What better way is there for you to uplift your pastors and church leaders than through approaching the throne of grace with confidence?

The Lord hears the prayers of His people, and the Lord cares for the leaders of His people. Take time regularly, each day even, to pray for the men and women on your church staff. Pray for their emotional well-being, their physical strength, their spiritual wellness, and any specific needs you know. And let them know that you are praying for them. This is definitely the simplest and perhaps most impactful way you can support your church leaders.

Before you do any of the following, be sure to pray.

I love receiving encouraging letters from people, especially from those in the churches I’ve pastored.

Being approached after a sermon and hearing how the Lord convicted or encouraged people
through the Word is great. I love receiving texts too. But letters of encouragement, especially
handwritten ones, are true treasures. I actually save them in a file labeled “encouragement.”

What should you write?

• Thank your leaders for their time outside the typical 9-to-5 workday.
• Share some Scripture that may be encouraging to them.
• Tell them about how the Lord has been using their ministry to make you more like Jesus.
• Write about how you saw a friend come to Christ.

Your pastors and church leaders will appreciate anything encouraging.

Churches are always looking for more volunteers.

Willing hands and warm hearts are so needed in the local church, especially when it comes to children’s ministry or nursery help.

How can you encourage your church leaders by serving?

• Start by asking your leaders where they need help.
• Spend a couple of months being a greeter.
• Sign up to be on the monthly rotation for parking lot duty.
• Volunteer to hold and pray for babies while their parents worship in the sanctuary.

Giving is usually a pretty sensitive topic in church, isn’t it?

The pastor doesn’t want to appear to be campaigning for a higher salary, and the church is sometimes wary to give more than is comfortable.

Pastors aren’t in the ministry for the money, or at least I hope they’re not—they will be sorely disappointed! You can show your appreciation for your pastors and church leaders by giving generously and viewing your gifts as an act of worship, not merely ministry maintenance.

We’ve know the toll leading a church can take on the pastor, but often, the pastor’s family feels the toll of ministry as well.

Occupational ministry is a family affair, even if the pastor is the only family member working in the church. Late nights, working weekends, phone calls in the middle of the night—the demands of ministry affect more than just the one in the role.

Encourage the families of your church leaders in much the same way you encourage your church leaders: prayer, notes, and acts of kindness.

One of the most discouraging parts about leading the people of God is hearing them talk bad about others in the church. Don’t gossip about the bride of Christ. The body of Christ is a wounded body because it is made up of wounded people. Don’t add salt to its wounds. Speak of the bride of Christ as you would like someone to speak of your spouse. October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Don’t just give a card — be an encourager.