RESOURCES FOR PASTORS APPRECIATION SUNDAY (October)

HOW TO PRAY FOR YOUR PASTOR

This page is designed for church board members, lay-leaders, etc. This is to be used as a tool to encourage and uplift your Pastor.

Monday: Pray for your pastor's family.

• God's peace and protection
• A growing love relationship with his/her spouse
• A commitment to quality and quantity time together

Tuesday: Pray for wisdom for your pastor.

• The mind of Christ
• Godly decision-making
• Understanding of biblical truth

Wednesday: Pray for your pastor's ministry focus.

• Clear vision
• Commitment to biblical priorities
• Remain true to his/her God-given gifts and strengths

Thursday: Pray for your pastor's health.

• Protection of his/her body and mind
• An extra portion of stamina and strength
• Commitment to stress-releasing activity

Friday: Pray for your pastor's spiritual growth.

• A heart for God and the lost
• Fresh biblical insights
• Personal devotions not related to sermon preparation

Saturday: Pray for your pastor's purity.

• Pure motives
• Pure thought-life and faithfulness to his/her spouse
• Pure commitment to complete integrity

Sunday: Pray for God's anointing on your pastor.

• Strength in leadership
• Passion in preaching
• Fruit and joy in ministry

WHAT DOES A PASTOR DO EACH WEEK?

A question many laypeople ask: "What does a pastor do each week?" - Remember pastors ask the same thing about laypeople. What we don't know about each other raises questions. Here are a FEW things pastors do in a typical week (we could add more if you had the time)

Issues faced by clergy

According to a fall 1992 survey by "Leadership," the following points were listed as causes for marriage problems in clergy families:

• 81% insufficient time together
• 71% use of money
• 70% income level
• 64% communication difficulties
• 63% congregational differences
• 57% differences over leisure activities
• 53% difficulties in raising children
• 46% sexual problems
• 41% pastor's anger toward spouse
• 35% differences over ministry career
• 25% differences over spouse's career

According to a 1991 survey by the Fuller Institute of Church Growth, pastors are overworked, underpaid, often working in a conflicted environment, and seem to be some of the loneliest people:
 

• 90% work more than 46 hours a week
• 80% believed pastoral ministry affected their families negatively
• 33% believed ministry was a hazard to their family
• 75% reported a significant stress related crisis at least once in their ministry
• 50% felt themselves unable to meet the needs of the job
• 90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands
• 70% say they have a lower self esteem now compared to when they started in ministry
• 40% reported serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month
• 37% confessed to having been involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church
• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend

AFFINITY POLICY

Characteristics Of A Nazarene Pastor 

On The Alabama North District

After thirty-five years in the pastoral ministry, I would describe these characteristics of a Nazarene pastor on the Alabama North District  to interested persons desiring to join our team:

• A Nazarene pastor has a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ and is in the experience of entire sanctification. He/she is an example of Christian holiness and Christian ethics in every endeavor of life.

• A Nazarene pastor has gifts, as well as graces, for the work. “He or she will have a thirst for knowledge, especially of the Word of God, and must have sound judgment, good understanding, and clear views concerning the plan of redemption and salvation as revealed in the Scriptures. Saints will be edified and sinners converted through his or her ministry. The minister of the gospel in the the Church of the Nazarene must be an example in prayer.

• A Nazarene pastor believes the scripture is the divinely inspired Word of God and preaches the whole counsel of God, including the doctrines of sin, salvation, and entire sanctification.

• A Nazarene pastor is a shepherd of the flock of God, caring for the souls of men and women, young people, boys and girls. Reverend Earl Vennum would say, "He should smell like sheep!" He or she will have a strong sense of mentoring future ministers “who have obvious gifts and graces for ministry or who are hearing the call of God to Christian ministry.”

• A Nazarene pastor believes in the collective conscience of the church, the Manual, and supports the doctrines and polity of the Church of the Nazarene, teaching the Articles of Faith and the General Rules and Special Rules of the Church of the Nazarene.

• A Nazarene pastor by example leads his or her church in evangelism efforts to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

• A Nazarene pastor, although a member of the larger community of faith, is not ashamed to be called a Nazarene. He or she is glad for the heritage of the church.

• A Nazarene pastor articulates and supports the global mission of the Nazarene Church.

• A Nazarene pastor preaches and teaches Christian stewardship for the whole man, and leads  by example in tithing and giving offerings.

• A Nazarene pastor is a TEAM PLAYER fully supporting district and general church activities in attendance and team spirit, and leads his church to do the same. He or she, although learning from others, does not seek to make his or her church independent from the District or General Church of the Nazarene.

I fully support and  covenant to live an exemplary life of the above characteristics

_________________________________

Signature

___________________

Date