April 25, 2009
1,500 pastors leave their churches every month in the United States because of conflict, burnout, or moral failure. Help keep your pastor from becoming part of that statistic. Use every available resource to encourage, support, and partner with your pastor. This ezine and www.My-Pastor.com give you a good start toward effectively ministering to your minister.
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Date: April 26, 2009
Issue Number 013
Table of Contents:
- Pastor Appreciation Idea: Three Pastor Appreciation Mistakes
- Gift Idea: A Basket of Appreciation
- What's New at My-Pastor.com?
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Pastor Appreciation Idea: Three Pastor Appreciation Mistakes
As I interact with churches regarding pastor appreciation I see three very common mistakes. Most congregations genuinely want to encourage their pastors. Unfortunately, good intentions don't always translate to affective results. Quite often, poor results are caused by one or more of the following three mistakes.- Assuming that someone else is taking care of it. This is by far the most common mistake congregations make. Everyone thinks that someone should organize something for pastor appreciation. But few people think that they should be that someone. How can you ensure that this mistake doesn't occur in your church? Ask a church leader today if you can help plan and organize something for pastor appreciation. If something is already being planned, get involved. If nothing is being planned, start planning it yourself.
- Waiting for an established leader to approve your plans. This mistake relates to the first. Once you ask for permission to plan an activity or event you may have to wait for leadership meetings to take place and for someone to get back to you. Obviously you can't organize a church-wide activity or special service without leadership approval. But there are hundreds of ways you and others from your congregation can work together to show your pastor appreciation. Don't wait for official approval - that takes too long!
- Waiting for an official program, service, or event. I strongly encourage churches to plan special services and/or events to show pastor appreciation. A banquet or special worship service set aside to honor your pastor is a great way to provide encouragement. But don't wait until something official like that is planned. Show your appreciation today. Send your pastor a note. Pray for him. Take his children bowling. Wash his house windows. It doesn't really matter what you do - just do it. Don't wait for a special pastor appreciation Sunday.
These are the three most common mistakes congregations make. But they all have good reasons why they make them. So next month I'll discuss the most common excuses for not showing pastor appreciation.
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A New Pastor Gift Idea: Fore! It's Golf Season
If your pastor plays golf he probably needs a few new golf balls. So give him some with your own message printed on it. You could have his name printed on the balls or add a touch of humor: "Please visit City Community Church and return this ball to the pastor." Print your own personalized message on any golf ball!*****************************************************
What’s New at My-Pastor.com?
Are you looking for your next pastor? My-Pastor.com now offers a way for you to list your pastor job for free. You probably already have your full listing posted on your church web site or on another job site. But a listing at My-Pastor.com will help send more visitors to your posting elsewhere.It's easy... and it's free! List your pastor job here.
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Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this zine and tell me what you think!
Thank you for your ministry to your minister.
Dan Sherman
Michigan, USA
My-Pastor.com
If you have questions, ideas, or wish to be removed from my mailing list, please reply directly to this ezine email.
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