In honor of October being Pastor Appreciation Month, a number of local pastors gathered at the Pumphouse Grille in Ashland on Oct. 16 for a Pastor Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Mansfield Christian Schools’ radio station WVMC FM.
Scott Saunders, general manager of the WVMC station, said this was the first luncheon of its kind in the area and served as a way of celebrating both pastors and WVMC’s 35th anniversary of being on the air. WVMC is a Christian radio station owned by Mansfield Christian School and supported by listeners, and is one of only a handful of stations in the country owned by a Christian school.
“The purpose is to simply encourage and thank these pastors and their spouses for their commitment to God and for their service, and to hopefully encourage them in their walks and in the work that they do,” said Saunders.
Approximately 45 pastors from Ashland, Mansfield and Wooster attended Thursday’s luncheon, spanning WVMC’s listening areas. Saunders explained his hope was the school’s radio ministry reaches out to pastors, and in turn those pastors encourage their congregations to listen to the radio station.
“WVMC is all praise and worship, so it’s all about simply our relationship with God and lifting our praise to Him,” he said. “It’s something that really can be an accessory to what they’re doing as pastors and it can help their congregations be encouraged during the week when they’re not around the church.”
Another radio personality attending the luncheon was Bob Burney, host of Bob Burney Live on WRFD radio in Columbus and founder of Crosspower Ministries. In the spirit of encouragement, Burney spoke from the first chapter of First Corinthians and shared the story of Paul writing to encourage a church that was in trouble.
“The attrition rate for pastors is an epidemic,” said Burney. “We’re losing 1,500 pastors a month; they quit either through discouragement or some kind of problem.”
“I think it’s more difficult to be a pastor today than in any other time,” he continued. “A pastor is expected to be a CEO, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a sociologist, a family and marriage counselor, a groundskeeper, and maintenance engineer. A pastor is expected to do everything; they’re expected to work 24 hours a day seven days a week. It’s difficult.”
Mansfield Christian Schools Superintendent Dr. Cy Smith encouraged the pastors present through prayer, thanking those who helped organize the luncheon and who took the time to make sure these pastors know they’re valued and appreciated.
“We know there’s great sacrifice in doing what they’re doing,” prayed Smith. “We know You have called them to do that and they look at that calling as a blessing from You, but we also know that comes with long hours and stressful days and many challenges as you work with other humans. We just ask Your hand to be upon them today and their ministries moving forward. May You bless these churches with the people You’ve called them to be as leaders.”
Saunders echoed Smith’s prayer, noting after these pastors give and give it’s important for them to become inspired once again.
“It’s a lot like a marriage, and every once in a while one needs to encourage that partner,” said Saunders. “You need to do something nice for your spouse to rebuild that emotional bank account, and that’s what we want to do for the pastors is fill up their emotional and spiritual tank with some good solid teaching.”
“The purpose is to simply encourage and thank these pastors and their spouses for their commitment to God and for their service, and to hopefully encourage them in their walks and in the work that they do,” said Scott Saunders.
