As a young churchgoer, my interaction with my pastor was mostly limited to a quick handshake and smile as I filed out of the church and into the gym to get my weekly chocolate sprinkle doughnut and cup of lemonade.

It wasn't until I was in high school and into my young adult years that I began to recognize the impact my pastors have had on me. They've challenged me to pursue Christ with every part of my life, and they've said the hard, truthful things when I needed to hear them most. As I've gotten to know my pastors on more personal levels, I've begun to see their deep love for the people they've been entrusted to serve and their desires to be authentic examples of Christ, even in the face of opposition.

Being a pastor is often a thankless job. Most pastors do more than preach on Sundays. Their jobs include tasks like counseling, running a business, leading a staff, raising money, welcoming new families, and building relationships in the community. They pour their hearts out for the sake of others, even though most people will never see it. 

Our pastors deserve our appreciation. Let's rally together to support, encourage, and uplift the men and women who serve us as pastors in our local churches.

Here are a few ideas you and your family can use to show your support and appreciation:

1. Thank you cards. Have each person in your family create or write a thank you card and mail it to your pastor. To make it extra personal, write a short letter and share how your pastor has specifically created an impact in your life with something they said or did.

2. Prayer support. Commit to praying for your pastor each day. Whether it's for a specific intention or in general, pray for protection, courage, strength, and peace for your pastor as they guide your church community.

3. Social Media shout-out. Post a short note or video of appreciation on Facebook or Twitter to tell your pastor "thank you" for their service and devotion to your church community. If the whole community wants to participate, create a specific hashtag to use for the shout-out and be sure to tag your pastor on the post.

4. Share a meal. Invite your pastor over to your home for a meal or coffee and dessert. This is an informal way to get to know your pastor on a more personal level and for them to interact with your family.

5. Appreciation video. If the church community has a media/production team, commission them to create an appreciation video of people in the community thanking the pastor for serving the church. If the church doesn't have a production team, ask a group of young people (high school or college students) to take on the task. 

6. Live for Christ. A pastor's job is to inspire the flock to "surrender all" to Jesus Christ. One of the greatest gifts you can give your pastor is to take the initiative to more fully live for Christ. Think of aspects of your life that you haven't entirely surrendered to Christ—whether in your vocation, education, family, friends, or finances—and consider ways you can be more fully devoted. Share your ideas with your pastor. They will likely greatly appreciate your initiative. 

We at Alliance Defending Freedom want to thank all pastors for their service to Christ and his church. It is our pleasure to serve you and stand with you in the spread of the gospel.

Download Resources for Pastors

We've created a space just for pastors to get resources to build a strong ministry and be inspired by other pastors who are taking a stand for freedom and faith.

Katie Heller is a native of Atlanta who found her way to the deserts of Arizona after graduating from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio with a B.A. in Theology and Catechetics.

For the original article, visit adflegal.org.

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