​8 Ways to Encourage Your Pastor

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Today we're going to talk about 8 simple ways we can be an encouragement to the shepherd of our flock— our pastor.

Pastors can be the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may plague the best of them.

Here are eight simple ways we can be an encouragement to them:

1. Don't Criticize
2. Pray Regularly
3. ​Express Appreciation
4. ​Use Talents
5. ​Squelch Gossip
6. ​Meet Needs
7. ​Be Responsive
8. ​Stop Comparing​

Paul's admonition in Galatians 5:13, "by love serve one another" should encourage us to remember our shepherds.

Don't Criticize

Fred Rogers, of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, shared the following experience in an address he gave. While he was a seminary student, he chose to attended a different church each Sunday to hear a variety of preachers. One Sunday he was treated to "the most poorly crafted sermon [he] had ever heard." But when he turned to the friend who had accompanied him, he found her in tears. "It was exactly what I needed to hear." she told Rogers. "That's when I realized," he told his audience, "that the space between someone doing the best he can and someone in need is holy ground. The Holy Spirit had transformed that feeble sermon for her—and as it turned out, for me too." ​

"...the space between someone doing the best he can
and someone in need is holy ground." —Fred Rogers

Unlike most workers who are evaluated once or twice a year, pastors are often critiqued weekly, after each worship service. It's not unusual to hear people say "the music was poor," "the hymn selection was awful," or "the sermon was boring." We would do well to remember that most pastors work hard to make worship a unique celebration each week. ​What we might criticize, may be a spiritual blessing to someone else.

Pray Regularly

Ask God to fill your pastor with an abundance of love, hope, joy, faith, peace, power, wisdom, and courage. Pray for your pastor's maturity and growth in the faith. As you pray, keep in mind this wisdom from German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

"If you treat a person as he is, he will stay as he is; but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be, he will become what he ought to be and could be." — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Express Appreciation

A spoken compliment is always welcome, but a written one can be read over and over again for years. So, when you hear or see something you like from your pastor, write a note of appreciation.

Use Talents

Are you proficient with technology? Help your pastor master the church's new computer. Are you a mechanic? Offer to service the car free of charge or at a reduced fee.

One pastor I know recalls: "I was pastoring my first church. It was a small congregation with limited resources. While there, I developed a series of dental problems and could not afford treatment. What a joy it was when a dentist in the church offered to treat me for free. Correcting my dental problem involved nearly a dozen visits. He treated me carefully and cheerfully each time. I have thought of that dentist many times since then and the memories of his kindness continue to bless my life."

Squelch Gossip

If you hear a negative comment, respond with a positive one. If misinformation is being spread, correct it with accurate information. Or, if people are gossiping, just walk away. Remember the Bible soundly condemns gossip and careless speech.

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." James 1:26

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalm 34:13

Meet Needs

If you see a need, meet it! If you see an area that can be improved, take responsibility and improve it.

Be an active participant in your church. Get involved! Teach a class. Lead a workshop. Singing in the choir. Feed the hungry. Ask your pastor where and how you can meet a need.

Be Responsive

Hardly nothing encourages a pastor more than seeing people respond to preaching. Imagine the delight of a pastor who, when greeting a visitor to his church, found she came because of the kindness of a church member who was her neighbor.

"I am recently divorced, a single parent and new to this community," she told the pastor. "To keep up with rent and provide for my three children, I must work two jobs. That leaves me very little time for yard work. I was relieved when the weeds didn't overrun my yard as I had feared they might. However, when I made an unscheduled trip home in the middle of my workday, I discovered the reason the weeds had not taken over my yard. My 86-year-old neighbor—a member of your church—was on his hands and knees pulling my weeds. I barely knew this man and he was embarrassed to be caught in this anonymous act of kindness. He explained that he heard you preach a sermon on the importance of living a life of compassion and kindness. He decided to put that sermon into practice by weeding my lawn."

One pastor's heart filled with joy when a group of women responded to a sermon preached from the words of Jesus.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1

After hearing a sermon, the women decided to give a baby shower for a young woman who provided childcare while they met for Bible study. She was unmarried, close to going on welfare, and without support from her family or the the baby's father. The young woman was moved to tears by the surprise baby shower.

The women explained, "Your sermon taught us that it's possible to reach out to someone in need without judging or condoning the situation."

By serving the shepherds of our flock, we will ensure that they will not only be encouraged, but will also feel appreciated. This will help them continue to minister with enthusiasm and energy. How do you encourage your pastor this week?

Stop Comparing

Don't expect that your present pastor will do things the same way their predecessors did. Lay aside personal agendas and preferences. Instead, focus on how your pastor is being used by God to do effective ministry.

So how can we encourage our pastor?

• Don't be critical.
  
• Pray for them regularly and specifically. 
  
• Express appreciation not only verbally, but also in writing. 
  
• Use our God-given talents to be a blessing to them.
  
• ​Squelch the gossip, immediately! 
  
• Anticipate, look for and meet their needs. 
  
• Be responsive to their preaching and teaching. 
  
• Stop comparing them to others.​