What would we do without our pastors and church leaders? Our pastors are worthy of “respect and wholehearted love” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, NLT) for the way that they shepherd, teach, equip, and build up our churches.

Pastor Appreciation Month is recognized in October as a dedicated time to honor and thank our church leaders. To celebrate, we asked our Reader Rewards members to describe how their pastors had made an impact on their lives, and we received over a hundred stories. In this article, we have gathered a selection of these heartfelt responses. May they be an encouragement and a testimony to the positive influence of pastors who are not perfect, but strive to glorify God in their ministry. 

Each story is published with permission and may have been edited for clarity.

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I’m one of those people who has never felt like they fit in, and one time my pastor told me that in the game of Tetris, if you fit in, you disappear. He said that I wasn’t born to fit in, I was born to stand out. That is something I will always remember.
—Michele C.

I still remember that my pastor remembered my name after just one meeting. This showed how much he cares about people. I have appreciated his ministry for 11 years now.
—Hannah D.

He loved me enough to continue share the “offensive” Gospel with me. Finally I accepted that I was indeed truly a hopeless sinner in need of a Savior. Had he not continued to tell me what I needed to hear . . . versus what I wanted to hear . . . I would still be lost in my sin as I considered myself a “good person.”
—Randy L.

My pastor showed up to the hospital after my grandma died and my grandpa had a heart attack (all on the same day). Just seeing him there made me feel loved. He prayed for my whole family. I have no idea how he knew to come, but I was grateful for his presence.
—Heather E.

When I joined the church staff, my pastor’s excitement and encouragement helped me shed some of my apprehension at doing something I felt unqualified and unprepared for.
—Mindy H.

My pastor, who is also my father, has made a difference in my walk with the Lord every moment of my life. He continually represents to us how to walk after the Lord, with no other pursuit in mind but to know the heart of the Lord and to be known by him. My pastor is the best representation I’ve ever seen of a godly follower who pursues Christ with everything he has, to the end of the earth and into eternity.
—Destiny F.

My pastor paid me a visit when I was sick. He was kind and caring. He was personable. He prayed with me as well.
—AnnaMaria G.

I went to my pastor heartbroken over the recent death of my bird, still devastated over the death of my mom, and just trying to make sense of everything. Full of guilt, despair, and hopelessness, I shared my story with him. He listened without judgment and offered hope and solutions to dealing with grief. Today I am still dealing with that loss but now I feel like I can better understand my pain.
—Leanna T.

I spent a few years abroad in Italy, and I needed my pastor’s guidance and wisdom. We emailed frequently at first, then less as I got better. He always had a word of encouragement, of wisdom, and he always helped me see the Lord behind everything that happened to me. And he said—and I believe him—that he prayed for me every single day I lived there. He helped me navigate some difficult moments and made my experience in Italy a wonderful one in the end.
—Paty H.

One of our pastors was so wonderful in supporting us when my father-in-law was dying. He would visit with my father-in-law, pray for us, check in on us, and offer a listening ear and advice as we navigated the difficult end stages. We continue to feel his support months later.
—Sara B.

My pastor is one of the few men I’ve ever met who strives to live like Jesus. He is a hardworking owner of a construction company, he coaches the church softball team, and he plays and sings at the church services, in addition to discipling other men. My pastor impacted my life by taking me in and teaching me what true faith really is. From the theology of work to the principles of recovery to the importance of family, I have learned a great deal from his daily example. I’m so glad to have been graced by God to have a pastor like him!
—Joshua F.

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From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to faithful pastors everywhere for your dedication to preaching the Word, showing the Church the love of Christ, and living out what it means to follow God. Thank you also to our Reader Rewards members for taking the time to honor the pastors who have positively impacted their lives.