Appreciating Our Pastors
Dear Florida GMC Family,
The Florida Conference of the Global Methodist Church is one month old, and we’re growing quickly! Praise God! We’ve now officially reached about 100 congregations. We are told that there are likely to be 70-80 additional churches disaffiliating at the December 2 special UMC annual conference and so more are on their way to us. We are excited about what God is doing in our midst. God is good…all the time!
As you may know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month. I write to simply remind you of this fact and encourage you to find ways to show appreciation for your clergyperson. I can tell you from personal experience that serving as a pastor is about the greatest privilege someone could ever have. It’s also one of the most difficult! It’s a vocation where you’re literally on call 24 hours a day. Further, because ministry is never done, you rarely feel a sense of completion because as one of my seminary professors said, “Sunday comes every week” and there are continual needs throughout the week and year.
I searched on the Internet for some creative ways to appreciate your pastor in case you’re looking for some new ideas:
Whatever you choose to do, make sure you take time out to let your clergyperson know how grateful you are for their efforts and time. They do what they do because it’s a calling, but they also love knowing that they’ve made an impact in your life.
Pastors, I want to take a personal moment of privilege to simply tell you that I am beyond grateful for everything you do. Especially in this last season, you have shepherded your congregations by standing up for them in the face of extreme difficulty. THANK YOU. This has been a time like most of us have never experienced. We faced COVID and then disaffiliation and, rightfully, you’re exhausted mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Please know that your leadership is making a difference in the lives of your congregation, but also in God’s kingdom. Jesus preached in the greatest sermon of all time (Matthew 5:10-12):
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
We can’t thank you enough, and I want you to know your Cabinet is cheering you on and celebrating you this month…and always!
God bless you!
All God’s love,
Jay
Jay
Jay Therrell
President pro tempore
Florida Provisional Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church
President pro tempore
Florida Provisional Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church