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September 20, 2022
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Greetings from your friends at Pastoral Care
Inc.
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Fall is Here! Is Your Church
Ready?
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Fall is just days away! Praise the Lord! After one of the worst heat waves of any of our lifetimes, most of us are eager for some autumn
relief.
Most churches are
still in recovery mode -- and from much more than a blazing hot summer. We have struggled through a pandemic that has lasted for more than two years. The pandemic has had a huge impact on churches,
including the hospitalizations and deaths of some church members, lower attendance, reduced income, and limitationsactivities that have typically brought life and growth to our
churches.
When Joseph in the
book of Genesis was still a child, God gave him a dream that one day he would have great power and authority. However, Joseph went on to endure many bad things for many years -- being kidnapped, sold
into slavery, wrongfully accused, imprisoned. But God is always faithful. After that long season of trials came a season of blessings, when Joseph’s life became everything God had
promised.
Pastor, I am hoping
and praying that we are about to enter a season of blessings. Our churches have been through a very hard season. It has been exhausting mentally, physically, and spiritually. But I believe the best
years for your church and for mine may be just ahead! |
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But it takes more than dreaming to receive the blessings God has planned for us. We need to show God that we have faith in what
He has promised by praying for it, making ambitious plans, and taking what steps we can to put those plans into action.
Covid continues to
afflict us, but the worst days of the pandemic seem to be behind us. Summer vacations are now over. The kids are back in school and families are settling back into a routine. Hopefully, church
attendance and involvement will be part of that routine.
Pastor, what has God promised
you and your church? What are you doing in your prayers, in your planning, and in your implementation to turn those dreams into reality? As you start the fall season at your church, and as you pray
and plan for success, here are some suggestions.
(1) ASK!
Question: When do your church leaders NOT want to be asked for their ideas and opinions?
Answer: Never!!
Many pastors don’t
ask their key people for ideas on growth or outreach. Instead, the typical pastor tells the leaders what he or she has planned. But when you invite your leaders to participate in the planning, that’s
when they take ownership, start working together as a team, and the result is greater success.
Show your leaders
and key people some respect by asking them these questions.
• What can we do
to make this church grow?
• What can we do
to people in this community to notice our church?
• How can we
implement those ideas?
(2) OUTREACH!
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Question: When should churches NOT make outreach a top priority?
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Answer: Never!!
There are so many
great outreach ideas; the possibilities are unlimited. One great target for outreach is our schools. We all know how tight our schools’ budgets are. It’s always a welcome idea to help out your
neighborhood schools with supplies and equipment.
Pro
tip: Many churches bombard the schools with supplies at the start of the school year. Instead, wait a while and check on their needs later in the year, when supplies are running low. In
that way you can get the school exactly what they need, right when they need it. They will be more likely to remember you and your church when you don’t show up at their busiest time, at the start of
the school year, when all of the other churches are also showing up.
(3) SNACKS!
Question: When do people get TIRED of receiving more snacks?
Answer: Never!!
Bring snacks once a
month to the police department, fire department, or school lounge. Thank them for their service. Do this regularly. They will grow to expect it -- and they get to know you and know which church is
treating them so favorably.
Pro
tip: But remember, once they have learned to expect you, don’t ever miss! Also, when a volunteer from your church delivers the snacks, make sure they are wearing a T-shirt with your
church logo on it.
(4) EVENTS!
Question: When should churches STOP inviting their community to join them in having a good time together?
Answer: Never!!
The gospels
repeatedly inform us that Jesus loved to hang out and have a good time with all kinds of people. We should follow His perfect example.
With cooler weather
in the forecast, churches can start planning outdoor activities that have the potential to draw people to the church. Here are a few ideas.
• Go door-to-door in
your church neighborhood offering Free Leaf Raking.
• Pumpkin
Festival, including pumpkin decorating, pumpkin bowling (look it up!), guess the weight of a pumpkin -- and of course, pumpkin pie.
• Tailgate
party before a high school or college football game.
• Fall
Festival on the church lawn, including food, games, rides, inflatables.
• A
Community Thanksgiving Meal at your church.
• A Fall
Family Movie Night.
(5) PREPARE!
Question: When is the old expression, “Failing to prepare is to prepare to fail,” NOT true?
Answer: Never!!
