Pastor Stats...

Here are some stats given to me in my Pastoral Counseling class; not exactly encouraging stuff but compelling. I guess they were taken through polling pastors in 1991 by the Fuller Institute of Church Growth. The first set is just a list of troubling stats, and the second regards issues in pastors' marriages. Thoughts?

• 90% of pastors work more than 46 hours per week
• 80% believe the ministry negatively affects their family
• 33% said that being in the ministry was outright hazardous to their health
• 75% reported a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their family
• 50% felt unable to meet the needs of the job
• 90% felt they were inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands
• 70% say they have a lower self-esteem now than when they started out
• 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at lest once a month
• 37% confessed to having been involved in an inappropriate sexual behavior with someone in the church
• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend

Problems in clergy marriages

1. 81% insufficient time
2. 71% use of money
3. 71% income level
4. 64% communication
5. 63% congregational expectations
6. 57% leisure time

On John 21:22

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" I was reading the last few chapters of John this morning; a personal high point in all of God's Word. One of my all-time favorite verses is John 21:7, in which Peter while fishing recognizes that it is the resurrected Lord on the beach and immediately jumps into the water, swimming to Jesus. Following him were the other disciples rowing the boat. I love Peter's unabashed love for Christ and disregard for appearances, in that moment he's going to follow Jesus and nothing else matters, not the boat, not the fish, not the other disciples, not his appearance. Peter's gonna be with Jesus. I like that attitude and I wish I had more of it. But this morning it was the verse I quoted at the start, John 21:22 that really captured me. Countless pages have covered this verse better than I will, but I just want to throw a few thoughts out there. Here Jesus is responding to a question of Peter's, "What about my buddy John over here? You just told me I'm gonna be strung up because of following you, what about John?" And like in so many situations, Jesus' response is incredible. First of all he acknowledges that he has control over John's fate, basically saying 'hey if I want the guy to live, he'll live, and if I want him to die, he'll die, and I'll determine the timing of that'. That would be a fairly bold statement for someone who wasn't God... but for Jesus it aint no thing. See God is the one who makes men rise or fall, He is looking after everything. In line with this thought is the other aspect of Jesus' response; "Don't worry about what's going to happen to him, you follow me." It is not our duty to look at our brother and sister, to evaluate and say 'Where do I stack up next to them?' 'Is their life better than mine?' 'Will they have a greater impact, will they outlive me, will they be more successful, do I measure up to them?' None of that matters, none of that should bring out jealousy or envy. Why? Because we're commanded to follow Jesus, not other men or our own egos. We get our marching orders from God and let the chips fall where they may. Maybe the guy next to you will be more successful. Doesn't matter. We are commanded to obedience, not 'success'. After all, it is God who makes men rise and fall, live and die, our only job is to follow after Him, to love Him, to get out of the boat and swim after Him.