"We're Fortunate to Have You" Pastor Appreciation Event
by Brenda Cummings
(Joplin, MO, USA)
Asian Theme Highlights Pastor Appreciation Event
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER -- JOPLIN, MISSOURI
October Pastor Appreciation Sunday
The first Sunday in October is the date that we choose each year to specifically honor our pastor for his labor of love to us.
This year, we chose "We're Fortunate to Have You" as our pastor appreciation theme and decorated with Chinese/Asian decorations (fortune cookies, Chinese lanterns, Chinese ornaments, chopsticks, etc.). A backdrop was also painted to reflect our unique pastor appreciation theme.
We escorted him to church in a rickshaw pulled down one of the main streets of our city by our men's ministry director who was dressed in a karate gi and an Asian hat. People honked and waved to him on his way. The congregation cheered as he came down the block to the church campus.
Catered Pastor Appreciation Dinner
We had an entire evening planned, beginning with a catered dinner. Members spoke of how much he meant to them. Each department head presented him with a gift from their department and there was a special gift from the entire church congregation.
Pastor Appreciation Skit Videos
We had a humorous skit videoed prior to the event and also a commemorative video of his 5 years of ministry in Joplin.
Each member was given a card to write down their pastor appreciation thoughts and feelings for him, which they brought to the event. They were placed in a Chinese take out box and presented during the evening celebration event to our pastor so he could take them home and read them at his leisure.
We took lots of pictures to commemorate the event and put into a pastor appreciation scrapbook. He is an awesome pastor and very deserving of the honor. We are truly fortunate to have him.