Zechariah 13:7
In a recent bulletin message, my pastor shared the following statistics based on the Fuller Institute's research of the church in America.
1500 pastors leave the ministry every month due to moral failure, burnout or conflict in the church.
94% of pastors felt under pressure to have the "ideal" family.
90% of pastors felt inadequately trained to cope with the demands of ministry.
81% of pastors suffer marital problems due to insufficient time together.
80% of pastors and 84% of pastors' wives feel unqualified and discouraged.
70% of pastors feel that they have lower self esteem now compared to when they started out in ministry.
70% of pastors do not have someone they can confide in.
63% of pastors suffer marital problems due to congregational problems.
50% of pastors would leave if they could make a living doing something else.
40% of pastors reported having a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
37% of pastors confessed to having been involved in inappropriate sexual behaviour with someone in the church.
34% of pastors' marriages end up in divorce.
33% of pastors belive that ministry was a hazard to their families.
5% of pastors felt unable to meet the needs of the job.
Some questions to think about:
To what extent are these issues mirrored in your church and mine?
How are we as members supporting our pastors?
How should we as members be supporting our pastors?
My pastor's question is: What impact do these high levels of dysfunction in pastors have on the effective and dynamic life of congregations they are called to lead?
He writes:
"If the pastor is not on top of the game vocationally, relationally, devotionally, spiritually and personally, then, a church is going to suffer.
Sadly, the Christian church is riddled with examples of effective ministry which loses its way, and as a result the whole congregation suffers.
Moral or ethical failure is often the issue most focussed on when a ministry crashes and burns.
But usually that ministry starts to unravel a lot sooner than the time when a personal moral failure manifests.
If the key disciplines of prayer, Biblical reflection, a personal walk with God and a developed practice of regular accountable fellowship with other leaders are not in place, it usually is just a matter of time...
If the perpendicular dimension of relationship with God is not properly practised and maintained, then the horizontal aspect of ministry on the ground will inevitably come under pressure and ... fail."
He ends with this exhortation which I commend to all of us:
"Tend to the matter that matters most - the vital link between God and self. If this is right, the challenge of being an agent for God will be undertaken with vigour and joy."
Let's be joyful, energetic agents for God!
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