"Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls,
as those who will have to give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with groaning,
for that would be of no advantage to you."
—Hebrews 13:17

On June 13, 2005, I wrote the following e-mail and sent it to about 50 blogging pastors:

I’m writing to you and other blogging pastors because I have a question only a pastor can answer. I’ve been growing increasingly aware of how difficult the job of pastor can be. I know that pastors often receive a lot more criticism than encouragement, and that can lead to all sorts of bad feelings. I think, though, that most congregations truly love their pastors but don’t understand how much encouragement is needed or how to practically provide that encouragement. I also think that pastors are generally and understandably reluctant to ask for such encouragement or display any human weakness at all.

I personally love my pastor, and I’m keenly aware of many things that beat him down in his ministry. Most of those things are entirely out of my control or influence. I would like to provide encouragement to him myself and incite others to do so as well. But I know enough to know that I have no idea exactly what issues a pastor faces that members of the congregation could alleviate. I just don’t know what to do or how to go about providing the most effective encouragement for him.

My request to you is that you respond with a blog post (or a link to a post if you’ve already written one) listing some practical ways a congregation can encourage their pastor. If you’re reticent about revealing that sort of thing on your own blog, I would be happy to post something you write on my blog and remove your name from it–sort of an "advice from an anonymous pastor" kind of thing. I really want to know this, and I want the flock to stop being unaware of their shepherd’s humanity and needs.

If you decide to write a post about this, please let me know so I can read it and link to it.

Sincerely,
Curt Hendley
The Happy Husband
http://www.thehappyhusband.com

Being a Godly pastor must be the most difficult job in the world. CEOs of corporations must weather attacks from competitors, and leaders of countries must deal with other countries’ leaders as well as politicians within their own countries, but pastors have to protect themselves, their families, and their churches from attacks by Satan himself. The fact that so many pastors get little love and support from their congregations goes a long way toward explaining why so many pastors resign every day.

I’m collecting all the responses I get on this page. Please check out these links and see how you can serve your pastor:

• Peter Bogert: "To me, the greatest encouragement in ministry takes place when people connect with what I am preaching or teaching. Seeing a group of people who are interested, alert, attentive—these things are what encourage a pastor the most.…That being said, here are a few tangible and non-tangible ways to encourage.…"
• Tod Bolsinger: "If you ask any of my executive staff, they will tell you of how many people have come along side them, joined them in ministry and cared for them personally. And it is my confidence in this community of people that allows me to promise my staff that together we will all aim to have ‘a great ministry and a great life.…‘
• Glenn Buzbee: "Churches can be like middle school. Or like playgrounds beset by a handful of bullies. It only takes one or two kids on the playground to stand up to the bullies and say ‘Stop! No more!’ God just may be calling you to be one of those kids to stand up and speak out; but while it is scary to defy a bully in your congregation (and even a best friend could be one) if you don’t, then who will?…"
• Jason Dollar: "I do not want to come across as moaning about how neglected the pastor is. But I do understand that pastors need encouragement, too. And the more a pastor is encouraged, given that he is laboring for the glory of God and not self, the better he will carry out his duties.…"
• Byron Harvey: "1) Be a friend to your pastor. 2) Ask me how I’m doing sometime. 3) 3. Once in awhile, tell me how something I’ve done has made a difference.…"
• Noel Heikkinen: "For me, [this question] takes more the form of ‘Things I Wish People Knew.’ I think if these things were realized, more encouragement could happen organically. …"
• Bowden McElroy: "For me, the no-agenda, our-treat, we-just-want-to-hang-out-doing-what-you-like dinner and a ball game was the best. I think too many pastors simply don’t have friends.…"
  McElroy, part 2: "I said, "Be a friend". Now, Curt wants to know: how?…"
  McElroy, part 3: "Forget it’s the pastor, is this someone you would invite for coffee? Or, to play golf? Or, to just ‘hang out’? If yes, then pursue that friendship like any other.…"
• Pat Morley: "If you want to connect with your pastor, the overarching idea is don’t put demands on him. Instead, help him accomplish his mission. In that way, you will be part of his ministry instead of the object of his ministry.…"
• Steve Pedersen: "My Pastors’ Prayer Group met today on a 30 foot sailboat.…I asked the guys a question to start off our conversation: How can a congregation encourage their pastor? The guys on the boat responded with these ideas…"
• Pastor Russ: "Your pastor loves you. He cares about you. He prays for you. He works hard for you. Reciprocate those things and you will find that even as he ministers to you, that you are ministering to him.…"
• Mark Van Der Hurst: "What has my church done to encourage me? I have shared this with several pastor friends and have had a blogger ask for some ideas to encourage his pastor. So, here is my experience/feeble attempt at talking about a time OUT.…"
• David Wayne (aka Jollyblogger): "1. Take your own spiritual growth seriously. 2. Give your best to the church, not your leftovers. 3. Remind him that you are for him.…"
• Craig Williams: "Begin here, trust and respect, until we prove untrustworthy or unreliable.…"

I will share more responses as they come in. If you’re a pastor who doesn’t blog or I didn’t include in my e-mail, please feel free to send me an email at happy-at-atimelikethis-dot-net so that I can include your response here as well.