Every year Oregon Conference pastors and conference office leadership spend 48 hours together in prayer, training, and strategic planning at Twin Rocks Friends Camp & Family Center in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. “As much as we also wanted to provide meaningful information and content, we really wanted this to be a time where pastors were heard,” shared Pastoral Ministries director Nate Hellman. “We don’t want to just be leading from our offices thinking, ‘What do our pastors need?’ We want to hear, develop, and build with our pastors.”

During the retreat this year, an intentional time was held to recognize the prayerful, dedicated ministry labors of Oregon Conference pastors. “I think the most meaningful part of the retreat was the time of recognizing our pastors,” continued Hellman. “Our team worked together to produce a certificate of gratitude for every single pastor in our conference that honored their years of service in pastoral ministry.” They were broken up into four groups: pastors who have served for 0-10 years, then 11-20 years, then 21-30 years, and, finally, 31 or more years. “What was so neat was to see that the largest group of pastors here is the 0-10 year group,” enthused Hellman. “This gave us the opportunity to affirm and recognize each of them. As we read off the names and handed out these certificates, the pastors really hyped each other up and affirmed each other. We took photos of each group and applauded them, but when we got to the group of those who had served over 30 years there was a standing ovation that went on for a while. I was stifling emotion because it was so meaningful to see them acknowledged and thanked. It didn’t cost much to produce a document like that, but now I have pastors sending me photos of them framed in their offices. I think it was much needed, given what we’ve all been through, and it was great to see the rapport there between our pastors.”

Now that retreat has ended and the Oregon Conference pastoral team has returned to their local church ministries, one thing remains clear: when it comes to the ups and downs of ministry, a little bit of acknowledgement and gratitude can go a long way. 

October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation month. While you will find many articles sharing ideas and ways to show your pastor you appreciate their dedication to ministry, remember it doesn’t have to be a big gesture. Sometimes a simple, genuine moment of shared gratitude can provide the encouragement your pastor needs that day. – And you don’t have to wait until October to share it!