I did a double take on your thread title. I thought initially that you had misspelled the word British and was trying to figure out what the British pastors were doing that was scattering the sheep. LOL
Jer 3:15 -
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Jer 10:21 -
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jer 12:10 -
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Jer 23:1 -
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2 -
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
I wonder why there is never a thread about the sheep that scatter the Pastors? The statistics are amazing of the number of Pastors that give up because they have no support, no one who will work toward the vision, people bickering over where the piano sits, or some other carnal aspect of the carnal Christians life?
I wonder why there is never a thread about the sheep that scatter the Pastors? The statistics are amazing of the number of Pastors that give up because they have no support, no one who will work toward the vision, people bickering over where the piano sits, or some other carnal aspect of the carnal Christians life?
How about a thread as to why they have no support, no one who will work, etc.?
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
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I wonder why there is never a thread about the sheep that scatter the Pastors? The statistics are amazing of the number of Pastors that give up because they have no support, no one who will work toward the vision, people bickering over where the piano sits, or some other carnal aspect of the carnal Christians life?
Please post those statistics and cite the source.
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How about a thread as to why they have no support, no one who will work, etc.?
Everything rises and falls on leadership.
Very good point. I agree with you that everything rises and falls on leadership, but there are a few factors that also affect this:
1. I don't believe most theological cemeteries teach their students how to lead. They teach many things, which are probably good, but with the absence of leadership principles the new minister won't know how to lead.
2. The church is a volunteer army that, for the most part, is without pay. therefore you can have the strongest of leaders, but you can't lead those who are unwilling to follow. Add into that the lack of knowledge of leading you then have a major problem.
3. Said to say, but the church is VERY carnal these days. You are not going to get carnal Christians to follow the Spirit of God to do the things that God wants to do in their city. There is a heavy cost in being a Christian...which is a cost that too many are unwilling to pay
I guess I would finalize by saying that I agree with you that everything does ultimately rise and fall on leadership, but the Bible tells us to pray for those who have rule over us. I wonder how many believers actively and consistently pray for their leader?
Very good point. I agree with you that everything rises and falls on leadership, but there are a few factors that also affect this:
1. I don't believe most theological cemeteries teach their students how to lead. They teach many things, which are probably good, but with the absence of leadership principles the new minister won't know how to lead.
2. The church is a volunteer army that, for the most part, is without pay. therefore you can have the strongest of leaders, but you can't lead those who are unwilling to follow. Add into that the lack of knowledge of leading you then have a major problem.
3. Said to say, but the church is VERY carnal these days. You are not going to get carnal Christians to follow the Spirit of God to do the things that God wants to do in their city. There is a heavy cost in being a Christian...which is a cost that too many are unwilling to pay
I guess I would finalize by saying that I agree with you that everything does ultimately rise and fall on leadership, but the Bible tells us to pray for those who have rule over us. I wonder how many believers actively and consistently pray for their leader?
I understand what you are saying and I don't disagree. However, allow me to play devils advocate.
Why do you think it is that one pastor can go to a city and fail and another pastor can go to the same city, take over the same church with at least some of the same people and have incredible success and growth?
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"The only thing worse than murder in the desert is to know where the water is and not tell it!"
Sources polls in Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, and other respected groups taken in 2007:
• 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America.
• 7,000 churches close each year in America.
• 50% of pastors’ marriages end in divorce.
• 70% of pastors continually battle depression.
• 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles.
• 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
• 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way to make a living.• .
• 80% of seminary graduates who enter ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• 80% of pastors’ wives feel their husbands are overworked.
• 80% of the adult children of pastors sought professional help for depression.
• 90% of pastors said their training was inadequate for ministry.
• 85% of pastors report that their biggest problem is dealing with abstinent elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.
• 90% of pastors said the hardest thing about ministry is uncooperative people.
• 70% of pastors are grossly underpaid.
• 80% of pastors’ wives feel unappreciated by the congregation.
• 90% of pastors said ministry was completely different from what they thought it would be.
• 80% of pastors’ wives feel pressured to be someone they are not and do things they are not called to do in the church.
• Over 50% of pastors’ wives feel that their husbands entering ministry was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families.
Those are troubling statistics..... that is until you realize you can substitute the word "pastor" with almost any other profession can probably come up with similar numbers.
Very good point. I agree with you that everything rises and falls on leadership, but there are a few factors that also affect this:
1. I don't believe most theological cemeteries teach their students how to lead. They teach many things, which are probably good, but with the absence of leadership principles the new minister won't know how to lead.
Maybe that's the real problem...LOL!
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