The Unspoken Truth About Pastor Appreciation Day

 

As a pastor of a small, rural church, I have found that the call to serve often comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of these challenges for me has been Pastor Appreciation Day. Now, don't get me wrong. I am not in this for the monetary rewards or the accolades. I am in this for the calling. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that Pastor Appreciation Day often leaves me feeling a little...disappointed.

Let me explain why.

One year, the congregation gifted me a gift card for an indoor waterslide park with a hotel. It was a thoughtful gesture, I admit. A chance for my family and me to get away and enjoy some much-needed relaxation. However, when I went to book the trip, I found that I had to add an additional $300 to cover the cost of a one-night stay. The gift, while well-intentioned, ended up costing me more than I could comfortably afford.

On another occasion recently, I received a gift card for Dairy Queen. While we are big fans of their Blizzards, the card didn't cover a full meal for my family. I had to dig into my own pockets to ensure everyone got their fill. 

Just recently, I was given a gift card that could be used at multiple stores. I was grateful for the $100, but it felt like a small thank you compared to the year I received a gift card for a new bike. That bike brought me joy and served as a useful mode of transportation for years, especially the week prior when my old bike was stolen while visiting Chicago.

Now, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I truly appreciate the thought and effort that goes into these gifts. But if I may be so bold, I would like to offer a suggestion. If a church is going to do a Pastor Appreciation gift, why not consider cash?

It may sound crass, but hear me out. When you’re getting paid less than what you could earn working at a convenience store, every penny counts. Cash is always the right size and the right color. It can be used to cover unexpected expenses, saved for a rainy day, or to purchase that item that you cannot buy from one of the stores listed on a gift card.

Remember, Pastor Appreciation Day is about showing your pastor that you value their work and their sacrifice. And while a gift card to a waterslide park or an ice cream shop is a nice gesture, nothing says "we appreciate you" quite like the flexibility and thoughtfulness of cash.

The thing about a $150.00 pastor appreciation gift and saying it is from the church inadvertently tells that pastor the church does not think highly of him. Now that is a personal opinion, but it is what runs through our heads as pastors. To have it presented by a person that keeps it to a few words and does not offer for the church to pray with them and his family after it is presented really leaves a bad taste in our mouths. 

In the end, being a pastor isn’t about the gifts or the salary. It’s about the calling. But a little appreciation, in the form of a cash gift, can go a long way in making that calling a little easier to answer.