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As we are in the midst of Pastor Appreciation Month, this blog is a 2-for-1.

For those who are pastors at a church, we hope this can be a source of encouragement and hope.

For communications leadership and/or staff, we want to give you tangible ways you can celebrate your pastor(s) this month (and the other 11 months of the year too!). 

Pastors, we’ll start with you…

We know that accepting praise and adoration is hard for many of you because you have been called to serve others in this unique and selfless way, but that does not mean it should be overlooked. Pastor Appreciation Month is a time for us to acknowledge the immeasurable impact you have on our lives, our faith and our communities. Believe us, your congregation WANTS to give back to you for all you have given to them, so let them. 

Our prayer for you this month is that you feel seen and loved. We hope these scriptures can bring new life and lift you up in the days to come:

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

Your work in the churches and communities you serve is a labor of love, inspired by hope in Christ. We thank God for your unwavering faith and the impact it has on the lives of everyone you encounter.

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. - Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

Your faithful preaching of God's Word and your exemplary way of life inspire people to grow in their faith. We are grateful for your leadership, wisdom, guidance and dedication, knowing that your influence extends far beyond the stage.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. - Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV) 

We recognize that God has placed you in your role for this time as a gift to equip and build up the body of Christ by nurturing the spiritual growth of so many individuals and families. Your service is invaluable, please never forget that.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) 

Your dedication and service to your congregation reflects your commitment to serving the Lord. We are grateful for your wholehearted devotion to God, the church, your community and far beyond what anyone of us may see.

In Fishhook terms, we want you to remember that you and your work matter.

Communications leaders and staff, you might be wondering, “How can I celebrate my pastor in fun and unique ways with the resources I have?” Well, we’re here to help! 

Express Gratitude and Encouragement.
Have your staff and congregation write heartfelt thank-you notes or letters expressing gratitude for the ways in which the pastor leads ands serves the congregation and the community. You can collect them and present them to your pastor during a service or staff meeting. 

Organize a Special Appreciation Event.
Plan a special event such as a potluck dinner, brunch or picnic to honor your pastor. Invite the congregation to participate and contribute and ensure there are opportunities for people to share personal stories of how the pastor has positively impacted their lives.  

Gifts and Tokens of Appreciation.
Consider collecting gifts for your pastor that you know they’ll love such as books, candles, or gift cards to their favorite restaurants. Maybe your pastor likes experiences such as golf, escape rooms or spa days. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something they will enjoy that can bring them rest and give them life.

Prayer.
Dedicate a specific day or week to focused prayer for your pastor(s) and their family (families). Encourage the congregation to join in prayer, seeking God's guidance, blessings and protection for their ministry. Be sure to let your pastor know that the community is lifting them up in prayer during this special time. You can even collect prayers via social media, forms or emails and share them with your pastor in a unique way such as a book for prayers.

Post on Social Media.
Try running a series of posts using each of the ideas above to ask for and collect prayers, encouragement and more by highlighting your pastor(s) and encouraging people to share their own stories about the impact this pastor has had on their lives. You can also use photos and videos to highlight the incredible work your pastor has done over the years.

Remember that the most meaningful gestures of appreciation come from the heart. It's essential to be genuine in your expressions of gratitude and to ensure that your pastor feels valued not just during Pastor Appreciation Month but throughout the year.

As you process this or any of our other blogs, just know that we don’t expect you to do this alone. That’s why we’re here. We want to walk alongside you to help you with anything your church needs. Whether that’s building a new website, helping with design, creating marketing campaigns, branding or anything else, we’ve got you covered!