I was recently at a church service while the pastor was away. During the service they announced that during the pastor’s absence they were announcing that soon they were going to celebrate the pastor’s fifteenth anniversary with them . Since they knew that their pastor had been very involved with a missionary effort in Haiti, they had decided to take up a special offering. Then when they had a special celebration of his fifteenth anniversary with them they would announce that they were sending this gift to the mission in his honor.
It occurred to me that his was a wonderful way for the congregation to both affirm the pastor’s ministry and honor an outreach effort in which he had become deeply involved. Other congregations might want to choose a local mission or cause. The fact that the congregation recognized his anniversary was the first affirmation of his ministry. The fact that they recognized and honored his commitment to this effort beyond the congregation, was the second affirmation. The fact that they were willing to contribute beyond their regular giving was a third affirmation. Fourth, because it was a gift beyond the person, it left little room for someone to criticize the next time that his salary was discussed.
It would be good for a congregation to find out the anniversary of both the pastor’s ordination and the anniversary of their receiving the call to the particular congregation. Recognition is a powerful motivator.
