When Roger Wilkins, pastor of Gum Branch Baptist Church in Hinesville, celebrated his 50th birthday his church let him know how they felt about him.

Members blindfolded him and placed a Florida State cap on his head along with a Georgia Bulldog stick in his hand. He was then led to a pi–ata of his beloved Florida Gators, which he hit until candy came out.

Although unconventional at times, Wilkins says his church is always supporting his ministry by the ways they show their love and appreciate him and his family.

"They give me constant reminders through small gifts, cards and other things that let a pastor know he is appreciated," says Wilkins, pastor of the church for the past 24 years. "I have a loving congregation; as I love them they love me."

When pastors know they are appreciated, it helps them to be better pastors, says Benny Pate, specialist in Georgia Baptist Leadership Ministries. Although the second Sunday in October is recognized as Clergy Appreciation Day, church members should never pass up the chance to thank their pastor.

"With the high level of expectations and the high level of demand, a minister can feel a lot of pressure," says Pate.

"Almost without exception, ministers want to follow God's leading and serve the people. There are just so many ways that members can define what 'serve' means."

Clergy Appreciation Day was started by a layman in 1992 named Jerry Frear, Jr. The idea came as Frear was brainstorming with others on how to help their pastor. Upon looking at the calendar and noting Groundhog Day, Frear observed that it was a shame there was a holiday for groundhogs, but not for clergy.

When members of First Baptist in St. Mary's sensed that their pastor, Steve Kegley, needed a rest, they sent him and his wife on a vacation. Congregants of the coastal town church in the southeast corner of the state paid for a two-week stay for the Kegleys in Cape Cod, Mass.

"I'm not one to take a lot of vacation time," says Kegley. "It had been well over a year and a few months since I'd taken one. We were short-staffed and I had to pull double-duty with music and wear many different hats over that period of time. They said they didn't want me to burn out."

As with Wilkins and Kegley, Gordon Cloud says his members at Pine Park Baptist in Cairo are constantly letting him know he is appreciated.

On the first Sunday in March each year, members celebrate Cloud's anniversary as the church's pastor with a fellowship dinner and love offering.

"One member gives me season tickets to Florida State football games," he says. "Being a country church like we are, there are always people bringing vegetables or a mess of fish to the house."

When churches love a pastor, that appreciation is passed on to his family and strengthens relationships all around. Cloud remarks how whenever there is illness with himself or his family, members call to check on them and say they are praying for them.

"It affirms a relationship that I hope to have with them," he states. "Ministry is about relationships. It makes you feel good to be appreciated."

There are many ways for church members to affirm their pastor throughout the year. Ideas can be found on the Web at http://churchstaff.gabaptist.org. Suggestions include:

• Sending a card.
• Calling your ministry staff and thanking them for their work.
• Taking the ministry staff and their families out to eat.
• Sending flowers to their spouse.
• Offering to babysit if they have young children while parents go out for a special evening.

Additionally, churches can honor their ministry staffs through ways such as hosting a fellowship dinner on their behalf, paying for the staff to eat out together or having a day of recognition where others in the church fulfill their responsibilities on Sunday.

Pate says efforts such as these allow a pastor to deal with the unseen pressures that come with leading a church.

"Ministers have tremendous pressure on them to balance church schedules, family time, free time and community time," comments Pate. "They need to constantly have time with the Lord, study time and preparation for proclamation, teaching and ministry."

Leading a family has enough pressure of its own. When any perceived failings are made, spouses and children find themselves living in a fish bowl where every behavior is scrutinized. Wilkins can attest to the healing power of a loving congregation.

"Once there was a major crisis in our family and it paralyzed us," he relates. "It was an issue that devastated our lives.

"The ladies of the church came over and cooked for us. They protected us from harassing phone calls and built a hedge of protection around us. Through that so much good came about.

"Our church has really been a part of my family. They are my family."