Eight Struggles Pastors Face: A Thanksgiving Story

http://thomrainer.com/2015/11/eight-struggleksgiving-story/

Pastors are struggling.

Yet most pastors love their ministries and churches; and they are committed to both.

But they still struggle.

I am blessed to hear from pastors in many venues. Indeed, it is a constant stream of information. In the course of a week, I will hear directly from over 300 pastors. Sometimes I ask them questions directly on my blog, in our online coaching community (the ChurchAnswers.com Coaching Corner), or on social media.

I also monitor on a regular basis the struggles pastors face. Let me share with you the current reality of eight of the most common struggles.

1. Leading change. Change has always been rapid, but it is exponentially rapid today. While the truths of the gospel are unchanging, everything else seems to be changing. Many pastors are having a difficult time leading their church members, many of whom are change-resistant, to more effective ministry.

2. Criticisms and conflict. Though this issue is not new, it has been exacerbated with social media and blogs. It used to be that everyone had an opinion. Today, everyone has an opinion and a forum to share it.

3. Unrealistic expectations. Every church member has a different set of expectations about what the pastor should do and where the pastor should be. The cumulative effect is that pastors are expected to be omnicompetent, omnipresent, and omniscient.

4. Time pressure and life balance. Not only do pastors live with unrealistic expectations about their ministries, they have other responsibilities as well, particularly family responsibilities. Bi-vocational pastors also have the time pressures of a second job.

5. Loneliness and insecurities. Pastors feel pressure to demonstrate they have it all together. To the contrary, many of them feel very alone and deal with insecurities. “It is difficult to have a true friend in the church,” a Colorado pastor shared with us. “I tried one time, and shared confidential issues with him,” he continued. “He broke the confidences and caused me to lose my job.”

6. Staff issues. Anyone who works with anyone will have these issues. Pastors and staff are not exempt.

7. Personal finances. Because pastors with excessive lifestyles get media attention, we often fail to consider that the majority of pastors barely get by financially. Personal financial stress diminishes ministry effectiveness and family health.

8. Church finances. The majority of churches in America are under 100 in worship attendance. Many of these small churches are struggling financially. But the struggles are also present in a number of larger churches. Pastors have the stresses of inadequate ministry funding; and they sometimes wonder if they will get a paycheck.

Pastors, as a rule, would not want others to have a pity party for them. Most of them feel very thankful, very blessed, and wouldn’t consider doing anything else. I had other reasons for writing this post.

First, we need to have an awareness of these realities. Second, we should pray for our pastors daily. And third, let us be thankful for them. The pastors who serve our churches are a blessing and a joy.

They are a true thanksgiving story.
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those kids are evil as shit

but if it is, holy shit. we fucking tortured teachers. i think it's just that age group though. props to anyone who can deal with those kids, let alone be good at it. shout out to Mr Noble wherever you are lol.

>

Many do consider being a pastor the hardest and most stressful job.
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>Many do consider being a pastor the hardest and most
>stressful job.

Suffering is relative. Most of us know what it's like to have a hard day, come home and want to vent. But as soon as we want to pretend we've got it the worst, in developed countries with a roof over our heads and luxuries most of the rest of the world can only dream about, it's about time to stop, take stock, and really be thankful for what we've got. That goes double if we have a close relationship with Jesus. That's an incredible comfort in times of difficulty.

Just IMO though.

>Suffering is relative. Most of us know what it's like to have
>a hard day, come home and want to vent. But as soon as we want
>to pretend we've got it the worst, in developed countries with
>a roof over our heads and luxuries most of the rest of the
>world can only dream about, it's about time to stop, take
>stock, and really be thankful for what we've got. That goes
>double if we have a close relationship with Jesus. That's an
>incredible comfort in times of difficulty.

especially about the resolve that this reality-check often brings with it. It's inversely empowering to give your personal grievances less airtime in your head.

Physically you get use to the job and it's consistent. Ministry is not.
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or an animal cruelty investigator, or an air traffic controller, or an immigrant working in a field worrying about deportation, or a hospice care professional, or an 8 year old working in a sweatshop...

but no.. Pastor

LOL

How about if I ask if you've been a cracked out prostitute that's in debt to your pimp. That would be pretty dumb. So you do the math on your own question.

The article stands as a great form of insight for those wise enough to see it. But if you're only caught up on my opinion then that's very telling about you ability and your logic.
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"Being a Pastor is the hardest Job in America, I dare say the world" - Case One - Post One

When presented with just a few quick examples of why that's ridiculous it's "What's your point?"

