Heart and Soul

Life Way Supports Pastors

Perhaps you have heard the following statements.

• As goes the leadership of an organization so goes the organization.
• An organization, like a fish, rots from the head down.
• Where are they? I must find them! I am their leader!

After trying to train lay people for many years with little successes in church organizations to show for my effort I began to re-think my approach. Although I still love to work with non-clergy, it is a fact that people look to their pastors for setting the pace for organizational growth and change. So, for the past few years I have poured myself and my talents into strengthening pastors and their families.

The stats about leaders and their family life are dismal. Unfortunately, many of the current magazines and seminars supposedly designed for ministers and church leaders make the situation worse not better by pushing pastors to try harder and do more, thus facilitating an impossible, works righteousness approach to the Christian life.

Take a look at some of the data from seminary research:

75% dropout after 15-20 years
Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry monthly due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their church.
Most become Chaplains, Counselors, Insurance Sales
80% say ministry impacts families negatively
40% have conflicts with member monthly
70% have no close friends
1/8th pastors consider quitting
This equals about =44,500 people
© Joseph Umidi @ Regent University,Virginia Beach,VA.

We at Life Way Ministries are dedicated to offering free, confidential counseling, coaching, support and training for ministers from any and every denomination. We are currently helping several leaders, their wives and family members who are suffering from burn out, depression, conflict shell shock and emotional/sexual misconduct.

Pray for us as we develop more channels of support and prevention.

posted by Gary Sweeten @ Thursday, September 28, 2006