Love Your Pastor
- Nick Nye
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Challenges Our Pastors Face
Almost every day, I sit across the table from pastors. Over the years, there have been hundreds of conversations, and in those quiet moments, when the crowd is gone and the sermon notes are set aside, I get to see their humanity. I hear their pain, their doubts, and their exhaustion.
I can say with conviction that pastoring in 2025 is brutal, but it is not without hope.
Pastors carry the weight of people’s stories– grief, betrayal, and brokenness– all while trying to hold their own life together, provide for their kids, love their spouse, and take at least one day off a week. They stand up every week to preach the hope of the gospel, even when their own soul feels weary. They lead in a time of division and skepticism, where almost every decision is second-guessed and no decision at all is still a decision.
Barna’s research only confirms what I see firsthand:
42% of pastors have seriously thought about quitting full-time ministry in the past year.
1 in 5 senior pastors said they have considered self-harm or suicide.
Pastors score lower than most people in physical, emotional, and relational health.
These aren’t abstract stats. These are real people. Maybe even your pastor?
Honestly, I am typically annoyed by Hallmark-invented holidays like Pastors Appreciation Month! But what if you simply make October a month to go the extra mile to love your pastor? Not because pastors need applause, but because the Church is only as healthy as the leaders who shepherd it. If pastors keep pouring out without being poured into, the whole body will feel it.
8 Ways to Truly Bless Your Pastor
Here are eight simple, practical, gospel-shaped ways you can bless your pastor this month (and honestly, every month):
Give them space to rest. Protect their Sabbath. Advocate for vacation. Remind them that rest is obedience, not laziness.
Be specific in your encouragement. Don’t just say “great sermon.” Tell them what God did in you because of their faithfulness. That kind of encouragement sticks.
Be a friend, not just a church member. Talk about everyday stuff, grab coffee, and laugh together. Pastors long for safe relationships where they don’t have to perform.
Take something off their plate. Step up to lead, volunteer, or handle the details no one else wants. Every lifted burden is a gift.
Be generous. Whether it’s giving a financial gift, advocating for fair pay, or meeting a tangible need like babysitting, meals, or yard work, know that many pastors quietly live under a lot of financial strain.
Respect boundaries. Don’t expect them to be on call 24/7. Honor their family nights. Let them be present at home.
Pray for them and with them. Put a hand on their shoulder and intercede. Let them hear you call out their name before the Lord. Spiritual attacks are uniquely frequent and heavy for pastors and their families.
Help them connect with other pastors. Encourage them to find local peers who can walk with them. No pastor should carry the weight alone. And tell them that For Columbus is here to help them make connections!
Why It Matters
When pastors are healthy, churches are healthy. When pastors are crushed, the
whole church feels it. As congregants, we cannot alleviate all of the challenges our pastors face. But when our pastors know we are praying for them and we care about their well-being, they will be better able to weather the storms when they come.
This Pastors Appreciation Month, let’s do more than say “thank you.” Let’s step in and carry some of the weight with them. Let’s be the kind of people who remind our pastors that they don’t walk alone. Pastors are people too, and they need the gospel, community, and rest just as much as we do!