I came across some interesting statistics that our youth guy shared with me. My understanding is these come from Barna Research group and was sponsored by Focus on the Family.
PASTORS
- Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
- Fifty percent of pastor's marriages will end in divorce.
- Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
- Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
- Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
- Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
- Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
- Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.
PASTORS' WIVES
- Eighty percent of pastor's spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
- Eighty percent of pastor's spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
- The majority of pastor's spouses surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.
If they 'stats' are adequate then no wonder our churches are in conflict and/or struggling. What does this say about the state of our minister's and their families?
2 comments:
Sad. Not surprising, though. It really makes you appreciate a good pastor.
This is Austin Williamson from your church, by the way. I didn't know you had a blog!
I'll have to borrow that Hybels book when you are done...
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