It’s hard to believe that after over a year of waiting, our new pastor is coming in just a couple of weeks! Just like any relationship transition, there are bound to be phases. The first phase will be a honeymoon phase that’s a virtual love-fest where nobody can do anything wrong. But honeymoons don’t last forever, and that’s when we’ll enter into a phase where real love and commitment will need to be our hallmarks.
So many times I’ve looked at my pastor and his family as super-human spiritual giants, and I’ve assessed them according to what they can give to me. The truth, though, is that our pastors and their families are people just like us. They’re people with feelings and the need for encouragement just like you and me. I know that John Mark, Brigitte and Cade have lots to give, but this time around, I want to look for ways to give back to them.
I’m excited about the transition, and I can’t wait for you to get to know and love the whole Harrison family as much as our Pastor Search Committee already does. As I was thinking about ways to make them feel welcomed and loved, I ran across an excellent article in Lifeway’s Facts and Trends magazine that I’d like to share with you. I hope you’ll join me in adopting some of these suggestions!
Ways to Minister to the Minister:
- Pray. Specifically pray for him and his family. Pray for wisdom, courage, protection, patience, brokenness, godliness, leadership, and passion.
- Be an encourager. A written note can be kept and reread on those lonely and confusing days when the "call to ministry" seems to be the only thing he has to hold on to.
- Remember him throughout the year. Send birthday, anniversary and special occasion wishes. In addition, when a minister actually sees his spouse and family being genuinely cared for by others, it calms his spirit. "Genuinely" is the operative word.
- Be his prayer warrior. Those serendipitous emails from prayer warriors are often written prayers laced with Scripture, authentic love and appreciation. An inbox filled with these types of emails can be treasured and timely.
- Speak positively and genuinely about him in public as well as in private. Be accountable to speak more often and more highly of your minister.
- Give a gift card. Who doesn't love to eat! Give him a card of appreciation and include a gift card to go out to eat somewhere nice. This can make for a date night as well.
- Tell him to go away. Ministers need time away to be refreshed and renewed. A Sunday school class or small group could give him (either by himself or with his wife or family) an opportunity to get away for a day or two to pray, retool or rest. A minister gets tired and needs a break. You can't imagine the pressure.
- Support him by serving. There are countless ways to support your minister by just serving in your church. It's frustrating that most church members serve inconsistently, if at all. Don't just volunteer, but be a recruiter of volunteers.
- Speak the truth in love. This does not give anyone the right to be rude. A minister will be more appreciative and open when he knows the speaker is motivated by godliness.
- Be a disciple. The best thing you can do to support your minister is to be a part of the plan and process of becoming a disciple who thinks and acts like Christ. This makes you part of the solution in fulfilling the Great Commission.
This article is reprinted with permission from Facts and Trends 2012 Summer Edition.
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