Biblical self-care isn’t so much about “treating yourself” as it is about establishing practices that contribute to your well-being. By Marissa Postell Sullivan Although self-care isn’t new, the past five years have witnessed a notable increase in conversations related to self-care. According to Google Trends, April 2020 marked a peak in search popularity for the … [Read more…]
Are pastors leaving the pulpit in droves because of ministry burnout? Maybe not. Recent research can help us tell fact from fiction. By Marissa Postell Sullivan Each week, headlines tell us pastors are burnt out. They’re leaving the ministry. They’re throwing in the towel. Pastoral ministry is too hard on the family. The demands are … [Read more…]
Only around 1 in 100 pastors leave the ministry each year, according to a Lifeway Research study of evangelical and Black Protestant pastors. By Aaron Earls Pastors face unique challenges in their role and often feel overwhelmed, but few decide to step away from the pulpit and pursue another career. Only around 1 in 100 … [Read more…]
Many pastors carry some hidden struggles below the surface that they don’t feel they can share with others. Here are four. By Dan Hyun Most pastors experience genuine joy in serving the Lord and His church. Even so, many pastors also carry some struggles hidden below the surface that they don’t feel can be shared with others. … [Read more…]
Pain points are inevitable for pastors, but so is joy. The tears will be wiped away one day in heaven, while the joy will last for eternity. By Mark Dance Do you know who originally said, “If you love your job, you will never work a day in your life”? Search engines pin this on … [Read more…]
In a troubling sign for many congregations, half of pastors say they are often or frequently lonely, according to a report of clergy health. By Aaron Earls Pastors may be healthy in many other areas, but most say they struggle with feeling lonely, according to a report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. The U.S. Surgeon … [Read more…]
More pastors are contemplating quitting ministry and leaving their church. Several factors increase the likelihood of those thoughts. By Aaron Earls After enduring the pandemic and reestablishing many of their congregational rhythms, more pastors say they are thinking about leaving their church and maybe even ministry. Lifeway Research studies on the subject found pastors haven’t … [Read more…]
Research shows some of the cultural chaos seems to be settling. We are in a new world, which calls for new skills and a new mindset. By D. Scott Hildreth A couple of months ago, I went to a local shopping mall to have my computer repaired. It had been years since I’d walked through … [Read more…]
For the first time in the history of Gallup’s survey, fewer than a third of Americans trust pastors’ honesty and ethical standards. By Aaron Earls When pastors speak with people in their communities, they may have to overcome an initial distrust. Gallup’s 2023 Honesty and Ethics poll found the ratings of nearly all professions measured to be lower … [Read more…]
In terms of books that encompass the trials that pastors face today none articulate it better than in the book The Resilient Pastor by Glenn Packiam. His book gives a bird’s eye view into the current issues that pastors and the church are facing, along with the hope that we have for the future. Packiam’s … [Read more…]