LOL

>But if you're only caught up on my opinion
>then that's very telling about you ability and your logic.

That's cute. Make an absurd claim, then play victim and project when called on it.

But hopefully you're just trolling as i originally assumed, then the joke's on me

Pastor Stress Statistics
Bill Gaultiere November 11, 2009 Category: Key Articles Tags: Burnout, Ministry Stress, Pastors, Sin
pastor-stress-hanging-by-a-thread

Pastors and other ministry leaders are often under so much stress that they find themselves just hanging on by a thread, about to burnout from exhaustion or blow out morally.

Pastor stress today is enormous. The expectations that people put on their pastors today — and that pastors put on themselves! — are debilitating. Everywhere pastors go they are expected to be “on” — ready to give stellar leadership, unending compassion, an inspiring message, anointed prayer, or words of encouragement.

Yet, like anyone else — perhaps more so because of the nature of their work and the expectations people have for them — may become overstressed, depressed, or caught in compulsive and sinful behavior. Or they may find themselves feeling spiritually dry, tired of ministry, angry at God, stuck in their spiritual life, or burned out.

Who Cares for the Pastor Who Cares For You?
But who ministers to pastors? Who is caring for the pastor’s heart and investing in his or her relationship with God? Who is helping them to remain fruitful for Christ and the people they minister to? Who do they confess their temptations and sins to? Who cares for you? And who cares for the pastor who cares for you?

In a Schaeffer Institute study of 1,050 Reformed and Evangelical pastors every pastor said they had a colleague or seminary friend who had left their ministry because of burnout, church conflict, or moral failure. (2) All 1,050 pastors had at least one fallen comrade!

Every pastor experiences the enormous stress of ministry and most don’t know who to confide in — they feel alone and struggle with prayer. Sometimes ministry leaders need psychotherapy or specialized soul care. Other times they need spiritual renewal or guidance. Always they need a safe soul friend to listen and provide encouragement and prayer. And when a pastor is helped to grow into greater intimacy with Christ tremendous blessings overflow to his or her family and the many people that he or she has influence over.

In 2009 we started Soul Shepherding as a 501c3 nonprofit ministry to pastors and ministry leaders.

Statistics on Pastors’ Ministry Stress
Why aren’t these pastors overflowing with the love, joy and peace of the Lord in their lives, families and ministries? What is the cause of their emotional problems and moral failures? A major factor is overwhelming ministry stress:

75% report being “extremely stressed” or “highly stressed” (1)
90% work between 55 to 75 hours per week (2)
90% feel fatigued and worn out every week (1)
70% say they’re grossly underpaid (2)
40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month (1)
78% were forced to resign and 63% at least twice, most commonly because of church conflict (1)
80% will not be in ministry ten years later and only a fraction make it a lifelong career (1)
100% of 1,050 Reformed and Evangelical pastors had a colleague who had left the ministry because of burnout, church conflict, or moral failure (2)
91% have experienced some form of burnout in ministry and 18% say they are “fried to a crisp right now” (7)

Statistics on Pastors’ Emotional Health, Family, and Morality
It’s particularly disturbing to see how much pastors are struggling with emotional pain, family problems, loving well, and moral failures:

70% say they have a lower self-esteem now than when they entered ministry (1)
70% constantly fight depression (2)
50% feel so discouraged that they would leave their ministry if they could, but can’t find another job (2)
80% believe their pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families and 33% said it was an outright hazard (1)
80% of ministry spouses feel left out and unappreciated in their church (2)
77% feel they do not have a good marriage (2)
41% display anger problems in marriage (reported by the spouse) (3)
38% are divorced or divorcing (1)
50% admit to using pornography and 37% report inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church (1)

Statistics on Pastors’ Lack of Soul Care and Training
But ministry stress alone does not explain why pastors burnout emotionally or blow out morally. Other statistics suggest that many pastors struggle with “professionalizing” their spiritual lives and failing to care for their own souls under God:

70% do not have someone they consider a close friend (1)
50% do not meet regularly with an accountability person or group (6)
72% only study the Bible when preparing for sermons or lessons (1)
21% spend less than 15 minutes a day in prayer — the average is 39 minutes per day (4)
16% are “very satisfied” with their prayer life, 47% are “somewhat satisfied”, and 37% are either “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” (spending more time in quiet prayer or listening to God versus making requests was correlated with higher satisfaction) (4)
44% of pastors do not take a regular day off (5)
31% do not exercise at all, while 37% exercise at least three or four days a week as recommended (6)
90% say they have not received adequate training to meet the demands of ministry (2)
85% have never taken a Sabbatical (6)

