Ways to Love Your Pastor

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This email offers some prayer guides and tips on how to pray for and show love to your pastor.

Here are two free online guides you can use to pray for your pastor this month:

Practical Prayers for Your Pastor

Prayer and Care for Pastors and Their Families

Below are links to a powerful prayer "Praying for Pastors" from Pray the Word for Your Church.

Plus 2 great gifts you might consider giving to your pastor(s).

And an excellent opportunity to bless lots of pastors!

Why not bless you pastor this month with prayer . . . and more!

Blessings,

Jon Graf

Praying for Pastors

Heavenly Father, today I come before You with gratitude in my heart for the shepherd that You have placed over my church community. Thank You for our pastor(s). (Pause before the Lord and give thanks for the shepherd(s) that God has placed over your community of faith.) As Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses, so this day in prayer, I hold up the arms of my pastor that the battle might be won. . . .

Bless Your Pastor(s) with a Great Gift

If you want to give a gift to your pastor(s) to express your gratitude, we have two great options for you:

A Complete Guide to Prayer in the Church

Giving Ourselves to Prayer is a significant book on prayer specifically for pastors. Its 584 pages and 80 chapters thoroughly cover prayer in the life of a pastor and a church.

Information or to Buy

Gift Subscription to Prayer Connect

Prayer Connect is an award-winning magazine on prayer that will bless any pastor. Each issue of this quarterly publication offers inspiration and challenge to make prayer a greater part of your life and equips leaders as they seek to grow prayer in their church.

If you put "Please Include Card" in the notes at checkout, we will put a card in with your pastor's first issue that mentions that you gave this gift to him or her, plus allows them the option of providing their email address so they can have online access with their subscription too.

Give to the Pastors Resource Project

A great opportunity to bless many pastors is to give a donation to the Pastors Resource Project. This project provides free prayer resources to pastors. For every $40 we receive, another pastor gets copies of Forgotten Power, Restored Power, City of Prayer, and a copy of Prayer Connect, plus the opportunity to subscribe to Prayer Connect free for one year.

(You can bless you own pastor with this gift if you desire or bless any of the pastors we have on a list to send to.)

Give to Pastors Resource Project

Jonathan Graf
President
Church Prayer Leaders Network
jon@prayerleader.com

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10 Warning Signs that Your Pastor’s Getting Burned Out

By Chuck Lawless on Oct 18, 2024 01:00 am

When I do church consulting, I often encounter pastors who are just worn out, and often heading toward burnout. In my conversations with these leaders, I usually learn that the battle had been ongoing long before I arrived to consult. Indeed, some of the following signs seem to be recurrent among wearying shepherds. During this week of Pastor Appreciation Month, I challenge you again to pray specifically for your pastor’s rest and health.

He doesn’t laugh like he used to. His joy that used to erupt in fun seems to have disappeared.
He just looks tired. When you’re not resting well, it usually becomes evident at some point. Others begin to notice.
His evangelistic and discipling illustrations are dated. That happens when you’re weary: you can tell only old stories because you’re too tired to live new ones.
Preaching seems to be more a chore than a joy. His sermons lack fervor, and his joy in proclaiming the Word feels forced.
He avoids the crowds. The pastor who used to mingle prior to and after the service, who enjoyed fellowshipping with his congregation, begins to retreat to his office more often.
Illness is recurrent. Sickness can be a by-product of emotional and physical fatigue. It’s the body’s way of trying to get our attention.
He talks about being worn out. Some pastors exaggerate their workload, but others are genuinely overwhelmed and weary – and their brief words are a cry for help.
His family’s concerned about him. If you want to really know if your pastor’s exhausted, talk to his wife.
He overreacts in unexpected ways. He formerly exhibited calm wisdom, but now he acts impulsively and unwisely. Burnout has a way of messing with your thinking.
He withdraws from friends. Avoiding the crowds is one thing; creating distance from good friends is another level of concern.

If you’re a pastor walking in these shoes, talk to somebody today. Get a prayer partner to intercede for you. If you see these signs in your pastor, pray for him today and tomorrow. Pray for a fresh wind of God’s Spirit as he preaches this week.

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