Prepare your church
for outreach. Preach and teach the importance of outreach. Encourage your members to invite people to church. Have a “Bring a Friend” day, with a service and sermon designed with guests in mind.
Prepare your church to accept the guests God sends.
A church’s success
always depends on God’s blessing! But we have to give God something to bless! We need to pray, plan, and take action.
And it’s sure not up
to the pastor to do all the work of outreach. It is the pastor’s job to preach and teach outreach and to equip and encourage your members to do the work of outreach.
I Am
Excited!
I have been hearing
many encouraging reports of God moving in new ways among our churches. Pastor, I am excited about your ministry and the future God has for your church. I pray that we are entering into a great season
of blessings.
Do you need someone
to discuss your ideas with? Could you use a word of encouragement? Do you need help with a fall getaway for you and your family? We are here to help. Call or email Pastoral Care Inc.: 918-758-4147,
jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org.
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October is Pastor Appreciation
Month
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October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Pastor Appreciation Month began in the 1990s and is now observed across the country and in
many other nations. Many churches observe National Pastor Appreciation Day on the second Sunday of October (Oct. 9 this year), but any Sunday in October is a good one to observe Pastor
Appreciation.
Pastor Appreciation
Day and Month should be one of the most important times on the annual church calendar. Pastor Appreciation is so important for the sake of a church’s own spiritual health and growth. Many Scriptures
teach us that, including 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13:
- “We ask you,
brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, and that you regard them very highly in love because of
their work.”
If you are a pastor, be bold about teaching your congregation what the Bible says about honoring and respecting their God-given
pastors (Eph 4:11). If you are uncomfortable promoting Pastor Appreciation yourself, recruit a member or a committee to do it. Forward them this
newsletter!
Pastor, you are so
important to the Kingdom of God. Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!
• On Our
Website: Download our 8-page “Pastor Appreciation” booklet free of charge. Sections include: “Why Honor our Pastors?,” “Planning is the Key,” “Pastor Appreciation Ideas,” and “Continued
Support.”
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Want the Pastoral Care Mobile App? Here's
How!
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Want the Pastoral Care Inc. mobile app? Get the latest Pastoral Care news and announcements, videos, upcoming events, donate to
our ministry, or contact us. Here's how:
1. The Pastoral Care mobile app is provided by "Church by Ministry One." Scan the QR code above or click on this link: Pastoral Care Mobile App .
2. When the "Church at Ministry One" page opens, click on "Open Website." (If you see ads for other sites, just ignore them).
3. Click on the
Apple App Store button or Google Play button. Install the app and open it up.
4. An icon will be
placed on your device: a purple button with a white cross in the middle with the word "Church" below. When you click on that icon, it will take you directly to the Pastoral Care Mobile
App.
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Pastoral Care Inc.
supporting and strengthening pastors
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| Executive Director |
| Jim Fuller |
| jfuller@pastoralcareinc.org |
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| Communications Director |
| Terry Hull |
| terry.hull@pastoralcareinc.com |
Our mission: Pastoral Care
Inc. supports and strengthens Christian ministers nationwide from all denominations through counseling, immediate caregiving assistance and education, as well as researching the underlying
stressors associated with ministry.
Call us. Email us. Pastor, if you need someone to talk to, Pastoral Care Inc. is always
just a phone call or email away. That’s why we are here!
Pastor, you are
very important in the Kingdom of God -- and you are important to us!
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The PCI App
Get it for your Android smartphone or
iPhone
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* Full list of Pastoral Care services for pastors and churches
* Request form for pastors to seek immediate help
* More info about Pastoral Care Inc.
* Videos for pastors, churches and denominations
For more info on how to get the Pastoral Care mobile app, see the detailed instructions above.
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Help Us Help
Pastors
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Every month Pastoral Care provides encouragement, assistance, vacation get-a-ways, and many other forms of help to pastors across the country. It is our continuing prayer to
expand our outreach to pastors and their families.
The need is so great! Will you become our partner in encouraging pastors? Will you send a financial gift to make our present and future ministry to ministers
possible?
Please say “Yes” by responding in one of these ways:
* Use our Online Donation
Form.
* Send your gift to: Pastoral Care Inc., 13455 Celia Berryhill Road, Okmulgee, OK74447.
Thank you for partnering with us in
ministering to our nation’s pastors, their families and the congregations they serve!
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