The Session: The Pastoral Grind

Here's your first reminder!  Pastor Appreciation Month is just a couple weeks away!  As you think about how to honor the Pastors (AND their families) in your church, Tom & Scott talk about some alarming statistics about why it's important to honor those who serve the Lord and teach you.The Session: The Pastoral GrindProverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life"Stress, loneliness and political division are the three items that rise to the surface.56% of pastors say stress of the job is the biggest issue.(43%) of Pastor, say “I feel lonely and isolated. TreatmentPastors should have a leader outside of his churchPastors should have a small group that they attend with their spouse outside of the church they pastor. Pastors should have a support group that they can be supported in. It should be a safe place where they can vent pray and be supported. If there isn’t one that you’re aware of then maybe start one and invite a number of other pastors to a luncheon to talk about..The following statistics are likely a result of not feeding themselves before the Lord. Without safe people to talk about how they feel it is very difficult.Only 26% of the pastors said they had regular devotions.This is very important. So, in their spiritual bank account, they are running on a negative balance, because they are always withdrawing from that account without depositing in to it.70% of pastors suffer from depressionWithout close relationships or a support group it is difficult to share and open up.77% of pastors believe they are not in a good marriage. 50% of pastors end up in divorcePastors have to prioritize their marriages.  They have to be assertive with their church to get the time and space to do it  They are a role model to their people.40% of pastors have had an extra marital affair.Hurting people turn to the pastor who is hurting which is when needs get met outside of marriage.70% of pastors only study the word when doing sermon prep.They are not exercising their spiritual muscles. 70% of pastors do not have close friendsThere has to be a personal life.  (From Scott….should those friends be outside the church the Pastor serves in?)  Tom's answer?  YES! 35% of Pastors struggle with from sexual sin.  This leads to loneliness and divorce.As Rev. Dr. Glenn Packiam—author of The Resilient Pastor—writes in Barna’s The State of Your Church, “We need sages to advise us, leaders to direct us or hold us accountable, peers to remind us that we aren’t alone, healers to dress our wounds and companions who carry us when we can’t carry on.”  To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at [email protected], or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com