08/17/2026
Through the Comfort Team, Emmanuel has started a new yearly tradition of caring for and honoring our pastors. They give a lot of themselves and their families to serve us, and it isn't always easy. So each year we try to bring them together for a special evening just for them. One of the members of the Comfort Team who has been a leader of this project has written a special message about this event.
COVID 19 - what an ugly and horrible pandemic on our world, our country, and our community. It affected millions of lives - including our families and our church families. People were scared of the unknown, grieving the loss of loved ones, and isolated from one another. Churches were told to figure out new ways to minister to their members. Pastors learned how to care for their congregants in new ways. Who was caring for the Pastor during Covid 19?
This was the inspiration for our Comfort Team’s Circuit Pastor and Spouses Appreciation Dinner. Our first circuit appreciation dinner was held July 31, 2021. It was attended by five current circuit pastors and four of their wives, along with three retired pastors and their wives. The appreciation dinner was intended to be a time for our circuit pastors and their wives to have fellowship with each other - no circuit business, no agenda, just fellowship with each other, building relationships. It was a great success.
It was also a Comfort Team effort! An absolutely beautiful table was set. Team members volunteered to make a 5 star meal. Some of our guys served our guests. It was a lovely evening for everyone. AND it’s been an annual event since. We’ve had themes such as Fishers of Men; Salt of the Earth; Brats, Brew and You; 70’s; and Patriotic. Our guests look forward to the Circuit Pastor and Spouses Appreciation Dinner each year. It really is a wonderful opportunity for them to come together, simply have a good time and get to know each other on more of a personal level and not so much on a professional level. This year we were able to host the new Okarche pastor, providing an informal and casual venue where he could visit with the majority of the circuit pastors. We were also able to introduce the Guthrie pastor’s new wife to the circuit pastors and their wives.
So “Thank You Emmanuel Congregation” for supporting our Comfort Team and allowing us to show our circuit pastors and their spouses that they are appreciated and we care about them!
Contributor: Wendy Leimbach