Clergy Appreciation Month 2025

by - TEBAOctober 2025

LEADERSHIP MATTERS by Roger Yancey, D.Min.

October is Clergy Appreciation Month.  How will your congregation demonstrate its appreciation this year? 

 Serving as a minister is no small task—especially in today’s world. Even in the best of times, ministry demands deep emotional, physical, and spiritual reserves.  H.B. London, a longtime minister and representative of Focus on the Family, once observed:

 “Ministers and their families live under incredible pressures. Their lives are played out in a fishbowl, with the entire congregation and community watching their every move. They are expected to have ideal families, to be perfect people, to always be available, to never be down, and to have all the answers we need to keep our own lives stable and moving forward.”

 Given these realities, how can we show sincere appreciation for those who faithfully lead and serve our churches?

Dennis Rainey, President of Family Life Ministries, originally offered a list of thoughtful ways to encourage and uplift ministers. This revised version offers 15 practical and meaningful ideas to help your church honor its shepherds—especially during Clergy Appreciation Month:

1. Give a Gift Card to Their Favorite Restaurant. Treat your minister and spouse to a night out. A simple meal away from responsibilities can be a refreshing gift.
2. Offer a Weekend Getaway. Arrange a long weekend (Friday to Monday) for your minister and spouse—without it counting as vacation time. Coordinate childcare if needed.
3. Stock Their Personal Library. Ask what books or periodicals they’ve been wanting, then purchase them as a gift. This not only supports their growth but also shows attention to their interests.
4. Fund a Study Retreat. Offer a two-week study break at a seminary or retreat center in January or during summer. Continuous learning is essential yet often neglected due to time or budget constraints.
5. Provide a Sabbatical. Every 5 to 7 years, grant a sabbatical for rest, renewal, and spiritual growth. This long-term investment benefits the entire congregation.  (See the links below on Sabbaticals and Co-Vocational Sabbaticals).
6. Offer Financial Planning Assistance. Pay for a few sessions with a trusted financial consultant to help with budgeting, college planning, and retirement preparation.
7. Write a Personal Note of Appreciation. Share how their leadership has specifically impacted your life. Avoid vague praise—be sincere and detailed.
8. Lend a Hand at Home. Volunteer to help with home repairs, yardwork, or other tasks on their day off. It’s a great way to ease some of the pressure on their family.
9. Host a “This Is Your Life” Celebration. Organize an uplifting event with testimonies and stories (not a roast!) to remind them of the difference they’ve made in people’s lives.
10. Help Solve a Church Challenge. Ask what issue, if resolved, could significantly move the church forward. Then commit to helping address it alongside leadership.
11. Clean Their Car. Offer to wash and detail their car. It’s a small act with a big impact.
12. Reconnect with a Past Minister. Call or write to a former minister who made a difference in your life. Share specific ways they helped during a key time in your spiritual journey.
13. Acknowledge Their Full Workload. Let your minister know you see and appreciate the weight of leadership—far beyond the Sunday sermon or ministry they lead.
14. Step Into Service. Ask where you can take on responsibility to lighten their load. Don’t wait to be asked—volunteer.
15. Don’t Forget the Minister’s Spouse. They sacrifice too. Send a handwritten note, flowers, or a gift to express gratitude for their support and partnership in ministry.

 

Ministry is a calling that often demands more than anyone realizes. This October, take intentional steps to show your minister and their family that their tireless service is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated. A little encouragement can go a long way toward sustaining the hearts of those who pour so much into our spiritual well-being.

 

In Kingdom service,

Executive Director ~ Missional Strategist

Minister Sabbatical Packet

The TEBA mailed a Sabbatical Packet to every TEBA Member Church on how you can provide a Sabbatical to your ministers.

Click HERE for the Sabbatical Packet

Click HERE for the Co-Vocational Sabbatical Brochure/Info