Pastors' Prayer Needs
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Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and the Global Pastors Network, printed these statistics gleaned from various sources from across denominational lines, such as Pastor to Pastor, Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, and TNT Ministries.

1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches
4000 new churches begin each year, but over 7000 churches will close
50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living
80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors
70% of pastors feel grossly underpaid.
70% of pastors constantly fight depression
80% of seminary and Bible students who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years
80% of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression
70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
70% said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.
85% of pastors said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people, such as disgruntled elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.

This has its effect on the pastor's marriages & families

80% of pastors' spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouse.
80% of pastors’ wives feel pressured to do things and be something in the church that they really are not.
80% of pastors' wives feel left out and unappreciated by the church members.
The majority of pastors’ wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.
Almost 40% polled said they have had an extramarital affair since beginning their ministry
50% of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.

Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."       What went wrong?

  1. Entering a ministry position to which you are not called by God. You are out of your area of grace and gifting.  Frustration results. Not enough knowledge of divine guidance. (Ephesians 4:7, 11).
  2. Being motivated by the personal needs or ambition in your old nature.  Seduced by the prestige & power of the exalted position. Puffed up by the knowledge from seminary.  Failure to have a support & accountability group. Failure to delegate jobs to the more gifted & talented. (1 Tim. 3:3)
  3. Demonic attack or oppression by those inside or outside the church. Not being spiritually cleaned up regularly.  Not having an intercessor team for support & protection. (Rev. 2:12-29)  ( Praying for your church.)
  4. Trying to save the world on your own strength & wisdom.  Praying to God to 'help' you in the programs you came up with. Not trusting God to lead and provide for His Own programs. (Jer. 29:11-13)
  5. God is cleaning up His Church, including the leaders. When times of stress and trauma occur, cut back on the work load to cope with the added stress.  (1 Peter 4:17).

What can the brethren do for their pastoral brother?

Obey his instructions.  If he has responsibility for you, he should also have equal authority over you.  He is not your paid handyman.  Fear God who put him over you.
Pray for them.  Pray for faith, hope and love.  Pray for humility and dedication.  Pray for guidance and wisdom.  Pray for an understanding of their position before God and among the brethren.
Bless the church.  Pray for the brethren to learn divine guidance and wisdom.  Pray for all the functions of the church to be blessed.  Pray for God to raise up missionaries, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers from our midst.  Pray for the members to grow into their God-ordained positions in the church.
Pray preventive deliverance and protection for him, his family and his property.  Pray divine blessing for anyone who has worked or conspired against them.  Pray protection for his intercessors.
Hold him in account for seeking the Lord on any new programs.  Hold him in account for taking needed time off. 

Here is a questionnaire to diagnose the burnout potential of the pastor.

Tim Temple's answer to the Big Question above:  "Pastor/Leader" is not a role in the New Testament, except in "Titus" where poor Titus was given the job to manage a bunch of new, reprobate Cretan Christians.  (Titus 1:10-14)  His job was to bring them to maturity where they could be led directly by the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Jesus pointed out that He was to be the ultimate leader of churches. (Matt. 18:17-20)  The church at Ephesus was one of the healthiest Paul wrote to.  He listed pastors as second to the bottom of importance in such a church. (Eph. 4:17-23)

Pastor Joby Martin of Church of Eleven22 preached an answer to the BIG Question above.

Pastor Ryan Stone of Church of Eleven22 also preached an answer to the BIG Question above as well.

edited: April 21, 2017         orderofsaintpatrick.org/church/pastoring.htm