The month of October has been associated with crisp autumn leaves and pumpkin spice; it has also long been recognized worldwide as Pastor Appreciation Month or Clergy Appreciation Month. I had always thought this month had the makings of a Hallmark holiday. You know, where Hallmark, the card company, made up a holiday to sell greeting cards. However, as I researched more into this month, I discovered that it is rooted in a profound biblical principle.

In his first letter to his young protege Timothy, the aging apostle Paul provides insights into the roles and responsibilities of church leaders. In 1 Timothy 5:17, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” In this verse, the apostle Paul highlights the importance of honoring elders, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. This verse helps to illustrate the nature of the pastoral calling and the immense value of their contributions to the spiritual health of the church.
Pastors are more than just religious leaders; they are spiritual mentors, counselors, and community builders. They dedicate countless hours to studying God's Word, preparing sermons, and offering pastoral care to their congregations. This can be seen in the many pastors across all three campuses from the English, Mandarin, and Cantonese congregations at ECC. The apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 to remind the church to acknowledge those “who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you,” holding these spiritual leaders “in the highest regard in love because of their work.”
The different small groups at ECC do a wonderful job of celebrating the selfless, arduous work of the pastors. They shower the pastors with baked goods, plants to decorate their offices, meals, encouraging words, and thank you cards. However, I think the greatest gift is probably the gift of prayer. Raising regular prayers for the pastors will allow God to empower the pastors in their ministries. Do not forget to pray for your pastors and not just during Pastor Appreciation Month.