The Pastor’s Aide ministry is designed to provide supplementary support to the Pastor and his family. The goal is to show appreciation to the pastor for his leadership and spiritual guidance in the church.
Sometimes a pastor may find himself in a position where he is burdened and emotionally drained. After giving so much of himself to others, he may desire someone to pour back into him. It is for this reason that pastor’s aide committees exist, also referred to as pastor’s aide ministries. Not all churches have a pastor’s aide committee. However, when committees do exist, duties for members of those committees are similar from church to church.
Spiritual, Financial & Emotional Support System
The pastor’s aide committee serves as a spiritual, financial and emotional support system for the pastor, as well as his family. As such, committee members may be privy to details or areas of the pastor’s life that other congregants may not be aware of. Working as a pastor’s aide committee member requires the highest level of confidentiality. Otherwise, the pastor’s personal business and needs can become gossip among church congregants.
Anticipates The Pastor’s Needs
Anything the pastor needs, the pastor’s aide committee is there to ensure he gets it. Their goal is to ensure there is no lack for the pastor or his direct family members, including his spouse and children. This may include providing the pastor and his family with lodging, transportation and meals, whether he is home or away from home. If the pastor needs anything during his sermons, such as water, juice or mints, the committee ensures that these items are on hand and made available to the pastor. If the pastor is out of town, the committee may send him a card, money or care package.
Pastor Appreciation
The pastor’s aide committee is responsible for showing emotional support and appreciation to the pastor on behalf of the other congregants. On occasion, the committee may host a celebratory service for the pastor and his family. When planning for such services, the committee will solicit gifts from the congregation. The committee recognizes occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Father’s Day. If the committee feels the pastor is emotionally drained and in need of a sabbatical or vacation, they will gather up enough money from the congregants or among themselves to send the pastor away for a while.
Guest Minister Accommodations
Whenever a guest minister comes to speak at the church, the pastor’s aide committee is responsible for anticipating his needs. In many cases, someone from the committee will reach out to the guest minister or his assistant to see if he has any special needs or preferences. For instance, the guest minister may prefer grape juice as he ministers. The pastor’s aide committee helps to ensure the guest minister is comfortable during his time away from his home church.