October is Pastor Appreciation Month, so I want to give a special shout out to credentialed pastors — women and men who serve God within and beyond church walls. A significant portion of our pastors work co-vocationally, providentially placed both within the church and in the marketplace. Our pastors minister in such a wide variety of geographical locations, sizes of churches and unique contexts. Pastors, we appreciate and thank you!
I like to think of it as a month with a special focus, but hopefully it is one of 12 months annually in which our Wesleyan pastors are appreciated. The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” — how about we “appreciate without ceasing” as well!
Let me show appreciation for one of the most influential pastors in my life.
The church I served, Kentwood Community Church (KCC), began with an emphasis that created such healthy DNA. Essential to this health was equipping people to discover and utilize their spiritual gifts. We emphasized that no one has all the gifts, but all believers have spiritual gifts.
Like every believer, I can’t be all things to all people. I am gifted in some ways and not gifted in others. This became noticeably apparent to me during a hospital call when I was leaning over the patient’s bed to offer a heartfelt prayer. The IV machine next to me started beeping. I soon realized that while I was praying for this person’s healing, I was standing on the tube delivering what was essential to the patient’s survival!
The story spread! KCC was a church that wanted people to go to heaven, just not prematurely because of their pastor’s malpractice during hospital visitation. Soon after, a retired pastor particularly gifted in pastoral care came to serve at KCC. His name was Delos Tanner.
I met Delos during my ordination. The other ordinand was his son John. On that significant occasion, our families first connected. As years passed, we saw each other occasionally — mainly at church camps and conferences. Delos faithfully and fruitfully served several churches, most modest in size but so well cared for while he was their pastor.
Delos served KCC for 10 years, happiest when leaving our staff meetings with a list of hospital calls to make. I was so grateful for his ministry, because I knew I had limited gifting for much-needed ministry.
During that decade, Delos’s wife, Mary, passed away, as did my dad, Wayne, Sr. A few years later, Delos and my mom married, and enjoyed 27 years of marriage before his heavenly homegoing this August at age 101. He was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather to the unfolding generations of our family … and cherished pastor to so many.
There are ways I’ll never be like Delos, and ways I so want to be like him. As we celebrated his life, my message was titled a “Living Example of Answered Prayer” (Philippians 1:9-11). His love abounded more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. His example of lifelong learning and engaged listening blessed countless people. He lived filled with the fruit of righteousness, giving glory and praise to God. We were different in gifting, but I want to be like him in godliness.
Can you think of a pastor whose gifts and godliness have touched your life? How will you let them know of your appreciation?
I must conclude with a shout out to my pastors. My wife Jan and I are members of Waterline Church in Indianapolis. Pastor Scott Rhyno is helping us all become a Spirit-filled biblical community reaching every heart and home. Our pastoral team (Scott, Elizabeth and Laura) are co-vocational. I love praying for them and their families each morning. We together celebrate Bern Lytle, a retired pastor who never seems tired in serving the Lord. Collectively, the four engaged our congregation in building and moving into our first 24/7 facility last month.
When Jan and I are at our family home, “Haven” in Michigan, we’re part of Friendship Wesleyan. Pastor Kevin Smith is passionately casting vision and putting into action a prayer movement utilizing “Praying on Offense” (PROOF). Kevin partners with lay people who are marketplace disciple-makers, so all of us (pastors and laity) recognize we’ve been providentially placed by God to bring eternal hope to others in the everyday places of our lives.
Pastors, your Wesleyan family — women and men, younger and older, variously gifted — loves you. You are appreciated!
Dr. Wayne Schmidt is the General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church.
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