As a person who has served in churches for 25+ years, I have developed a deep love for pastors. Here is something else I have learned, most people desperately want to see their pastors and staff as successful as I do.
I’m embarrassed to say it but I have not always been as supportive as I should have been. I have made mistakes but I have also had some good days as well. Based upon my experiences and the comments I have heard from dozens of pastors, the following are some practical things that anyone can do to better support those in church leadership:
- You can protect your pastor’s reputation.
- You can bring your friends to church.
- You can get excited about the church’s vision and your role in making that vision a reality.
- You can publicly and privately support the church’s initiatives.
- You can be generous and support the church with your financial resources.
- You can volunteer, particularly in the nursery or children’s area.
- You can be kind to the pastor’s spouse and children.
- You can bring solutions to church issues, not complaints or rumors.
- You can earnestly and sincerely pray for your pastor.
- You can support the pastor’s staff.
- You can actively listen and take notes during sermons.
- You can say “Great sermon pastor” and give specific reasons as to why.
- You can serve the poor and under-resourced.
This list is very practical and fundamental. There are not a lot of “new” insights here. However, pastors are in desperate need for these things to become regular occurrences. They simply do not happen frequently enough.
If you are currently not doing this list of encouraging items, I challenge you to start this weekend and see what a difference it makes in your worship experience. Pastors and church leaders, what else would you add to this list?
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