Attorney Dan Buttafuoco holds pastors in the highest esteem. For the last two years, Buttafuoco and Associates and the Historical Bible Society have honored clergy by hosting the Pastor Appreciation Brunch at the historic Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y.
On December 9, 2024, with Christmas just two weeks away, over 150 pastors from a range of denominations, races, and generations gathered for the festive event, where they enjoyed a rare opportunity to worship together, fellowship, and hear a poignant message from Pastor. A.R. Bernard, founder and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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The Theme was “One Faith, One Hope, One Lord.”
“I’m honored to host this Pastor Appreciation Brunch. I want to encourage you and let you know that you are amazing,” Dan Buttafuoco said to attendees. “Pastors have had a big influence in my life. Thank you for what you do. You are doing the heavy lifting.”
The brunch included a display of some of the Historical Bible Society’s collection of rare books, Bibles, and manuscripts that spans nearly one thousand years. Dan Buttafuoco, who holds a Master’s degree in theology in addition to his law degree, founded the traveling museum in 2004. The mission: “the preservation of ancient scripture, dissemination of scripture and display, Christian apologetics, and evidence for the Bible’s reliability…”
This year’s honorees included Pastor Hugo and Wilma Barragan, recipients of the Christian Education “Train Them Up” Award, and Susan Curr, honored with the Intercessory Prayer Award. The celebration was enriched with musical worship by Pursuing JC and a stunning piano performance by Diane Dybus.
“This brunch was organized to celebrate a partnership of faith, compassion, service, and years of work between the Law Office of Dan Buttafuoco and Associates and pastors in Metro New York City,” said Rob Taormina, emcee of the event and Client Intake Coordinator at the firm.
Over the years, Buttafuoco and Associates has helped hundreds of accident victims rebuild their lives, including a significant percentage from the church community.
In his prayer for the pastors at the brunch, Dan Buttafuoco acknowledged the challenges and difficulties they face, calling them “watchmen over our souls.”
“Lord, we thank you for these pastors who guide us, and provide an environment where we can learn and grow, and be nourished spiritually. Encourage them. Bless them. Let them know that what they’re doing is important and has eternal consequences. Be with them. Fill them with the Holy Spirit and keep them holy.”
In this message to pastors, Dr. A.R. Bernard examined the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing the importance of understanding scripture through the right perspective. Pastors must acknowledge the influence of cultural, societal, and historical lenses, he said. This consciousness influences how individuals process the Word of God, and the various soils in which it grows.
“It’s called the Parable of the Sower, but it talks more about the soil,” he said.
Dr. Bernard urged pastors to exercise faith, creativity, and perseverance in communicating God’s message in an information-rich digital age and amidst societal complexities. He reminded them that, in the parable, the seed was sown indiscriminately, regardless of the soil’s productivity. This reflects God’s unconditional grace. Dr. Bernard emphasized the responsibility of ministers to share the Word, trusting in its transformative potential despite various challenges.
“Our message transcends all of these problems because our message is a message of God’s extravagant love,” he said. “We carry the most valuable seed. And we have a responsibility to distribute it everywhere.”
