SIX WAYS TO LOVE YOUR PASTOR
By Randy C. Davis
President & executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
We loved our church family.
Jeanne and I were in our second year of marriage and my second year as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Leakesville, Mississippi. It was my first pastorate.
Our parsonage had a large living room, and we invited the church’s 35 regular attenders for Thanksgiving.
That night, Jeanne and I experienced what it meant to be loved as the church’s pastor and first lady. We were newlyweds with no new furniture and very little good furniture.
That same night, the church gave us two nicely wrapped large boxes containing a matching set of tables for our den. They also gifted me a new shotgun, hoping it might improve my aim when hunting with the guys.
New Hope was generous to us and patient with me as I learned to preach and shepherd a flock. That church was the first of four great churches I pastored over 34 years before becoming executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in 2010. They taught me how people in the pew can honor the pastor and his wife. Here are six ways your church can do the same.
- Realize Your Pastor Is a Gift
God states in Jeremiah 3:15, “I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Pastors are far from perfect but recognize that he is still God’s man for your church. Please don’t be unnecessarily critical. Remember, your children are listening. Demonstrate respect and honor for your pastor and look for opportunities to build him up.
- Pray for Your Pastor, Staff, and Their Families
Praying for your pastor seems like a given but take it to the next level. Let him and his wife know exactly how you are praying for them and their children. Ask for specific prayer requests and give them a safe space to share challenges. Be trustworthy.
Maintain confidence and take these needs only to the Lord. Your pastor knowing you are interceding in prayer for him and his family is one of the greatest gifts you can give. The same goes for your other ministers — they need your prayers too.
- Pay Your Pastor Well and Wisely
Paul’s instruction in 1 Timothy 5:17-18 refers to pastors and elders: “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Paul refers to a “double honor,” meaning respect and financial support.
As he takes care of the church by preaching, teaching, and shepherding, pay him (and your staff) well according to the best of your church’s ability. Sadly, 41% of pastors indicated in a pastor compensation study that they feel their family is financially stressed. Be sensitive to that burden and alleviate it as much as possible.
By “wisely,” I mean how you structure his and other ministers’ salaries. Read the article, “Six Helpful Tips for Pastor Pay,” on page 12 of this issue of the Baptist and Reflector to get started. Minister salary and compensation packages can be complicated. Certain things you think might be beneficial can be a burden.
Visit GuideStone Financial Resources (GuideStone.org) and search “compensation planning resources for your church.” Also, LifeWay Research’s compensation study and calculator is a must. Find it at research.lifeway.com/compensation-data.
- Celebrate your pastor’s milestones: It is obvious throughout Scripture that our Heavenly Father loves to celebrate milestones — finding the lost lamb, the lost coin, the return of the prodigal son. Celebrate milestones in your pastor’s life: birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a baby, a daughter’s wedding, seminary graduation, or even if Tennessee beats Alabama in football. The celebration is affirming for your pastor, contagious for your church, and the joy it brings is healthy for your congregation.
- Remember your pastor’s wife: Too many first ladies are the loneliest and most forgotten heroes in the church. Don’t forget she is God-called to a unique role herself. It’s a difficult calling too. She often lives with others expecting her to be “Patty Perfect.”
The demands on her can be overwhelming as she supports her husband, manages her family, and ministers in the church. Life in pastoral ministry is like living in a fishbowl at times. Recognize that, extend grace, and be a friend.
- Provide your pastor a sabbatical: Pastoral ministry is extremely stressful with 24/7/365 demands. Your pastor can quickly drain his tank and run emotionally empty. He isn’t just carrying your burdens; he’s carrying his own. Burnout among pastors is at an all-time high and, at times, even ends in suicide. Plainly stated, your pastor needs a break — and I don’t just mean his vacation days. A sabbatical offers him and his family an extended break from ministry to recharge spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Trust me, I talk to pastors every week who are one step from walking away. They need a break. You can love your pastor well by blessing him with a sabbatical. If you would like to discuss a sabbatical policy I would be happy to help. Contact me at [email protected] or on my cell number: 615-712-0382.
A church loving their pastor well is a sign of a healthy church and one of the greatest ministries a church can have. October is National Pastor Appreciation Month, but why not make it the norm and appreciate your pastor every month?
I hope your pastor can say, like me, that it is a joy to be with you on this journey. B&R
- Filed Under: Opinion Column
