October is Pastor Appreciation month.  Please pray for your pastor and his/her family as well as all the other pastors and church leaders in your community. Back in 2017, we published an article showing chilling statistics about Pastors provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, Lifeway, Schaeffer Institute of Leadership Development, and Pastoral Care Inc . Below are the updated results.  Take a look at see where there has been improvement and where we still have room for growth.  

“In the broader culture today, Christian ministers are as likely to be ignored as they are to be admired. But despite the challenges they face, called and committed pastors are essential to lead and shepherd the Christian community through the wilderness ahead. But how are these leaders doing” (Barna)

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Newly Revised Statistics

• 72% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
• 84% of pastors feel they are on call 24/7.
• 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families. Many pastor’s children do not attend church now because of what the church has done to their parents.
• 65% of pastors feel their family lives in a “glass house” and fear they are not good enough to meet expectations.
• 78% of pastors report having their vacation and personal time interrupted with ministry duties or expectations.
• 65% of pastors feel they have not taken enough vacation time with their family over the last 5 years.
• 66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves.
• 53% of pastors report that the seminary did not prepare them for the ministry.
• 90% of pastors report the ministry was completely different than what they thought it would be like before they entered the ministry.
• 85% of pastors report the use of the internet and other resources have improved their study time compared to when they first started their ministry.
• 95% of pastors report not praying daily or regularly with their spouse.
• 57% of pastors believe they do not receive a livable wage.
• 57% of pastors being unable to pay their bills.
• 53% of pastors are concerned about their future family financial security.
• 75% of pastors report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
• 80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses have felt unqualified and discouraged as role of pastors at least one or more times in their ministry.
• 52% of pastors feel overworked and cannot meet their church’s unrealistic expectations.
• 54% of pastors find the role of a pastor overwhelming.
• 80% of pastors expect conlfict within their church.
• 75% of pastors report spending 4-5 hours a week in needless meeting
• Over 50% of pastors state the biggest challenge is to recruit volunteers and encourage their members to change (living closer to God’s Word).
• 70% of pastors report they have a lower self-image now than when they first started.
• 70% of pastors do not have someone they consider to be a close friend.
• 81% of pastors have been tempted to have inappropriate sexual thoughts or behavior with someone in the church but have resisted.
• 57% of pastors feel fulfilled but yet discouraged, stressed, and fatigued.
• 84% of pastors desire to have close fellowhip with someone they can trust and confide with.
• Over 50% of pastors are unhealthy, overweight, and do not exercise.
• The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman”.
• Many denominations are reporting an “Empty Pulpit Crisis”.  They do not have a shortage of ministers but have a shortage of ministers desiring to fill the role of a pastor.
• 71% of churches have no plan for a pastor to receive a periodic sabbatical.
• 66% of churches have no lay counseling support.
• 1 out of every 10 pastors will actually retire as a pastor.

Improvements:

• 73% of churches are treating their pastors better.  This statistic has improved due to the advent of clergy appreciation, better education on the role of the pastor, and denominational awareness to better supporting their pastors.
• 77% of pastors, especially millennials ( younger pastors ages usually born around 1978-1990), are spending 20 or more hours with their families each week.
• 90% of pastors feel they are called and in the place where God has called them.

Older Statistics Still Being Researched for Current Numbers:

• **4,000 new churches begin each year and 7,000 churches close.
• **Over 1,500 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
• **Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month ,many without cause.
• **Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.

(Except from Pastoral Care Inc.)