10/20/2026
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, but this pastor has some people HE wants to appreciate. ❤️
During this month, churches across the country take time to recognize and appreciate their pastors. And while I am incredibly grateful for every kind word, prayer, handshake, and expression of love, I want to turn the attention toward some people who deserve far more recognition than they often receive.
First, to my wife.
There is a side of ministry that most people never see. But she sees it all.
She sees the phone calls, the text messages, the late-night conversations, the counseling sessions, and the moments when someone desperately needs a listening ear. She has watched me walk alongside people through some of the darkest moments of their lives, including moments when someone was contemplating ending their own life.
She sees the weight that sometimes follows me home.
She knows that when someone shares their hurt with me, I don’t always have the ability to simply turn it off when the conversation ends. Sometimes I carry their pain. Sometimes I sit quietly, thinking about their struggles, praying for their circumstances, and wondering whether I’ve said or done enough to help.
And through all of that, she’s there.
She has shared her husband with people who needed a pastor. She has shown grace when ministry interrupted our plans, patience when my mind was occupied, and love when I was emotionally exhausted.
But here’s what I want everyone to understand: My wife is not simply married to the pastor. She is an invaluable part of this ministry.
She may not stand behind the pulpit, but she stands beside the man who does. And I cannot begin to express what that means to me.
She’s my best friend, my helpmate, my greatest earthly encourager, and one of God’s most precious gifts to me.
I love you, and I see the sacrifices you make, even when nobody else does.
To my children, Abraham and Selah.
You two deserve more appreciation than Daddy could ever put into words.
There are things about being a pastor’s child that you never asked for.
You’ve heard Daddy say, “I can’t play right now. I have to study.”
You’ve watched me leave to visit someone when you would have rather had me home.
You’ve had to be quiet at church because Daddy was in his office preparing a sermon.
You’ve learned that sometimes people need your daddy’s attention, even when you want it for yourselves.
And while you’re still young, I pray that one day you’ll understand that those moments were never because you weren’t important.
In fact, you are two of the most important people God has ever entrusted to my care.
Sometimes I have to remind myself that before I am called to shepherd a congregation, I have a responsibility to love, nurture, and lead the family God has given me.
I never want to become so busy telling other people about Jesus that I fail to show Jesus to my own children.
Abraham and Selah, you are not interruptions to my ministry. You are part of my first ministry.
I am so proud of the two of you. Thank you for being patient with Daddy, for loving me, and for making me want to be a better man every single day.
And finally, to my church family at Blackburn Baptist Church.
Where do I even begin?
A little over a year ago, the Lord brought our lives together under circumstances that were anything but easy.
You had experienced the heartbreaking loss of a pastor you loved. You were grieving, healing, and facing an uncertain future.
And then, along came a young preacher.
I have often thought about the amount of faith it must have taken for you to open your hearts to someone new.
You didn’t simply need someone to fill a pulpit. You needed someone you could trust to care for your souls, faithfully teach God’s Word, and walk beside you through life’s joys and sorrows.
And you gave me that opportunity.
You trusted the Lord to lead you, and you extended that trust to me. I do not take that lightly.
Every Sunday and Wednesday, you sit and listen as I open the Scriptures. You ask questions. You want to learn. You challenge yourselves to grow in your understanding of God’s Word.
Some of you call or text just to talk. Others reach out because you’re hurting, confused, discouraged, or simply need someone to pray with you.
And I want you to know something.
Those conversations are not inconveniences to me. They are reminders of the tremendous privilege and responsibility of being your pastor.
I don’t always have the answers. I don’t always say everything perfectly. I am still learning, still growing, and still being shaped by the same Word I have the privilege of preaching.
I will make mistakes. I will have days when I fall short. But by God’s grace, I want to remain a pastor who loves you, listens to you, prays for you, and above all, points you to Jesus Christ.
Thank you for allowing a young preacher to be your pastor. Thank you for loving my wife and children. Thank you for trusting me with your questions, your burdens, your joys, and your tears.
Most importantly, thank you for recognizing that this church does not belong to me, nor did it belong to any pastor before me.
This is Christ’s church. He is the Chief Shepherd. I am simply blessed to serve under Him.
And perhaps that is what I want to communicate most during Pastor Appreciation Month.
A pastor never serves alone.
Behind him is often a family making sacrifices that few people notice. Beside him is a congregation extending grace, encouragement, and trust. And above him is a faithful God who provides the strength, wisdom, and mercy necessary to fulfill the calling.
I am grateful for the title of pastor, but I am far more grateful for the people God has allowed me to love while serving in that role.
The Apostle Paul often introduced himself with words such as these:
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” (Ephesians 1:1, ESV)
Paul understood that his calling was not something he manufactured for himself, nor was its ultimate authority found in the approval of men. His calling came from God.
Now, I am certainly no apostle Paul, nor do I claim the office of an apostle. But I understand something about being called to serve by the will of God.
I did not enter the ministry because I thought I deserved a title. I did not become a pastor because I believed I was better than anyone else.
I am here because, in His grace, God called me to preach His Word and shepherd His people.
And I pray that when my time in ministry is finished, people will remember far more about the Savior I preached than the preacher who stood behind the pulpit.
To my wife, my children, and my church family:
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being your husband, your daddy, and your pastor.
I love you all.
With love and gratitude,
Pastor Steven