Sources of Research Studies and Statistics on Pastors

All these surveys are of Protestant pastors from a variety of denominations in America: (1) David Ross and Rick Blackmon’s “Soul Care for Servants” workshop reported the results of their Fuller Institute of Church Growth research study in 1991 and other surveys in 2005 and 2006. (2) Francis A Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development research studies in 1998 and 2006. (3) Leadership Magazine’s research for their article on “Marriage Problems Pastors Face,” Fall 1992 issue. (4) Grey Matter Research, 2005 scientific study of pastors from every city in America. (5) Pastors at Greater Risk by H.B. London and Neil B. Wiseman, Regal Books, 2003. (6) Focus on the Family 2009 survey of 2,000 pastors. (7) Leadership Journal poll of readers, 2013.

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You poor thing

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I made a post that have insight. I gave my opinion that is not uncommon. I provided information. You could have asked questions about the life of a pastor and I could have answered to some degree based on knowledge and interactions with friends that are pastors. You only wanted to address my opinion with a debate tactic. That all fell on you. You are the one stuck in a negative mindset about trolling.


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"I just gave an opinion and got attacked. That's on you, not me?" rinse, repeat.

Instead of just adding why being a pastor is difficult, you threw something hyperbolic and ridiculous out there you knew would get more bang with, and then "what? who me, that's on you!" This isn't the first or 50th time you've done this lol.

You know what you're doing. I'm a sucker for taking the bait. You trolled. You won.

If you're forced into exploitative child labour or sex work, but are so invisible that nobody bothers to compile stress statistics for the horror you endure, well, those with privilege can pretend like their lot is so much worse than yours.

Thus the suffering of many is trivialised every day by the more fortunate.

Just IMO though.

many of who are literally risking their lives helping people less fortunate, and likely experience an unfathomable level of stress and depression, but regardless of how disillusioned they are, they know they have eons better than the people they're helping, which is kind of the point.

and I'm sure there are many pastors who have tremendous stress as well, but it's doubtful the ones who experience the highest level of stress and pressure are the same ones claiming they have the most difficult job on the planet.

and yeah, no one's going into a sweathsop in indonesia, surveying children on their feelings or if they "feel fatigued or worn out at the end of the week" lol.

>many of who are literally risking their lives helping people
>less fortunate, and likely experience an unfathomable level of
>stress and depression, but regardless of how disillusioned
>they are, they know they have eons better than the people
>they're helping, which is kind of the point.

Exactly, because those doctors know that at any time they can walk away and get back on that plane to the States back to their cushy condos.

____________________________

FUCK DONALD TRUMP

and i get it in the sense that one human being is supposed to be so infallible that he can lead hundreds/thousands of others, that's difficult

but it really doesnt compare to physical labor (to me)

What's up, Mr. Exceptional?

---------------------------------
Photo zine(some images NSFW): http://bit.ly/USaSPhoto

"This (and every, actually) conversation needs more Chesterton and less Mike Francesa." - Walleye

And family.

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TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

everyone elses job in the world

Going through it and trying to win not just for themselves but for others without getting into a sackcloth and ashes routine.

I thank God for people like them.

Just IMO though.

how will we recognize their struggle??

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you post simply to inflame and provoke

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Meanwhile, in reality, REAL preachers are doing the hard work of reaching the lost with creative new ideas, thinking outside the box. They're not feeling sorry for themselves.

example: http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=12935390&mesg_id=12935390&page=

____________________________

FUCK DONALD TRUMP

#3 having the right scripture ready in case the side piece doesn't keep quiet

#4 the "building fund"

#5 "Do I look like a pimp? I don't look like a pimp do I?"

#6 turning off Freddie Gibbs before you get out the car so it won't be playing when you get back in with somebody

#7 Justifying the your gay choir director to people you have taught to be homophobic

#8 Looking in the mirror

>#3 having the right scripture ready in case the side piece
>doesn't keep quiet
>
>#4 the "building fund"
>
>#5 "Do I look like a pimp? I don't look like a pimp do I?"
>
>#6 turning off Freddie Gibbs before you get out the car so it
>won't be playing when you get back in with somebody
>
>#7 Justifying the your gay choir director to people you have
>taught to be homophobic
>
>#8 Looking in the mirror

____________________________

FUCK DONALD TRUMP

http://i.imgur.com/pHQ8w4g.gifv

>#3 having the right scripture ready in case the side piece
>doesn't keep quiet
>
>#4 the "building fund"
>
>#5 "Do I look like a pimp? I don't look like a pimp do I?"
>
>#6 turning off Freddie Gibbs before you get out the car so it
>won't be playing when you get back in with somebody
>
>#7 Justifying the your gay choir director to people you have
>taught to be homophobic
>
>#8 Looking in the mirror

... This post is a perfect example of the duel roles a lot of
Christians, especially those in the clergy, like to play up:
victimhood co-existing with the notion that this universe was set into
motion solely with you in mind.

