October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation Month by the Church of God, Focus on the Family, and a host of groups such as pastoral care organizations, denominations, publishers, bookstores, and radio stations. The Kingdom Ministry Team of Church of God Ministries, recommends that all congregations plan a special time of recognition for their pastoral staff and families. It is hoped that the ideas detailed below will assist you in your efforts to celebrate the significant contributions of your ministers.

Pastor Appreciation Month Affirms Ministry Leaders

You may not know it, but there are individuals who have spent most of their lives in preparation to serve you and others like you. When God tugged at their hearts, they responded by dedicating their lives to meeting your needs—and thanked God for the opportunity. It is for awareness of our pastors' dedication and service that October has been named "Pastor Appreciation Month." Our appreciation of our pastors should not be limited to one month out of the year, but designating that month for that purpose gives us an opportunity to ponder the special ways our pastors bring a blessed friendship into our lives.

Ideas submitted by various congregations

• We gave our senior pastor a trip to the Pastor/Spouse Roundtable retreat in Florida and a weekend at the beach, gave gift cards and baskets of goodies and gifts from the congregation to each pastor and spouse, and had a worship service of praise with a mini-concert by a trio in our church and tributes of appreciation.
  —From South Carolina
• We took over one service so that they could sit back and enjoy. We also gave time-saving coupons to them—coupons for taking a car in for an oil change, cleaning their house, raking the leaves. —From South Dakota
• We clapped each week as the pastor came to the pulpit; took a collection and sent them on a vacation to Gatlinburg, Tennessee; held a ladies tea in honor of the pastor's wife; and held an evening service of testimonies and fellowship afterwards in honor of pastors and also a card shower. —From Indiana
• We made a bulletin board with various snacks that were attached to a saying about that snack—e.g., Mounds candy bar, "We've gained mounds of wisdom from you." We also presented our pastor and wife with a check for $650.00. —From Oklahoma
• We held a fellowship meal featuring the pastor's favorite dishes; on Children's Day, the children presented him with drawings, notes, and small gifts; the congregation shared poems, songs, and favorite memories on Pastor Praise Day; the youth honored him with cards, letters, and small gifts; adults honored him with cards and gifts like books and homemade desserts. —From Indiana
• We made a video of people telling him how his life has influenced theirs and what they appreciated about him. —From Louisiana
• Each of our pastors was presented with gifts and cards as well as a gift of money from the church family. Additionally, pastor appreciation will continue throughout the year when each of our leaders will be treated to a home-cooked meal at least once a month by members of the congregation. —From Georgia
• We made plans for him and his wife to go to the Praise Gathering in November, took a love offering, and had a card shower and greeting time for them.
  —From Michigan
• At the end of one service in October, the children marched in, dressed in white aprons, to the song "I Love You With the Love of the Lord." They surrounded a wagonload of groceries and were followed by a child dressed as a photographer carrying a photo book for the pastor and one for his wife. Two children carried in a postman's tub with cards and gifts. The service was followed by a carry-in dinner. —From Ohio
• We wrote letters to the congregation; posted signs in the building; printed special cards for the congregation as reminders; held a special appreciation program and meal following one service; and gave gifts in baskets. One Sunday, there were special seats for them, and none of them had to teach or minister that day.
  —From Indiana
• Our congregation sent cards of appreciation and gave a study Bible, gift certificates to Dairy Queen and Baskin Robbins, and a plant. —From Washington
• We took meals to our pastor and his wife for the whole week before appreciation Sunday; had a guest speaker and a carry-in dinner after the service; presented them with two large baskets filled with things they like—coffee, tea, candy, tie, etc.—and put articles in the newspapers honoring them. —From Ohio