WE ASKED 50 PASTORS TO SHARE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE HONOURED

Honour, or ‘timao’ in the original greek, is defined as “to fix a value upon,” “to prize,” and “to revere”. It is closely affiliated to Respect, which means “to esteem highly.”

The Bible urges us to honour those who teach us the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

“And now, friends, we ask you to honour those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!”

The nature of honour is that it is given from the heart. It cannot be legislated, nor demanded. However, if we choose to show honour, we must make sure it’s genuine.

Mark 7:6

“Jesus said to them ‘these people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

Authentic Honour is not just words uttered from our lips, but is a tangible expression of our gratitude arising from a deep inward conviction.

When we honour our Pastors, we are able to prize and value the grace and anointing that they carry and impart to us, our families, churches and communities.

1 Timothy 5:17

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the Word and doctrine.”

We will never be able to repay our Pastors for their love, sacrifice and commitment, but we can honour them with our time, resource and support.

The highest form of honour for our Pastors is for us to be obedient to the Word of God which they teach us.

Gifts are great, but if we excel in our obedience to God’s Word, there is not a Pastor in this world whose heart won’t burst with joy.

This principal of honour needs to become part of our DNA and culture, not just limited to Pastor’s Appreciation month. When we honour our Pastor, who is appointed by the Lord, we ultimately honour God. The Bible says in doing so, a blessing will rest on our household. (Ezekiel 44:30).

WE ASKED 50 PASTORS WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM HAPPY THIS PASTORS APPRECIATION MONTH

They may have said it in different ways, but this was the overwhelming response…

The ultimate appreciation would be knowing that each of those in our church family

• Love the Lord
• Accurately represent and reflect Christ in every area of their lives all year round
• Are faithful in their attendance to church meetings
• Are faithful in honouring the Lord with their tithes and offerings
• Have a zeal to learn more of God’s Word
• Are engaged in fervent prayer for the Church and the Pastor
• Have a passion to serve others and keep the unity of the local church
• Are able to share the weight of the ministry

Most Pastors were hesitant to express any desire for gifts, but we persisted…

Here are the TOP TEN ways Pastors said they would enjoy being appreciated…

1. Gift vouchers for a grocery, home or clothing store.
2. A love offering of cash.
3. Hand written notes or a book with personal heartfelt messages of encouragement.
4. A mid-week break with the family at a holiday home or location would be a lovely time of refreshing.
5. Acts of Service – for example – volunteering to help repair things around the house, helping with garden landscaping or renovating your Pastor’s office.
6. A financial contribution towards a study course or entry to a conference that your Pastor would love to attend.  
7. Anything that cultivates family time eg. Day or year passes to water parks or adventure activities.
8. Tickets to a big sports game.
9. A spa day for the Pastor and their spouse.
10. A reliable car. Pastors are always on the road visiting, counselling and praying for people both day and night. They also transport congregants and guests to and from church. A reliable motor vehicle is not a luxury but a tool for every pastor. Having the confidence that they won’t break down on the highway will definitely lighten the load.

Two more suggestions for Pastor’s Appreciation month couldn’t go unnoticed!

Introduce four new people to your church this month.

Agree on just one day where the Pastor won’t have any complaints or problems to deal with!

Resolve to cultivate a culture of honour for the servants of the Lord into every fabric of your local church and be sure to display this eternal principal as often as you have the opportunity to.