The Church Mouse

Thank You!

1Thessalonians 5:12-13: "And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you. Along with your obedience, overwhelm them with appreciation and love"

God’s Word calls us to support our Clergy and those charged with our leadership in the faith. October is Clergy Appreciation Month (CAM) and the perfect time to commit to ongoing prayer for and encouraging our Leadership and our Pastor on a regular basis. Clergy Appreciation Day is the 2^nd Sunday in October.

Why not consider October a time to initiate or reciprocate appreciation for those who faithfully share the ministry of Christ with you?

Church leaders and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward. Those are unrealistic expectations to place on anyone, yet most of us are disappointed when a pastor or other church leader becomes overwhelmed, seems depressed, lets us down or completely burns out.

That's why God has instructed us to recognize His servants. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching" (1 Timothy 5:17).

The good news is that we can make a difference! Clergy Appreciation Month is one way we can counter the negative erosion in the lives of our spiritual leaders with the positive affirmation they need.

What do we do?

Figure out what you can do personally, don’t wait for someone else to tell you what to do to recognize and honor these leaders and their families. Praise their work, send a simple card, an invitation to lunch, a promise to pray for them, or an offer to baby-sit, wash a car or mow a lawn, a surprise vacation, a financial gift to their ministry, give them your testimony of how they have influenced your growth as a Christian, be creative, but make sure they know how much their service means to you.

"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" I Thessalonians 3:9

Love One Another,

The Church Mouse