Five Things That You Can Consider To Show Thanks To Your Spiritual Leader
A staggering bit of info is that the average minister says that they do not have a really close friend. In addition, a majority also say that have had a conflict with a parishoner in the last month. Sure, sometimes its the fault of the minister. But the fact is a minister is under a ton of stress and the demands of attempting to minister spiritually to a large number of people can have very negative effects. Hence, this article. I want to share five simple things that you can do to make your pastor’s day. I will use male examples but no offense is attended, feel free to change the gender of my phrases.
1. Use Some Ink.
Pick up a pen, write encouraging note, card, or brief letter. An email can be used just as effectively and more easily. Sadly, Pastors receive negative and critical mail for too often. Your contact can be a huge “lift me up”. It will be a brick in the foundation of a strong relationship you can build. Don’t be insincere about it. Begin to see your minister as a real person with real feelings and a real family. He is more than someone who answers your spiritual 911 calls. He has the same needs you do in life. I will occasionally place notes on my free online bible study site for pastors just to encourage them. They need it like everyone else.
2. Be a Surprise Depositor.
Deposit something tangible in your spiritual leader’s life. I remember on one occasion when a man in our congregation came to where we lived and asked that I bring him my dirty dress shirts. I was taken back but did it. Two days later he returned with them cleaned and pressed from the local cleaners. He said, “I also bought a couple of new shirts and put in with these. I just wanted to bless you.” Wow, did that send a powerful message to me about this man. He respected and loved my family. He did this about once a month for quite a season. What is one tangible thing you could do to bless your preacher? A gift card, a night for he and his wife at a nice restaurant, a $100 bill can all be refreshing water to his spirit and his spouse.
3. Spread the Positive
When others talk negatively, spread the positive you see about your minister. Be a person who does not sow destructive news. Actually, you will find that you will reap positively from this attitude in your own life.
4. Thicken Him Up.
I don’t mean take him a pie every Wednesday. I am talking about not requiring that your minister spread himself too thin.
Appointments, visits, training and sermon preparation all take lots of time. One thing I do to try to help pastors is to post free online bible study that they can use to save them time. What can you and other congregants do to lighten his ministerial load? By spreading himself too thin, he will be more likely to experience burn out and failure in ministry. Be proactive in protecting his family time, etc.
5. Talk to God about Him.
Last but certainly not least–Pray for him. Prayer will help you condition your own attitude toward him in the right way and more importantly, I believe God responds to sincere prayer from a pure heart. If you have ought against him, forgive him. Don’t carry a grudge, it will break you down before its over with. Please consider these suggestions to encourage your minister. Thanks– Eddie Lawrence of Sermon Seedbed.
For more self discovery - read about emotional freedom technique (EFT, for short). It has helped many people to open the inner world of their souls.
