GARDEN CITY, Kan. (BP) — Pastor Appreciation Month may focus on John Harms during October, but that spirit extends to other staff throughout the year at First Southern Baptist Church.

October brings recognition and a financial gift, along with others like the random drop-off of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, his personal favorite, and social media posts of appreciation. The church pays for a staff lunch at a location of Harms’ choosing. The staff may work in a friendly prank, like the year they all wore “I’m John’s Favorite” T-shirts.

Such appreciation isn’t limited to one month, nor one person.

“It makes people feel special when it’s just for them,” said Harms, a Wichita native who has served as a pastor in his home state for 17 years, the last eight as teaching pastor at First Southern Baptist. “We want them to know they are being honored.

“Josh, our student pastor, puts in a lot of hours. So does Alondra, our worship minister, even though she’s only part-time. We want all of our staff to feel valued because they serve faithfully.”

Four of the church’s eight staff members are part-time, though anyone who has served with that in their title knows it doesn’t tend to reflect reality. The time investment typically goes beyond “part.”

Providing a Sunday in the month to honor a staff member — whether it be for students, children, music, assistants, media or custodial — also brings the chance to remind the congregation of their own investment.

“It reminds the church that they give financially to support that ministry, and this is why,” Harms said. “On a Youth Sunday, for example, people give their tithes and that allows us to have a student pastor who is not only investing in youth, but our collegiate ministry. He’s able to invest in those families while providing for his own. It is their offering in action.

“Those financial gifts make ministry happen in a very tangible way.”

A staff appreciation offering takes place during Christmas, with the result split evenly among all eight regardless of title.

“We all appreciate being appreciated,” Harms said.

A strong, supportive church staff is important no matter the ministry context. Garden City has a unique one, though. Western Kansas doesn’t bring to mind images of multiple nationalities in a city of 28,000, but that is First Southern Baptist’s front and back yard.

“You have to get comfortable with different languages, accents and cultures here,” Harms said.

Ministry at that scope requires more hands than just the staff.

“We have a bumper crop of volunteers,” he said. “We thank them and care about them and value them. As a pastor, I pour into my staff so they can pour into volunteers in our church. Appreciation flows downstream.

“Garden City is not what people would call a ‘destination’ location. But we have great people here. Great volunteers. A great staff. I’m very blessed.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press.)