A Message of Pastor Appreciation from Bishop Easterling
Beloved,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
As we observe Pastor Appreciation Month, I want to take a moment to say: Thank you!
Thank you for loving God and for continuing to love God’s people. Thank you for answering the call to ministry and for remaining faithful even when the road has been difficult, the answers have not been easy, and the burdens of leadership have been heavy.
Thank you for preaching, teaching, praying, visiting, counseling, organizing, comforting, challenging, and standing in the gap. Thank you for continuing to be present in season and out of season.
Scripture evidences that leadership in the Church has never been easy. But these days have been especially challenging. You are navigating cultural division, political polarization, institutional change, congregational grief, financial instability, declining trust, and the weariness that accompanies seasons of profound uncertainty. Yet, in the midst of it all, you continue to proclaim the gospel, nurture disciples, shepherd communities, and bear witness to the love of Christ.
The ancient priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24–26 reminds us of the One who sustains us when our own strength is insufficient:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
My prayer for you is that you will know this blessing not simply as familiar Scripture, but as your daily portion. May the Lord bless you for every seed you have planted, even when you have not yet seen the harvest. May the Lord keep you when ministry leaves you weary. May God’s face shine upon you when you wonder whether your labor matters. May God’s grace meet you in the places where you feel inadequate, uncertain, or depleted. And may the Lord lift up God’s countenance upon you, reminding you that you are seen, known, loved, and held by the One who called you.
I am grateful for you. I am grateful for your leadership. I am grateful for the ways you are helping us become a people more deeply rooted in Christ who love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
May you never mistake a difficult season for a fruitless one. God is still at work. Seeds are still being planted. Lives are still being transformed. And your faithful presence is part of what God is using to write the next chapter of our story. Thank you!
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling
Baltimore Washington & Peninsula-Delaware Conferences
The Living Waters Area