Every October, Pastor Appreciation Month reminds church-goers to honor those who guide them in faith. For Pastor Steve Johnson of Mason City, the greatest support comes through encouragement, prayer and simple acts of kindness.
After nearly 35 years in ministry, Johnson said pastoring is about faithfully walking alongside people, offering stability and carrying unseen burdens. Often, he added, the best way to help is by showing up, listening well and reminding pastors they are not alone.
Hear our full conversation:
“I’m much more the tortoise than the hare,” Johnson said. “My favorite part is the shepherding — journeying with people over a long period of time, being a place of encouragement and stability as they grow in their faith.”
Johnson’s call to ministry began in high school through camping ministry in western New York. He pursued a sociology degree with career interests in urban planning, criminology or detective work. During his senior-year internship with Chicago’s juvenile intensive probation department, he witnessed hardship in the life of one young person and felt drawn to a role where he could “incorporate all that I believe to be true about faith, hope, forgiveness and being centered in Christ.”
After graduating, Johnson moved to California for a youth pastor internship. Three and a half decades later, following seminary, multiple moves and God’s faithfulness, he now leads a congregation of about 150 at First Covenant Church in Mason City.
“It’s very popular in the last decade or so to think of a pastor as an influencer of some sort,” Johnson said. “All the podcasts and popularity are great, but that’s not who I am. I think less about being an influencer and more about being that shepherd who’s planted in a community to be the priestly person within a local area. ”
Support, he said, often comes in simple, consistent ways. “It’s extending grace and majoring on kindness. Show up, ask good questions, listen well. Pastors love to hear, ‘This really struck me,’ or ‘This helped me in this way.’ That kind of interaction is always encouraging.”
Johnson emphasized that pastors are ordinary people who carry invisible burdens. Weekly sermons require hours of study, prayer and reflection, and much of the work produces “invisible fruit” — prayers, conversations and small acts of service that may not bear results for years.
“There’s also the weight of representation,” Johnson said. “As a pastor, I don’t speak just for myself. I represent the church, and I represent Christ. It’s not just a profession, it’s a lifestyle and a calling.”
Because of that weight, encouragement and loyalty from a congregation can make all the difference, he added. “Having someone say, ‘We’re in this together’ is pretty valuable. Healthy loyalty means being counted on — not just to a brand or style, but to the Lord and to the fellowship of believers.”
Johnson also emphasized the power of prayer — not only for pastors, but also for their families, their walk with God and the health of their churches. “Praying that we would continue to know God, love God and have a vibrant walk of faith — that’s really meaningful,” he said.
As Pastor Appreciation Month continues, Johnson said he hopes congregations remember ministry is a shared journey. “Pastors want to love their people, love the Lord and journey in faith together,” he said. “If we can be a healthy family, then mission, discipleship, care and growth will follow. The fruit comes by the grace of God.”
