It’s Pastor Appreciation Month — just in the nick of time!

In 1986, Edward Bratcher wrote in The Walk on Water Syndrome, “The typical pastor feels no one cares for him and his development” and noted that 83 percent of pastors try to comfort themselves instead of seeking outside help.

In the 35 years since Bratcher wrote that, it has only gotten worse for pastors.

And in 2020 and 2021, it got much worse.

During the past couple years, multiple reports have been published about congregations exhibiting extraordinary harshness — even a mean-spiritedness — with their pastors over politics, the pandemic, racial unrest, and other issues. Pastors have increasingly reported they “can’t seem to do anything right” in the eyes of their congregations. If they do one thing, people complain; if they do the opposite, still others will complain.

The result is that a record number of pastors — 42 percent! — are so disheartened that they are seriously considering leaving vocational ministry completely.

Pastors will be the first to say some of them have made some mistakes or possibly haven’t been as patient as they needed to be over the past couple of trying years, but the greater fact is that many Christians and churches have been ungracious, unappreciative, and disrespectful to their pastors in ways and at lengths we’ve not seen before.

That needs to change, and with October being Pastor Appreciation Month, this is a good time to make that change.

Every year at this time, I would urge people to be creative and generous in going out of their way to express their appreciation to their pastors for all they do. But this year, some people also need to consider apologizing and seeking forgiveness for the disrespectful treatment they have made their pastors endure. Your pastors serve you because they love God AND you. If you have been among the many who have made serving in the church a harsh experience, you need to mend that relationship with your pastor:

“Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit,” Hebrews 13:17.

In light of the great difficulties your pastor(s) have had to face for a couple years, this Pastor Appreciation Month needs to be like none other. Stir afresh your respect and love for your leaders; rekindle the bond of fellowship you have with them, and lavish your appreciation and love on them like never before.

Your pastors really do need that right now.

Let’s make Pastor Appreciation Month a time when pastors have a renewed sense of their value — for the kingdom, and in your life.

Scotty