Pastor's Need Prayer Statistics

The following statistics were sent out recently by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and the Global Pastors Network. These statistics come from across denominational lines and have been gleaned from various sources, such as Pastor to Pastor, Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, and Dr. Ted Rose's book - Pastor's Need Prayer.

* Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.


* Four thousand new churches begin each year, but over seven thousand churches will close.


* Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.


* Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.


* Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.


* Ninety-five percent of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses. Eighty percent of pastors surveyed spend less than fifteen minutes a day in prayer.


* Seventy percent of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.


* Fifty percent are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.


* Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.


* Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.


* Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years. Ninety percent of pastors said their seminary or Bible school training did only a fair to poor job preparing them for ministry.


* Eighty percent of pastors' spouses feel their spouse is overworked.


* Eighty percent of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression.


* Eighty-five percent said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people, such as disgruntled elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors. Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.


* Seventy percent of pastors feel grossly underpaid.


* Eighty percent of pastors' wives feel left out and unappreciated by the church members.


* Ninety percent said the ministry was completely different than what they thought it would be before they entered the ministry.


* Seventy percent felt God called them to pastoral ministry before their ministry began, but after three years of ministry, only fifty percent still felt called.


* Eighty percent of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession. Eighty percent of pastors' wives feel pressured to do things and be something in the church that they really are not. The majority of pastors' wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.


* In North America, more than one-quarter of a million people serve others by pastoring a church. It has been said that pastoring may be one of the most demanding jobs - and one of the least financially rewarding positions - in North America.


* As for spiritual gifts, seven of ten pastors (sixty-nine percent) claim that their primary gift is teaching or preaching. No other gift was listed by more than fifteen percent of the pastors interviewed. Relatively few pastors - five percent - say that they are gifted as leaders. Only three percent of all senior pastors claim that they have the gifts of teaching and leadership.


* There are approximately 10,000 Seminaries/Bible Colleges in the world today. These institutions will only be able to produce approximately five to seven percent of the needed pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. Less than ten percent of all ministers worldwide have ever had formal Bible College/Seminary training.

 In the May, 2001 edition of Charisma magazine, Tim Franklin wrote:

"Most sheep do not understand the incredible demands or expectations that are upon ministers to perform, provide, and produce. We normally speak at least two times a week, and we want our messages to be inspiring and life-giving. But it takes quality time along with God and periods of study to make them that way.

In addition, we are expected to counsel; lead a corporation; heal family relationships; build marriages; attend prayer meetings, fellowship groups, graduations, parties and baby dedications; raise money; build buildings; be involved in community events; oversee ministries; do hospital visitation; provide a 24-hour hot line service at home; and be model spouses and parents.

These are just a sample of the "expectations" placed on ministers! And all of them are important, all of them take the minister away from his or her family."

Tony Cooke wrote an amazing list on what members can do for their pastor. 

What are some things you can do for your pastor?

1. PRAY FERVENTLY - Pray for your pastor and the pastor's spouse and family.
2. RESPECT SINCERELY - Be respectful and courteous. Honor your pastor as a gift from God. Esteem him highly in love for his work's sake.
3. GIVE GENEROUSLY - Support your church financially - bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse.
4. SERVE JOYFULLY - Serve in the church. Give freely of your time to the ministries and the programs of your church.
5. COMPENSATE APPROPRIATELY - Do all you can do to make sure your pastor is properly compensated. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 says, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." In addition to a good salary and compensation package, bless your pastor on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and at Christmas. Receive a special offering so the pastor's family can go on a nice vacation. Don't be like the stingy people who prayed, "God, you keep our pastor humble, and we'll keep him poor."
6. REFRESH FREQUENTLY - Make sure that your pastor is able to attend some continuing education events each year just for ministers. The pastor's skills need to be refreshed and sharpened, and he needs to be ministered to also. If your church does not have it in the budget for the pastor to attend some of these events, a special offering is in order. The cost of the pastor's continuing education and spiritual refreshing is something that the church cannot afford not to do; it is one of the best financial investments the church can make.
7. EXPECT REASONABLY - We all have certain expectations of spiritual leaders, but some expectations can be unfair and impossible to meet. Pastors are human beings. They are not perfect, nor do they have perfect spouses or children. Many pastors' children have been hardened to church and the things of God because of harsh, judgmental attitudes coming from church members.

Praying for your pastor is one of the greatest privileges, and also produces rewards back to you.