Tips for the Conversation With Your Pastor
Talk to your pastor in person, if you can.
- If you already know your pastor personally, set up a time to meet with him or her. Schedule a meeting in their office or via video chat, or plan to go somewhere fun — like a coffee shop!
- If you don’t know your pastor personally, that’s OK! Pastors are busy, so we suggest reaching out to their administrative assistant first to get a meeting on the schedule.
If your pastor’s schedule is too full for a meeting, construct a well-thought-out email asking for permission to host a Compassion Sunday event. If you need help writing that email, use our prewritten email to your pastor!
Come prepared! Plan to share your heart for children in poverty. If you are a sponsor, bring a photo of your sponsored child and a few of his or her letters. Your stories and experiences are SO powerful. Plus, explain that other members of the congregation are likely to have a similar experience as you through child sponsorship! If you don’t sponsor, share how advocating for children in poverty has impacted you. Let your pastor know what it means to you to be able to live out your faith by speaking up on behalf of children in need.
Bring the Pastor’s Guide. You can find a downloadable version of the Pastor’s Guide below. Consider giving it to your pastor before you begin sharing. If your pastor needs some time to pray and research after your conversation, you can give him or her the Pastor’s Guide as a helpful tool on your way out.
Offer to host a virtual event, if needed. We know that churches are meeting in a variety of different ways these days. If your church is meeting online, let your pastor know that you can host a virtual Compassion Sunday event! Then, work together to figure out what that will look like. We have an entire team dedicated to working with you to make your virtual event a success. Just email [email protected] or give us a call at 888-503-4585.
Follow up with your pastor after you meet.
- If he or she gave you permission to host a Compassion Sunday event, assure them that they’ll be kept in the loop as you plan.
- If your pastor is still considering hosting an event at your church, make sure to thank them and remind them that you’re available to answer any more questions they may have.