Dear pastors,
With all your heart and soul, you had to make tough decisions this year to keep your church doors open or close them to your congregation.
For those who kept the doors open – minutes, hours and days of prayer, fasting, tears and consideration for the elderly and those at risk took place to make this tough decision.
For those who closed your doors – minutes, hours and days of prayer, fasting and consideration for the elderly and those at risk took place to make this tough decision.
For those who kept the doors open – you checked on your congregation daily, weekly to make sure they were taken care of physically and spiritually. Some sat in hospital and nursing home parking lots praying and crying out for the master’s healing touch for a member of the congregation that you could not touch.
For those who closed the doors – you checked on your congregation daily, weekly to make sure they were well and taken care of. Some sat in hospital and nursing home parking lots praying and crying out for the master’s healing touch for a member of the congregation that you could not touch.
For those who kept the doors open – gut wrenching decisions and thoughts of how it would be perceived by those who did not understand your decision to stay open.
For those who closed the doors – gut wrenching decisions and thoughts of how it would be perceived by those who did not understand your decision to close.
For those who kept the doors open – how many of the lost and dying world needed that personal attention and an altar to confess their need for God, the need for anointing and laying on of hands?
For those who closed the doors – how many of the lost and dying world needed that personal attention and an altar to confess their need for God, the need for anointing and laying on of hands?
For those who kept the doors open – how many of your congregation will be upset and stop attending church because of your decision?
For those who closed the doors – how many of your congregation will be upset and stop attending church because of your decision?
For those who kept the doors open – each week you had to make the tough decision of opening or closing the doors.
For those who closed the doors – each week you had to make the tough decision of opening or closing the doors.
Every pastor, no matter whether you stayed open or closed the doors, had to make a hard decision to do so. There is no right or wrong in these decisions as they were made to fit the needs of your congregation and through fervent prayer to our Lord and Savior, decisions had to be made.
Thank you pastors for staying strong and putting God’s word and God’s people first in your life.
You made the ultimate sacrifice to be judged, criticized and pressured by the world by putting your needs aside and taking care of your congregation.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month.