OCTOBER is Pastors’ Appreciation Month. This is a rather recent innovation, and there are two versions of its origin. According to one version, in 1992 a layperson named Jerry Frear, Jr. came up with the notion that if there is a day for groundhogs, there should be a day for pastors. Other sources specify that in 1994, the organization Focus on the Family began more explicitly naming October as Pastor Appreciation Month. Whatever version is correct, the greeting card industry has caught on, and you can buy not only a card to give to your pastor, but also a variety of trinkets like mugs and such with Bible verses and nice sayings on them.
While I was still in active pastoral ministry, the churches that I served, observed Pastors Appreciation in various ways, and some not at all. Personally, it did nothing for me. Over the decades of ministry, I experienced many forms of “appreciation” from the routine “nice sermon” compliment at the door to other gestures. I always told my congregations, that the best and biggest compliment that you can pay me, is to believe in the Saviour whom I preached and follow His teaching.