As never before pastors are under attack spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Satan is doing everything possible to destroy pastors across the nation. Pastors leaving the ministry have risen to epidemic proportions. Every month 1,700 pastors leave the ministry. That’s almost 55 a day!
Your pastor faces spiritual and emotional attack every day. The expectations placed on pastors are enormous. Pastors are expected to be super-Christians, powerful leaders, steadfast theologians, financial wizards and fundraisers, meet every need of every person in the church, work 60-70 hours a week, and maintain the perfect home life.
The pastor is to have the wisdom of Solomon, preach like the apostle Paul, have the faith of Peter, lead like a CEO, be a counselor, physiologist, have the mercy of Mother Theresa, and walk in humility.
As the expectations have risen, the respect for pastors has plummeted. In a recent list of most respected professions, the pastor came in just above “car salesman.”
Satan knows that as the pastor goes, so goes the church. If he can destroy pastors, then he can ruin churches. Every year 7,000 churches close their doors. As never before your pastor needs people like you praying for him.
Here are some frightening statistics related to American pastors.
- 1,700 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.
- 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
- 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
- 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families.
- 70% say they have a lower self-image now than when they first entered ministry.
- 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
- 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
- 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
- 70% felt God called them to pastoral ministry before their ministry began, but after three years of ministry, only fifty percent still felt called.
- 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
The sad truth is, pastors often feel, lonely, over-worked, under-appreciated, and unqualified to fulfill the call of God in their lives.
As never before, you need to be praying for your pastor.
Take the 31-day Praying for Pastors Challenge - click here to learn more