– 5 Ways To Encourage Your Pastor – 

1 Timothy 5:17 – The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

I think we can all agree; this season has been challenging. Our Pastors are courageously paving a way forward in uncharted territory. All while trying to navigate plans to re-open, how to bridge the divide, and understand what God is leading His Church into in this season ahead and beyond. This is no easy task and not for the faint of heart!

Now more than ever, we each have an important role to play in encouraging, supporting, and cheering for our Pastors!

Here are 5 ways to be encouraging your Pastor in this season:

1) Pray for your Pastor & All Pastors – Prayer changes everything. Pray daily for your Pastor. Pray that they may be given peace, wisdom, and discernment from God this season, for the noise to quiet and for God’s voice to become crystal clear in informing and guiding their next steps as they lead their congregations forward. Beyond private prayer, consider praying with others in your Church specifically for your Pastor as well as inviting your Pastor to be prayed over.

2) Grow In Grace – Seasons of turmoil have a way of exposing our never-ending need for grace and mercy. Just as you reflect in this season and have different weaknesses exposed in yourself, you may begin to recognize your Pastor’s humanness and identify their weaknesses. Still, you can stick with them despite that. Pastors need people to go through the tough times. They need you. Encourage your pastor by being loyal to them, and extending grace just like Jesus freely extends it to us.

3) Be An Energetic Participant – Some Churches are still gathering online; others are beginning to convene again in person. Regardless, don’t allow the where to dictate the level of praise and engagement. We are the Church! Whether at home or gathered together in person, the power of Jesus lives in you and me. The church is where God’s people are. Continue to stay engaged with your Church & Pastor. Give a resounding “AMEN!” or “PREACH!” or “HALLELUJAH” along with your favorite emoji online. Let them know you are present and energized by how God is working through them and leading you.

4) Speak Highly of Your Pastor – “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” – Luke 6:45. Now more than ever, Pastors are up for extreme criticism, let’s be honest, they are in a position where they cannot please everyone, let alone their Church. Be an outspoken defender of your pastor. Don’t feed into criticism and never be guilty of dishing it out yourself.

5) Last but not least…Thank Your Pastor – Regularly. Let us not overlook the power of sincere gratitude. The sincerity that goes deeper than the surface and calls out specifics that the Pastor said, did, or character that they displayed that touched you and encouraged you. Whether that be a handwritten note or a conversation, let us not grow weary going the extra distance to encourage one another on this journey.