“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” – 1 Tim. 5:17
NECF Malaysia has designated October “Ministers Appreciation Month” for Malaysian churches to ‘doubly’ honour (see 1 Tim 5:17) their ministers - pastors, elders, full-time workers and missionaries – as a follow-through to the Pastors Prayer Shield Campaign. The campaign was launched in February 2001 by the NECF Prayer Commission to mobilise Christians to support pastors and full-time workers by regularly praying for them.
From the campaign came the Appreciation Day programme, launched in 2002, to encourage congregations to appreciate their ministers in practical ways, such as holding special Sunday services to honour their pastors and church workers.
The aim of holding the Ministers Appreciation Month (MAM) is to remind churches that supporting, praying for and appreciating their workers are to be an an ongoing exercise and not just a once-off affair, according to NECF Prayer Executive Ann Low.
“Pastors and full-time workers, and those labouring in the fields away from home need our affirmation. So too our elders. Even the toughest person is a human being and they all need our appreciation and love,” she said.
On why NECF chose October to hold the MAM, she explained that this was to give NECF enough time to publicise the programme throughout the nation and also enlist churches’ participation. But whether churches choose to hold their appreciation programmes for their ministers on October or any other months is purely their initiative, Ann quickly added.
“The important thing is that our ministers are given their due honour,” she stressed.
MAM will be officially launched on Sept 29 in Ipoh in partnership with churches there.
Sandakan Churches Launch Shield
‘Sheep’ praying over their ‘shepherds’ at the launching of the NECF Malaysia Pastors Prayer Shield for Sandakan pastors and full-time workers.
Some 400 Christians from various churches in Sandakan attended the meeting in August organised by NECF and Sandakan Pastors Fellowship. As a follow-up to the launching, the participating churches will be mobilising prayer partners and organising appreciation meetings for their pastors and workers.
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