By Anna Fasolino “Will all the visitors please stand up?” We never wanted to obey, but when every eye in the church immediately stared at us, guilt propelled us out of our seats. If the church was small and a regular stop for us, the pastor’s next words were inevitable. “It’s always good to see […]
By Jewell Johnson During a serious illness, I became keenly aware of my need for my church family. They prayed for me. They sent me cards and e-mails of encouragement, letting me know I was missed. Members of the congregation brought food to our family, relieving me of the task of meal preparation as I […]
By an Anonymous Minister Psst . . . you! Yes, you! I’ve got some inside information for you. “What kind of information?” you ask. Let me give you all the dirt on what ministers really want for Pastor Appreciation Month. I know, I know, you’re asking yourself, “Who is this character? How could he possibly […]
By Lindsey Bell Many church members want to encourage their church staff but aren’t sure how. To prepare for this article, I talked with a variety of ministers and support staff: creative arts, preaching, technical, children’s, family, associate, youth, and worship. The list included Johnny Templeton, Robin Sigars, Keith Bell, Tim Lear, Miranda Browning, Jon-Michael […]
By Byron Williams “I’m really glad you’re here!” As I began a new ministry in Southern Indiana recently, I’ve heard this phrase several times. Like all job changes, ministry changes are fraught with moments of doubt and questioning and I’m as susceptible to this as anyone. But this one phrase, “I’m glad you’re here,” seems […]
