OCTOBER IS CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH

As pillars of our community, moral guideposts, shoulders we lean on and look to for guidance, pastors and ministers are celebrated as heros in our midst, especially during the month of October, which is Clergy Appreciation Month.

This year, on Tuesday, October 18, 2005, CSR Ministries is teaming with the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa to sponsor “An Evening of Appreciation for Pastors and Ministers.” This unique event will bring ministers together for an opportunity to be encouraged and shown how important they are to our community.

The festivities at the Marriott will include a reception, multi-course dinner and uplifting entertainment by Dennis Swanberg, a noted national speaker and Christian humorist who promises side-splitting comedy with a soul-building message.

While the appreciation gala will be by invitation only, regardless of denomination, race or gender, all Shoals Area senior pastors and ministers, along with their spouses, are invited to attend the special event free of charge.

“We’ve mailed information to as many churches as we can gather adequate addressing for,” said Bevis. “We’ve even had notices hand delivered to some churches where we didn’t have a correct mailing address, because we want to be certain that no one is left out. We hope that anyone not receiving their invitation will contact us for information.”

“With October being clergy appreciation month,” said Bevis. “we are hoping churches will help cover a small portion of the event by sponsoring their pastor and spouse’s dinner, as a gift from the church body to their pastor.” Corporate sponsors are also being sought to help defray additional costs associated with the banquet.

Regardless of sponsorship, Bevis says that all senior pastors and spouses will receive invitations free of charge. They must, however, register prior to the event so that meals and gifts can be prepared in their honor.

For more information, or to insure that your pastor or minister is celebrated this October, contact CSR Ministries by emailing to jim.bevis@csrministries.org, or call (256) 718-3775. You may visit CSR on the web at www.csrministries.org. Learn more about Dennis Swanberg online atwww.dennisswanberg.com.