2019

What About Your Pastor?


What About Your Pastor?        

You’ve probably heard someone say, “Well, what about me?”  It may be said for a variety of reasons but since October is Pastor Appreciation Month, let’s consider this: “What about my pastor?” 

To show love and appreciation, some churches and individuals make a big deal out of Pastor Appreciation Month. They may have a church supper in honor of their pastor/s—complete with gifts. Some congregations even send their pastor and spouse on a cruise or nice vacation. Then of course there are other congregations which don’t even know the occasion exists, or perhaps pretend they don’t know.  

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It seems that many people are clueless about just how tough it is to be a pastor. Some believe their pastor simply reads the Bible, prays, and visits sick people. The reality is that the job of pastor is much more demanding and complex than that and for many it carries 24/7 responsibilities. 


I didn’t grow up in a pastor’s home and I’m not a pastor’s wife, so I’ve not had that personal experience. But I’ve known many pastors and have been friends with several pastor’s wives and children. I’ve observed some of the many trials and challenges they go through on a regular basis. 


In an article written by Philip Wagner*, himself a pastor, he says that Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, said that the four hardest jobs in America (not necessarily in order, he added) are: the President of the United States, a university president, a CEO of a hospital, and a pastor. 



e goes on to list some of the unique problems pastors face.

Here’s a brief synopsis:



1. Pastors face a lot of criticism from many directions and for many reasons. 

2. Pastors experience a lot of rejection due to the nature of their position and the nature of congregants coming and going.  

3. Pastors often face betrayal, as they work with their staff and minister to people. It’s not unusual for a pastor’s staff or church member to turn on them due to personal conflict or simply not getting their way. 

4. Pastors often suffer loneliness due to the fact that they often find it hard to have a close friend. 

5. Pastors grow weary due to the numerous hours they spend attending to their many responsibilities.  

6. Pastors often have many disappointments and frustrations. Pastors’ salaries are typically average or below the norm and many pastors must have another job in order to meet the financial needs of their families. And they often have no good way to measure their successes and accomplishments. This can be very frustrating. * 


Tough skin and a soft heart seem to be a requirement for pastors. 

When was the last time you thought about the difficulties faced by pastors, their wives, and their children?



Most pastors have such a passion to serve God, lead people to Christ, and equip the body, they push on through many hardships and trials—with God’s help. But if you could interview a large group of pastors, almost all of them would say they’ve experienced many, if not all, of the above challenges at one time or another.  



In Mr. Wagner’s article, he went on to tell a few things Christians and church members can do to help pastors:



1. Pray for your pastor, that he/she will hear clearly from God. 

2. Protect your pastor. Don't get involved with gossip and complaining of other church members.  

3. Encourage your pastor. Find ways to help lighten the load and let him/her know you care and want to help in any way you can. 



These three things appear to be very simple and I believe the Holy Spirit can show us other things we can do for our pastors that are specific to their individual needs. When we, as church members, do the above three things with diligence and sincerity, it can make a huge difference in the lives of our pastors and their families. And just think of the benefits for the church as well.




Remember to smile at your pastor and be friendly to his/her spouse and children. If you want to see your pastor smile back, tell him/her that you appreciate and are praying for him/her.



AND since this is Pastor Appreciation Month, perhaps a gift card or some such gesture of appreciation is in order. Ask God to help you come up with the best way to bless your pastor/s. 



As with most things, the Internet can give you numerous suggestions of ways to honor and show love to pastors. Here is one site you might like to check out that gives ten ways to show appreciation to your pastor:




We all like to be appreciated. Imagine yourself in your pastor’s shoes and ask God to show you ways to bless him/her during Pastor Appreciation Month and ways to be a blessing throughout the year.



In the comment section, please share ways you have shown appreciation for your pastor or share suggestions that come to mind. If you are a pastor, how have people shown you appreciation and how would you enjoy having your congregants show their appreciation.  


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* The above italicized sections are paraphrased from Philip Wagner’s article, “The Secret Pain of Pastors and Church Leaders.”  To read his entire article, go to:


©Connie Wohlford 2019