Pastor Appreciation Gifts: 5 Bible Verse Shirts for Your Pastor

Do you have a special pastor in your life?

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. The whole month is a chance to say thank you to the people who preach, pray, visit the hospital at midnight and stand beside us when times are tough. We picked five LightWear designs whose verses each speak to a part of what a pastor does. Each one makes a gift that says something.

Pastor appreciation gifts at a glance

• Seek My Face (2 Chronicles 7:14): for the pastor who calls the church to prayer
• Disciples (Matthew 16:24): for the pastor who leads by following Jesus first
• Spiritual Wars (Ephesians 6:12): for the pastor fighting battles nobody sees
• Levites (1 Peter 2:9): for the pastor who reminds us we're all called to serve
• Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5): for the pastor who points us to Jesus

Every design comes as a men's tee, a women's tee and a hoodie.

1. Seek My Face: 2 Chronicles 7:14, for the pastor who calls us to pray

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)

Pastors are called to pray and to lead others in prayer. God has always called His people to humility in prayer and confession. While we don't confess to our pastors, they play a key role in reminding us of the value of confession and repentance that we may experience God's forgiveness in our lives.

Each pastor who has dedicated their life to service intercedes for those in their care, just like Christ, who intercedes for us in heaven above. Pastors point us to the solution, not to themselves. They remind us to seek His face.

Gift it: Seek My Face men's tee, women's tee or hoodie.

2. Disciples: Matthew 16:24, for the pastor who leads by following

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24, NKJV)

Pastors are called to be disciples and disciple makers. They follow the example of Christ, who called each of us in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations. Each pastor who lives for Christ has taken up the charge to deny self and bear a cross daily, just like we are all called to do. While they are shepherds, they also follow the Great Shepherd by listening for His voice.

Being a disciple is not easy; it takes sacrifice. Likewise, being a pastor is not easy. It may require late nights, difficult conversations and knowing things about people they wish they didn't. They give up time and privacy, often at the expense of their own family.

Support your pastor. Help them guard their privacy and time. But most importantly, work together to make disciples for the kingdom.

Gift it: Disciples men's tee, women's tee or hoodie.

3. Spiritual Wars: Ephesians 6:12, for the battles nobody sees

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NKJV)

Pastors are called to be warriors. They don't use the typical weapons of this world, because they are engaged in a different kind of battle: a spiritual one. Sometimes the battle is at a Bible study, using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Other times it's at a board meeting advocating for peace and unity. The battle may be with a church critic. Day in and day out they see the casualties of this sinful world: broken marriages, people struggling in their faith, addiction.

Come alongside your pastor and battle with them. Put on the full armor of God and fight the good fight of faith!

Gift it: Spiritual Wars men's tee, women's tee or hoodie.

4. Levites: 1 Peter 2:9, for the pastor who equips us all to serve

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NKJV)

Pastors are set apart. Just like the Levites of old, pastors serve God's people day in and day out. One of the roles of an Old Testament priest was to teach God's word. Pastors fill this role today. While the Bible calls us all to be kings and priests, we see a strong model in the New Testament of those who were set apart to preach the Word of God and spread the gospel. This doesn't mean the pastor is the only one in the church working for the kingdom; they equip and train all of us to do the same.

Gift it: Levites men's tee, women's tee or hoodie.

5. Lion of Judah: Revelation 5:5, for the pastor who points us to Jesus

“Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5, NKJV)

Pastors point to Jesus. In Revelation 5, while everyone is waiting for the scroll to be opened and wondering who can open it, the Lion of Judah is announced. All the attention is shifted to the One who has redeemed humanity, the One who is Worthy. Each and every day the life of a pastor is one of showing others not just who Christ is, but what Christ is like.

Gift it: Lion of Judah men's tee, women's tee or hoodie.

Ways to give

• From the whole church: a youth group, small group or ministry team can give the pastor a shirt and wear matching ones. For a group order, get in touch.
• For the pastor's wife: every design comes in a women's cut.
• Not sure of the size? Check the sizing chart or give a LightWear gift card.
• Add a note: write the verse inside a card and tell your pastor why you picked it.

Tees start at $25 and hoodies at $45.

Pray for your pastor, and thank them for the hard work they put in each and every day! And get them a gift that says "thank you."