I especially find the last one interesting. When was the last time a pastor visited you or your family? The only interaction we get is well, none. But I am not needy, neither is my family, we just go to church pay our tithes and offerings and hang out with our friends.
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.
I don't see how any of this is different than other leadership professions. Put 'police officer supervisor' in most of the above statements and the stats are the same. Put 'nursing supervisor' there and the same results are had. In fact, put any leadership occupation in the above statements and you will find those are true as well.
Pastors are people too, so why should their stats be better than everyone else's?
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
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.
Good grief!!! Nevermind my post!!!!
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I've gone and done it now! I'm on Facebook!!!
I don't see how any of this is different than other leadership professions. Put 'police officer supervisor' in most of the above statements and the stats are the same. Put 'nursing supervisor' there and the same results are had. In fact, put any leadership occupation in the above statements and you will find those are true as well.
Pastors are people too, so why should their stats be better than everyone else's?
"Over 50% of nursing supervisors’ wives feel that their husbands entering nursing was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families."
Sorry doesn't just ring true !! You're total dismissal that there are ANY special pressures attached to ministry or minsters family's is rather refreshing in its honesty, typical of this forum and a great reminder why I (or any other conservative) so rarely post here anymore.
"Over 50% of nursing supervisors’ wives feel that their husbands entering nursing was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families."
Sorry doesn't just ring true !! You're total dismissal that there are ANY special pressures attached to ministry or minsters family's is rather refreshing in its honesty, typical of this forum and a great reminder why I (or any other conservative) so rarely post here anymore.
Goodbye.
Have you ever managed a store? Or had any position with employees under you as well as supervisors over you demanding results?
And yes, having a spouse in the medical field IS stressful.
"Over 50% of nursing supervisors’ wives feel that their husbands entering nursing was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families."
Sorry doesn't just ring true !! You're total dismissal that there are ANY special pressures attached to ministry or minsters family's is rather refreshing in its honesty, typical of this forum and a great reminder why I (or any other conservative) so rarely post here anymore.
Goodbye.
I believe that pastors have unique challenges -- as do many other professions. I admire people that take on the role of pastor.
But seriously.... seems that some conservatives on this board get together and agree to state something like this (bolded) at the end of every post... Why not just put it in your signature? How does this discussion have anything to do with conservatives vs. liberals? Good grief.
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Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. — André Gide
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds... - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Before I was a pastor, I assisted, and I could tell you some horror stories.
But honestly, if you've never pastored, you can't even imagine the pressure. And I don't say that to puff us pastors up. I promise you it's not something I treasure.
The financial pressure alone is killer.
__________________ The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the Church has lost her power to weep over it.
I believe that pastors have unique challenges -- as do many other professions. I admire people that take on the role of pastor.
But seriously.... seems that some conservatives on this board get together and agree to state something like this (bolded) at the end of every post... Why not just put it in your signature? How does this discussion have anything to do with conservatives vs. liberals? Good grief.
maybe some folks who believe they are pastors feel compelled to always have an emotional closing to fortify their use of persuasion.
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Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [James 1:19]