Do you know that over 50 percent of pastors are discouraged in their role as pastors, according to Lifeway Research? I read the other day that 40 percent of pastors seriously considered leaving the ministry in the last three months. Fifty percent of pastors say they are not able to meet the demands of the job and are so demoralized that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of earning a living.
Did you know that for every twenty pastors who go into the ministry, only one actually retires from the ministry? Twenty-five percent of pastors have been forced out or fired from their ministry at least once.
According to a national journal, 45 percent of pastors say they have experienced burnout or depression to the extent that they need to take a leave of absence.
I am not writing this trying to garner sympathy or to hear any violins playing in the background. I have been in the ministry for 40 years. It is a wonderful grace-filled calling. I would not trade it for anything, but I have to admit that it is not an easy calling. The casualty rate can be pretty high.
So here is a quick word to encourage us to pray for the pastors in our community. You never know what battles they are facing today.