Forget the Flowers

By Tammy Tkach

October is designated as Pastor Appreciation Month. During that month, we typically take time to express thanks to pastors for the work they do throughout the year. And while we include the pastor’s wife, it would be nice to do something special just for her. How about a three-day retreat, where she would be pampered, see old friends, be spiritually refreshed and return home ready for another year?

About seven years ago, one of our own—Jannice May, an elder’s wife here in Southern California— responded to the Holy Spirit about this very thing. She was led to realize and later act upon the need for spiritual and physical nurturing for these hard-working, faithful women in service to God. She began a ministry for them, conducting a conference each Labor Day weekend (the first weekend in September) featuring wonderful speakers, good food and warm fellowship with their peers. (See the October WN for details about this year’s conference.)

Ask anyone who has attended one of these conferences, and you will hear nothing but enthusiastic comments about everything, from the beautiful hotel, the gift bags, the friendship teams, the great food, the book and clothing swaps to the inspiring worship and meaningful teaching. They will tell you it was worth every penny.

So this is my proposal: instead of these women saving their own pennies every year, why don’t we as their loving congregations save the pennies for them? Simply appoint a treasurer, take up a collection each month—only one dollar a person—and send it to Connecting and Bonding.

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