Pastor Tim’s New Pastor Training (That They Forgot to Teach in Seminary)

Hello! “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” And also… brace yourself a little. Recently, a video I made called “Pastor Tim’s New Pastor Training Training” made the rounds online. It’s a tongue-in-cheek look at what it’s really like to step into pastoral ministry. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it below. It’s funny. It’s exaggerated. It’s uncomfortable. And if you’re a pastor, it’s also… painfully familiar.

Seminary teaches you Greek verbs, church history, eschatology, and how to parse theological nuance. All good things. What it may not fully prepare you for is being compared—constantly—to the pastor before you, being told you shouldn’t be paid because “isn’t this just what Christians are supposed to do anyway?”, or watching your paycheck get written in the church kitchen while half the congregation evaluates your “greed.” You may also discover that your wife is now an unpaid, unofficial staff member with expectations she never signed up for, and that she should somehow be a cross between a Proverbs 31 woman and Laura Ingalls Wilder. And yes—the handshake story in the video? That really happened.

It’s funny because it’s absurd. It’s funny because it’s true. Behind the humor, though, is something real. Pastors carry the spiritual weight of families in crisis, the expectations of every generation in the room, financial pressures, and community pressures. Criticism is louder than encouragement, and yet they do it all because they believe they are called by God. Callings aren’t meant to be easy, but they are meant to be supported.

And that’s where you come in. Your pastor doesn’t need a grand gesture, a long sermon, or a perfect gift. They need encouragement. Not flattery. Not hero worship. Just a sincere “Thank you for being my pastor.” In the video, I joke about finding the encouragers in the congregation—the people God places in a church to help a young (or not-so-young) pastor survive and thrive. What if that person was you?

Here’s what I’d love for you to do: watch the video, send it to your pastor, and add a short note that says something like, “I saw this and laughed… and then I realized I’ve probably done some of this. Thank you for being my pastor. I’m grateful for you.” That’s it. No big production. No grand gesture. Just encouragement. You have no idea what that might mean to them.

And a final word to pastors: if you are reading this, you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone. Even when it feels unnoticed, your work matters. Keep looking for the encouragers—they’re there. God put them there for you. You can collect your certificate at the end-of-the-year potluck and handshake festival. And yes… you still have to eat the casserole.

If this made you smile, please forward it to your pastor today. Let’s flood some inboxes with gratitude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgnqYgCjaEw