2007-09-04 16:32:50 · 15 answers · asked by bethy4jesus 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pray daily for him as he is certainly going to come under attack more than you know!
Offer him and if he has a wife, a night out and keep the children so they can have some alone time.
Pack a dinner for the family when the wife or your pastor is sick.
Just take a burden off when you can.
2007-09-04 18:39:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everybody needs encouragement - whether it's your pastor, the star quarterback, a movie star, a famous politician or the struggling single mother who serves coffee at the diner.
A sincere "thank you" can work wonders. Rarely, I will get a student who walks up and says, "good class, teach." It's rare enough that I cherish it.
Pastors struggle with getting people to work together for a goal. Most pastor's have many goals, ways to serve the flock and support the church members. Taking on a burden (any burden) with responsibility will work wonders - if it's visiting the infirm or building the newsletter.
But I think the true support is telling him that what he's doing is working for you to make your own life a walk in the light.
Peace.
2007-09-04 23:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by wrathofkublakhan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't bother the pastor with every little problem that you're having. Legitimate concerns are a good thing to discuss with a pastor, but keep the whining and petty nonsense at home. Pastors have to listen to people's problems all day long. They also tend to hear about every little thing they do wrong, and very little about what they do right, so positive feedback and encouragement would probably be a really good way to show support.
2007-09-04 23:40:00 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You could offer to babysit so he and his wife can have an evening out. Or offer to do other things like help straighten up the church after services. Some Churches have crews that do that sometimes it falls to the Pastor. A lot depends on the size of the congregation. I know from experience.
2007-09-04 23:44:17 · answer #4 · answered by cowboy_christian_fellowship 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
tell your Pastor that you are praying for him, and then really do. send them notes, or emails from time to time, to encourage him. Just think how you would like to be encouraged by someone, and realize that you need to do the same for your Pastor. When he says something in his message that touches your heart, tell him, and then start living it out. I am sure a great encouragement to him would be to see a person in his congregation actually living something that they learned from God through him- I know my Pastor does.
2007-09-04 23:49:13 · answer #5 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Come together and stop bickering about petty things about the church - service times, hymn selection, placement of furniture in the sanctuary, etc.
Pray for them.
Give them study leave time and make them take it - sabaticals, etc. Bring in a guest preacher and give them the Sunday off.
Praise when their message has worked for you - positive feedback.
Start a small group ministry - bible study, library for congregational members, coffee hour, etc.
Encourage your kids to join Sunday School.
Send ecards or hand written cards to offer encouragement or just thinking of yoy.
My pastor wife helped with the ideas.
2007-09-04 23:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by davster 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Many biblical guides to action in showing appreciation to our pastor are themes in the letter to the Romans, and other scriptures.
The lies of the enemy flow freely in the work place, at school, and on the TV every waking minute of each day.
Gifts and such are not always the best support. Support begins in the Spirit!
Out of a heart of support, actions of support flow!
Sharing the burden of spreading the good news does encourage pastors!
Do not judge him, but don't take your eyes off the read "Head of His Church" the living Christ, our Lord. Have no gods (nor popes) before God!!!
Also:
Pray for your pastor:
While prayer was made for Peter, by the saints of God (Acts 12:4-16) when he was cast into prison by King Herod. Pray for your pastor as he enters the jungle of this world on a daily basis.
Cut the criticism and learn to encourage:
Eliminating this can be a blessing to all, opening doors spiritually and destroying the yoke that can hinder the work of God. Instead of being critical, encourage and uplift with a kind word or two.
Express your appreciation:
It is good sometimes to let your pastor, know you (as a saint of God) appreciate the work and stand, which he takes. It is also good to express to God, how you appreciate having a true man of God. Giving God praise for how he works through an obedient and willing servant.
Let us use the word APPRECIATE as an acrostic reminder to express our thanks, gratitude, support, and encouragement to our clergy, staff (both paid and volunteer), and their families in their many ministries.
A Attitude Take a positive approach to your pastor (Rom. 12:1-21)
P Pray for all clergy everywhere in the world, who proclaim the "good news" of Christ's love andsalvation. Let the power of the Lord God work through you. (Rom. 8:25-28; 15:30-33)
P Praise Compliment your clergy in public! Remember, it takes at least five positive comments to balance one negative comment. (Rom. 1:1-17)
R Resources Show your support for your pastor and staff by being trained, prepared, and ready with a willing attitude for service when the need arises, for Christ. (Rom. 16:1-27)
E Empathy Be sensitive to the pressures and stress that your clergy have between their call to ministry career and their call to their family. Encourage their adequate self care. Share your sensitive and supportive care to the important persons in your clergy's family network – spouse, children, and other relatives and friends. (Rom. 14:1-23)
C Community Foster the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) Encourage your clergy with positive relationships that strengthen the church as the body of Christ in the world. (Rom.15:1-6; Gal. 5:22-23)
I Inspire Encourage your clergy and staff to breathe in the fresh renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Support and enable them to find and use effective ways to cope with stress, burnout, temptations, depression, finances, and other challenges. (Rom. 8:31-39; 2 Cor. 4:7-18)
A Approve Support high standards of ethics for your clergy and staff as a guide to making all their actions demonstrate integrity and honesty. (Rom.15:7-21)
T Time Visit, telephone, or e-mail your clergy. Respect appropriate boundaries because you want your pastors and staff to be available to those most in need. (Rom.13:11-14)
E Educate Provide time and expenses to enable your pastor and staff to get additional knowledge. Give thoughtful feedback. Help keep things going when they need to be away. (Rom. 7:1-25)
2007-09-05 09:20:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your pastor may have needs--SPECIAL needs--that the congregation wouldn't understand. But you may be in a position to minister to those needs.
Ask him to hear your confession. Say that you've been troubled with sexual thoughts lately. When he says "What a coincidence, so have I!" that's the go-ahead signal.
2007-09-05 00:01:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
PRAY for him regularly, do not criticize him or gossip about him behind his back. Write him encouraging emails or notes about his sermons, be friendly to him and his family. LOVE him !!! LOVE his family. Remember he is human, and overlook his faults. PRAY for him!
2007-09-06 10:15:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pay attention when he/she's giving the sermon. And when they make eye contact with you (during the sermon), smile (at least that's what I do cuz I know it's encouraging).
2007-09-05 09:25:54 · answer #10 · answered by Petina 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