KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Preacher
...PEOPLE GIVE HIM very little help but expect him to be a great communicator in the pulpit, an incredible organizer and leader in the office, and a perfect husband and parent at home...
That's a heavy burden for anybody to carry. In his book Pastors at Risk, H.B. London quotes some startling statistics from a 1991 survey of preachers conducted by Fuller Institute. Here is what the survey said:
90% work more than forty-six hours a week.
80% believe the ministry has affected their families negatively.
33% say that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
75% report a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry.
50% feel unable to meet the needs of the job.
90% feel they were inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.
70% say they have a lower self-image than when they started in the ministry.
40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
THOUGHT: Your preacher needs your prayers and support.
KneEmail: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -- and for me..." (Eph. 6:18-19a)