It’s that time again when many people think about pastor appreciation.

It’s a topic that presumes you understand what it means to be a Christian and the necessity of connecting to a local Bible-believing church with a God-called pastor. For the sake of this article, it’s a presumption I’m willing to make.

Let me confirm for you that pastor appreciation is a biblical concept. And as long as we don’t get carried away, it’s an excellent way to honor those worthy of honor.

How could we get “carried away” with appreciation? I won’t answer that entirely, but I will briefly explain my pastoral self. Christ is the Head of His Church, and He alone deserves to be glorified. He alone is our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Holy Spirit Baptizer. The rest of us are mere mortals who are called to participate in His work of redemption.

Now let me share these 6 non-tangible ways you should appreciate your pastor. While these won’t damage your checking account, they are precious gifts of appreciation. I’ll share more resources at the end of this list if you need tangible ideas.

Pastors are usually identified by their spoken ministry. So this list is set in the form of an acrostic, using the word preach as a guide.

1) Pray
Pray for your pastor when asked to and when you discern their needs. Also, please pray for your pastor when others say unkind and or untrue things about them.

2) Rejoice
Rejoice with your pastor when God uses their ministry to bring fruit. Be glad that people are coming to Christ and growing in His grace and knowledge.

3) Encourage
Encourage your pastor when courage is lacking. There will always be enough doubt in their psyches. Choose to breathe life and fuel their confidence to operate in their calling.

4) Accept
Accept your pastor by refusing to get caught in the no-one-wins game of comparing your pastor to other pastors. Like you, they need to sense acceptance to be the best version of themselves that God called them to be.

5) Catch
Catch your pastor doing good, and point it out. Let their staff and congregation know that their pastor is gifted by God to equip them for the work of the ministry.

6) Help
Help your pastor relax and keep life in perspective. The reality is that no matter how much your pastor does, there is plenty more to be accomplished. So help them remember to take care of themselves so they can continue to care for others.

This non-tangible list will preach: pray, rejoice, encourage, accept, catch, and help. These gifts of appreciation are not expensive, but that doesn’t mean they are cheap.

You see, cost alone does not determine value.

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I’ve been engaged in spoken ministry since 1994, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with many gifted pastors. I’m also blessed to have face-to-face connections with hundreds of pastors. Every pastor I know would be grateful for these gifts, which demonstrate your appreciation.

Here’s one final thought. Just because your pastor fulfills and carries the ministry well doesn’t mean it’s not a heavy burden. It is both a privilege and a burden. And they need you just as much as you need them.

Please consider sharing this article with your pastor, and indicate which of these you’ll use to demonstrate your appreciation.

Lastly, regardless of your role in the local church, there are plenty of ways to participate in Pastor Appreciation. Visit the Bless Your Pastor website and review their free resources for many ideas.

BONUS

Here’s an article full of tangible ideas to bless your pastor too. It’s courtesy of the folks at ChurchCommunications.com (click here to read Notecards, Desserts, And A Tesla – How To Show Appreciation To Your Pastor).