Pastor Appreciation / Paula St Amour

When Amy asked me to write a blog post for her (her computer is acting crazy) I have to admit that I was a little hesitant. Not because I didn’t want to write anything, but because I don’t really think that I had anything to say that others would want to read. I prayed about it, and finally figured out what I wanted to write.

Let me start off by saying, October is Pastor’s Appreciation Month, and October 12th is Pastor’s Appreciation Day. Don’t forget to tell your Pastor that you appreciate him, or show him how much you appreciate him.


Sometimes we think that our Pastor “knows” that we love them so we don’t have to show them, and that is where you are wrong. What if we gave birth to a brand new baby and never showed that baby how much we loved them. That baby would suffer greatly. I read in a book that, Physical, social and emotional interaction and contact during infancy is critically important in physical, neurological, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, social and emotional development. The more an infant is handled and held, the more it is touched and spoken to, and the greater the visual divergence of their surroundings, the greater will be its resilience and capability to adapt to negative onslaughts and to withstand stressful extremes later in life. Loving maternal contact promotes psychological development, maximizes emotional stability and will increase a persons overall intellectual capabilities and IQ. Similarly, the more physical interaction received during adulthood, e.g. hugging, touching, the better is one able to cope with crisis and the stresses of every day life.


I have heard it said, “Well, I go to church on Sunday morning and pay my tithe, so that should let the preacher know that I’m thinking about him.” Or “I go to church on Sunday’s isn’t that enough?” or “It’s the Pastor’s job to show me that he loves me, it’s not my job to show him that I love him.” If we were to only show our children, spouses, or family members that we loved them once a week, how do you think that it would make them feel? How would your spouse treat you if you only physically, emotionally, and verbally said “I Love You!” on Sunday. When you are in your place on Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and Wednesday night, it is not only showing your pastor that you love him and respect him, but it is showing God that you love him and respect the Man of God that you have chosen to lead you and your family. I understand that sometimes you have to work, or problems arise and you can not make it to church, but that is when you need to take the time to go out of your way to make sure your preacher and pastor’s wife know that you are thinking about them and love them. When you don’t go to church or a church related function, you are missed, not only by the people that are there, but by God. God says in Hebrews 10: 22-27  “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,”


My favorite part of that passage is Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” I personally think that part of the problem in today’s society is that we do not think about others. We first think about ourselves, and then secondly think about how if we HAVE to help someone else, what we could get out of it in return, or what we think they will do for us in return. Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Helping out someone else is helping out God. There is ALWAYS someone that needs help, and working full-time in the ministry for the past 5 ½ years I have seen this. People around the neighborhood, people in the church, people across the country are always calling someone, somewhere, and looking for help in someway. Monetary help. Physical help. Emotional help. Spiritual help. Just looking for Help! Most of the time they don’t really need “help” they need love, they just don’t know it. I may not be able to give someone money to go buy a meal, but I may be able to cook a little more dinner tonight than my family needs, and take it to that person who is asking for money for food. Or if someone is needing help with something around their house, I may not be the person who can fix their refrigerator, but I know a wonderful Maytag Repair man that I call for them or give them his number. It isn’t always a BIG thing that you have to do to show someone that you love them, but it is always something. It could be as simple as, “Hey Preacher, I prayed for you this week.” Trust me when I tell you, that little statement right there can go a LONG way!


            This October 12th, or sometime during the month of October, please show your pastor that you love and appreciate him, better yet, show him and his wife that you love them both!


I am not anyone other than what God has made me. I strive my best every day to please the Lord, and when i fail, i get back up and try again. Only God knows our hearts and He will be the judge when it comes to what He has commanded us to do, but I hope I gave you some food for thought.

               I hope you all have a wonderful day!


Paula St. Amour
               Belleville, Michigan