Vantage point
The Best Way to Appreciate Your Pastors
In 2000, I had the privilege of spending several days in
South Korea. I met and interviewed Pastor David Yonggi Cho and attended his
church, Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul (the world’s largest), as well as
Prayer Mountain, the complex where thousands pray daily. I also saw something
remarkable in another church that has stayed with me ever since.
Full Gospel Inchon Church, less than an hour from Seoul, was
planted by Yoido Full Gospel in 1983. It became independent in 1990, ten years
before I visited it. In 2000 the church counted more than 60,000 members.
The pastoral staff gave me a tour of the massive multistory
edifice.
During the tour I heard a hum of commotion that became
increasingly louder. When we arrived on the ground floor, I could tell it was
the voices of several people.
After inquiring, I was ushered to the basement of the
church. Here I found a miniature “Prayer Mountain” where prayer never ceases.
There were several individual cubicles. Shoes left outside
the doors made it obvious which cubicles were in use — just like Prayer
Mountain.
But the hum was coming from a larger prayer room where
several people were gathered in vigorous corporate prayer.
I discovered this prayer room was always full of people.
Anointed prayer ascends 24/7. That’s impressive enough, but then I learned that
those in this room engage in only one kind of prayer — intercession for
the pastors of the church. Anytime, day or night, the pastors know they are
being held up in prayer.
Since then, I have often told this story wherever I preach
and have called for congregations to pray for their pastors. I have seen some
remarkable prayer times, and received commitments from each congregation to
pray intentionally and often for their pastors.
I’m convinced this is the very best and most effective way
to show “pastor appreciation.” It will bolster their ministry and strengthen
your church.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month.
Ken Horn
E-mail your comments to pe@ag.org.
