A Bullseye on the Back!

It's not easy being a pastor.

Here are some stats why:

50% of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce
80% of seminary graduates will leave ministry in the first 5 years
70% of pastors are grossly underpaid (compared to the amount of work they do)
80% of pastors’ spouses believe their spouse is overworked
50% of pastors feel unable to meet the needs of the job
80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their family
56% of pastors’ spouses have no close friends
80% of pastors’ kids seek professional help for depression

80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors

Here are some more stats:

50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

85% of pastors said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people.

90% of pastors said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people

95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses

70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant or mentor

66% of pastors and their families feel pressure to model the ideal family to their congregations and communities

5 years - the average tenure of a pastor at a church

1500 pastors leave ministry each month due to moral failure, burnout or contention in their churches

Pastors who work fewer than 50 hours a week are 35% more likely to be terminated

The average church member expects the pastor to be able to juggle 16 major tasks

Approximately 4,000 new churches begin each year while more than 7,000 churches close down each year.

I guess we should be praying for our pastors then!

Sources:
http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=2693
http://www.maranathalife.com/lifeline/stats.htm

(ht: Rob)