I don't doubt reconciling those two ideas is a struggle, Case, but
your job is very cush compared to most in the united states and I dare
say all worldwide (excluding royalty and politicians).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIQSlHiwUCc

____
Some will tell you that they love you but they've got an ulterior motive - Oh what a shame
They will tell you that they need you but they've got an ulterior motive - Personal gain

(c) Luciano


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg0-qndkemo

in over a decade, and have little interest in joining one, but being the pastor of a small congregation can be a TON of challenging work for little pay.

our pastor organized and led college tours, set up a scholarship fund for graduating HS students, oversaw the daycare (which operated at a loss), counseled people, kept the lights on while we were being threatened w/ closure, etc. all while barely being able to afford a whip and living next door in the house the church owned.

whenever ppl start going in on pastors and churches, i always think of my experiences and how they dont compare at all.

having said that, it's most def not the hardest job in the world. foh Case. lol

________
http://twitter.com/aehorton
http://instagram.com/aehorton

dude definitely puts in long hours...

one thing people forget about pastors is how much they deal with death and family crisis.

but he also never has to cook and one of his biggest challenges is turning down church tail.

****************
TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*

They just don't think dealing with death and family issues as a pastor is worth more of a mention than any number of other professions/callings that do the same thing.

Just IMO though.

or is it in the top 10

=======================================
Coolin...

>or is it in the top 10


Fixed that for you.

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

Y'all have no idea about the physical and mental output that a pastor deals with. Man pastors are the CEO, CFO, Counselor, Janitor, Teacher, Preacher, Statagesit, Project Manager, Community Activist, legal support, Resource Rep, and Spiritual leader for their congregations at the same time. Plus many are still spouses, fathers, and friends. That's why many are called but few are chosen. And I'm just naming a few things.

So when someones says it's not one of the hardest vocations then you need to rethink that matter.

--
Sometimes you have to look reality in the face and say 'No!'
-Ben (Reaper)

If you need any help, don't. Hesitate to ask.

but ppl pushed back when you claimed it is THE hardest job in the USA.

you even claimed it could be THE hardest job in the world.

it's not the hardest job in the USA or the world. but it's a hard job for sure. at least it can be.

fuck you.

>but ppl pushed back when you claimed it is THE hardest job in
>the USA.
>
>you even claimed it could be THE hardest job in the world.
>
>it's not the hardest job in the USA or the world. but it's a
>hard job for sure. at least it can be.
>
>

But if that's all that people can take away from the post and not even discuss the article then is says a lot about the people, not the messenger.

but ppl pushed back when you claimed it is THE hardest job in
>the USA.
>
>you even claimed it could be THE hardest job in the world.
>
>it's not the hardest job in the USA or the world. but it's a
>hard job for sure. at least it can be.
>
>


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^ what does that mean?

fuck you.

______________________________________

Navem nu, cuando sol
Tutu nu, vondo nos nu
Vita em, no continous non
Nos nu ekta nos sepe ta, amen

When the sun shades the ship
We sweat and life is not safe
To swim or to touch not
When we unite we hedge amen

He quoted a water is wet article, and when no one bit said he's got the all time hardest job. Then, when people focused on the statement they felt was wrong, decided to say their focus on his statement says something negative about them because they didn't get into a yes man discussion about all the ways that water is wet and moisture's essence of wetness etc.

Just IMO though.

fuck you.

and that's OK. There's no definitive right or wrong answer. And Still out of all that I have posted that's the only point that you choose to address. SMH
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fuck you.

>and that's OK. There's no definitive right or wrong answer.
>And Still out of all that I have posted that's the only point
>that you choose to address. SMH
>.

The way you've done in this post, there would be less of that behaviour going around. But while you're setting the same example, you can't reasonably expect any change for the better.

Just IMO though.

They also have to take on many roles and many are also very active/activist in their communities.

