(Continued message from Pastor Bill Lepley delivered to the Donor Dinner gathering January 2014.)
So Why are ministries like Broom Tree so desperately needed?
Because a lot of you are involved in this ministry, you likely know the statistics. But allow me to remind you of the size of the challenge we face. All of the agencies that report on the condition of the pastorale life in North America, (Focus on the Family, Barna Research Group) all reference the same study done in the 1990’s through the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir and did an updated similar study in 2005 among twice as many pastors. Things have not improved.
In the US 58 pastors leave the ministry every day – that’s almost 1,750 a month
80% of Seminary graduates leave ministry in the first 5 years. 1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
71% of pastors stated they were burned out, battle fatigued on a weekly basis.
100% have a close associate or collogue who has left the ministry because of burnout, conflict or moral failure.
89% of the pastors have seriously considered leaving the ministry at one time.
26% of pastors said they regularly have personal devotions.
38% of pastors are divorced. 30% are in an on going affair and 40% struggle with pornography.
70% do not have close personal friends.
80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families
90% report working 55-75 hours a week.
Statistics can seem sterile. What I want you to understand is that this is a war we are in. This is a spiritual battle. We are in enemy occupied territory, the casualties are real and the collateral damage is almost immeasurable.
So let me put flesh and blood to these statistics from my own life and ministry experience of just the past 6 months. Two stories – two personal friends – two personal tragedies. Two people I have talked with personally about these issues. Pastor Joel and Pastor Isaac.
Paster Joel: 25+ years in ministry, preached in my church, worked together to plant a church served on many boards and committees together, pick each other’s brains on ministry challenges. Past summer: involved with 3 women – his church is devastated – Joel is my age.
Pastor Isaac: Late 20-30’s – planting a church in Orlando – rapid growth – became a multi site church of several thousand – gifted communicator – passionate leader with a beautiful wife and three kids – at Thanksgiving suddenly resigned – had an affair with his secretary, discovered alcohol abuse, restraining order and after a year of turmoil tried to heal the marriage filed for divorce and then 5 weeks later took his own life at 36. On the outside he appeared to be a successful pastor, but on the inside Isaac was a troubled soul.
I’ve served for 29 years of pastoral ministry and church leadership and I’ve seen my share of tragedies like these. they not only destroy the pastor and his family and his ministry but they usually derail a churches ministry for at least a decade if not more,
So here is the harsh reality. We are in enemy occupied territory. This is a war! A war in which paradigm shifts like this ministry are desperately needed.
- Whatever you do, strengthen and expand the borders of this ministry.
- Whatever you do, multiply the influence and impact of this ministry.
- Whatever you do, make it possible for more pastors to be impacted by this ministry.