Church leaders have a crucial role in nurturing Christians’ relationships with God. Pastors perform many duties. According to Ephesians, pastors should equip saints and church members to work to build the body of Christ. These ordained leaders preach and teach traditional doctrine and encourage church members’ spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Outside of the church, pastors may offer visits, comfort, and counseling to church congregants. Church members should be able to count on their pastors to officiate weddings, preside over funerals, and perform baptisms.

Pastors should follow Jesus’ teachings and emulate His life. They can do so by building a relationship with God the Father, living a life of prayer, preaching God’s word, meeting the needs of the people, and encouraging others to live as disciples of Christ who help others get to know Him and work to build the church. Ministry team leaders in the church can assist the pastor by helping take care of meetings, creating church bulletins, developing programs for the church to participate in, and finding ways for the church to serve the community.

Hebrews 13:17 instructs people to obey their pastor and church leaders. In addition to obedience, church members should offer prayers for their pastor and all leaders in the church. Praying to God for coverage over pastors and their loved ones, for their soul, ministry, physical, mental, and emotional health, and asking for protection from spiritual attack.

While prayers are the most potent form of support for pastors and church leaders, church members can also send them notes of appreciation. Pastors and church staff members are vital parts of the team, bringing different knowledge, experience, talent, and spiritual gifts to the church.

Members of church congregations should celebrate these aspects of ministry with gifts. October is the designated month to celebrate National Clergy Appreciation Month, but church members can express their appreciation and gratitude for their pastor and church leaders throughout the year. With the right gift, people could demonstrate their love and admiration for their church’s leadership.

During National Clergy Appreciation Month, churches may opt to collect a love offering to give their pastor. Church members may present their pastors and people on their church leadership team with cards, monetary gifts, decorative art, flower bouquets, Visa gift cards, or gift cards and certificates to specific stores, businesses, and restaurants. Churches may have a reception or dinner honoring their pastor’s faithful service to God. Others may choose to treat their church leaders for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

A gift that can show pastors and leaders how much others appreciate their leadership and hard work is the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, available from Cokesbury, a Christian bookstore that’s a leading provider of Bibles, books, and church supplies to support the Christian journey. Such a gift can be useful for pastors, church leaders, and anyone who makes regular use of their Bible. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible can help Bible readers study the text in-depth and follow subjects, people, places, and ideas in the Bible from beginning to end.

Church members can also give their pastor and church leaders the gift of an exciting experience. Theatre shows are entertaining and enjoyable, especially for people who haven’t seen a show on Broadway or have never been to New York. People can purchase tickets to Broadway shows in advance or suddenly using TodayTix. Using this website, people can gift others with a cultural experience and enjoyable night out on the town.

The best gifts for church leaders are those that are thoughtful, heartfelt, fit their interests and needs, and say "thank you."