There's a lot of great literature and support groups out there who can help you if you're struggling so much that the love of Jesus and support of a congregation isn't enough to keep you from feeling like you've got it so much harder than everyone else out there working.

Just IMO though.

fuck you.

to receive all or some of what that I have listed. Pastors can be seen as small business owner with more on the table. Thank you for making my point. Because a pastor is more than a small business owner
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Not every small business owner has a pastor.

Not only that, claiming that pastors don't go to anyone else is false. Because we've had plenty of that in our business. It's amazing how people of all stripes will lean on you in various ways if you also handle their money/tax affairs. That's before I even get into the rank and file Christian small business owners who come to us with those issues because they can't get that sort of support from their pastor.

There are other businesses people who do that and more. Counsellors are an easy example that spring to mind. Maybe you take it all on yourself and never go to anyone else but there are enough examples in the Christian world to contradict what you're saying.

To that end, there's a lot of great literature and support groups out there who can help you if you're struggling so much that the love of Jesus and support of a congregation isn't enough to keep you from feeling like you've got it so much harder than everyone else out there working.

Just IMO though.

Stay in your lane. Jr.

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I simply stated a fact for context.

If clutching that strawman helps you feel better, ok.

But when you're ready to do better, there are a lot of support groups out there who can help you with how hard you find your calling.

Just IMO though.

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But if you'd like to endorse his ways by emulating them then by all means stake your ethics on the opposite of what Rev. Jamal Bryant stands for.

Just IMO though.

... isn't on the list.



>Eight Struggles Pastors Face: A Thanksgiving Story
>
>http://thomrainer.com/2015/11/eight-struggleksgiving-story/
>
>Pastors are struggling.
>
>Yet most pastors love their ministries and churches; and they
>are committed to both.
>
>But they still struggle.
>
>I am blessed to hear from pastors in many venues. Indeed, it
>is a constant stream of information. In the course of a week,
>I will hear directly from over 300 pastors. Sometimes I ask
>them questions directly on my blog, in our online coaching
>community (the ChurchAnswers.com Coaching Corner), or on
>social media.
>
>I also monitor on a regular basis the struggles pastors face.
>Let me share with you the current reality of eight of the most
>common struggles.
>
>1. Leading change. Change has always been rapid, but it is
>exponentially rapid today. While the truths of the gospel are
>unchanging, everything else seems to be changing. Many pastors
>are having a difficult time leading their church members, many
>of whom are change-resistant, to more effective ministry.
>
>2. Criticisms and conflict. Though this issue is not new, it
>has been exacerbated with social media and blogs. It used to
>be that everyone had an opinion. Today, everyone has an
>opinion and a forum to share it.
>
>3. Unrealistic expectations. Every church member has a
>different set of expectations about what the pastor should do
>and where the pastor should be. The cumulative effect is that
>pastors are expected to be omnicompetent, omnipresent, and
>omniscient.
>
>4. Time pressure and life balance. Not only do pastors live
>with unrealistic expectations about their ministries, they
>have other responsibilities as well, particularly family
>responsibilities. Bi-vocational pastors also have the time
>pressures of a second job.
>
>5. Loneliness and insecurities. Pastors feel pressure to
>demonstrate they have it all together. To the contrary, many
>of them feel very alone and deal with insecurities. “It is
>difficult to have a true friend in the church,” a Colorado
>pastor shared with us. “I tried one time, and shared
>confidential issues with him,” he continued. “He broke the
>confidences and caused me to lose my job.”
>
>6. Staff issues. Anyone who works with anyone will have these
>issues. Pastors and staff are not exempt.
>
>7. Personal finances. Because pastors with excessive
>lifestyles get media attention, we often fail to consider that
>the majority of pastors barely get by financially. Personal
>financial stress diminishes ministry effectiveness and family
>health.
>
>8. Church finances. The majority of churches in America are
>under 100 in worship attendance. Many of these small churches
>are struggling financially. But the struggles are also present
>in a number of larger churches. Pastors have the stresses of
>inadequate ministry funding; and they sometimes wonder if they
>will get a paycheck.
>
>Pastors, as a rule, would not want others to have a pity party
>for them. Most of them feel very thankful, very blessed, and
>wouldn’t consider doing anything else. I had other reasons
>for writing this post.
>
>First, we need to have an awareness of these realities.
>Second, we should pray for our pastors daily. And third, let
>us be thankful for them. The pastors who serve our churches
>are a blessing and a joy.
>
>They are a true thanksgiving story.
>.
>.
>.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Best I could come up with: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1GBC6m6zo0Y/hqdefault.jpg