Lifeway Research asked 1,000 pastors to look over a list of 44 common challenges faced in ministry and then indicate which ones were current struggles for them. I listed the top 11 challenges a few days ago from the Lifeway website, but lets narrow our focus today to six of those top 11.
Here they are with their ranking and the percentage of pastors who indicated this as a current challenge:
#2 - Consistency in personal prayer: 72%
#3 - Friendships and fellowship with others: 69%
#5 - Consistency of Bible reading not related to sermon or teaching preparation: 68%
#6 - Trusting God: 66%
#8 - Consistency in taking a Sabbath: 64%
# 11 - Confessing and repenting from personal sin: 61%
Why focus on these particular 6 items?
They are all indicators of the spiritual health of the pastor.
Is it ironic that 75% of pastors say their congregation's lack of commitment is a big problem while roughly the same percentage of pastors are struggling in their own spiritual lives? (Consider the likelihood of the percentages for these six items being a bit underestimated, considering how difficult any one of them would be for a pastor to admit.)
Every church should have some sort of board or committee overseeing the pastor. (Most do.) And the pastor's spiritual health should be fair grounds for inquiry.
And then fair grounds for compassionate action.
What sorts of actions? Offering to pay for a spiritual retreat, gifting books, or even paying for an extended sabbatical.
But if you are on one of those church committees and looking for a way to boost your pastor's spiritual vitality in a simple, ongoing capacity, I have for you what sounds like a radical idea on first hearing. But chew on it a bit and you might find it makes loads of sense:
Pastors should be encouraged to think of their personal prayer and Scripture time as part of their church work week. Perhaps even their first and most important duty.
Could change everything.
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