tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post1086414760537264839..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: Ministry-- the Vocation with Greatest Job Satisfaction?Ben Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-88931598455530330402007-12-09T18:40:00.000-08:002007-12-09T18:40:00.000-08:00not to be contra, but i also have seen statistics ...not to be contra, but i also have seen statistics that seemingly say the exact opposite, i wonder if you would agree or what you think about these? (i'm not too sure about the source, but if so... wow!)<BR/><BR/>According to Shiloh Place Ministries (shilohplace.org), which drew its information from Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, and other respected groups:<BR/><BR/>• 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America.<BR/>• 4,000 new churches start each year in America.<BR/>• 7,000 churches close each year in America.<BR/>• 50% of pastors' marriages end in divorce.<BR/>• 70% of pastors continually battle depression.<BR/>• 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles.<BR/>• 95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses.<BR/>• 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor. <BR/>• 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way to make a living.<BR/>• 80% of pastors spend under 15 minutes a day in prayer.<BR/>• 70% of pastors only study God's Word when preparing a message. <BR/>• Nearly 40% of pastors have had an extra-marital sexual affair since entering ministry.<BR/>• 80% of seminary graduates who enter ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.<BR/>• 80% of pastors' wives feel their husbands are overworked. <BR/>• 80% of the adult children of pastors sought professional help for depression.<BR/>• 90% of pastors said their training was inadequate for ministry.<BR/>• 85% of pastors report that their biggest problem is dealing with abstinent elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors. <BR/>• 90% of pastors said the hardest thing about ministry is uncooperative people.<BR/>• 70% of pastors are grossly underpaid.<BR/>• 80% of pastors' wives feel unappreciated by the congregation.<BR/>• 90% of pastors said ministry was completely different from what they thought it would be. <BR/>• Only 70% of pastors felt called of God into ministry when they began.<BR/>• Only 50% of pastors felt called of God into ministry three years later.<BR/>• 80% of pastors' wives feel pressured to be someone they are not and do things they are not called to do in the church. <BR/>• Over 50% of pastors' wives feel that their husbands entering ministry was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families.Chris Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03673721640207294715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-41935723236910396152007-12-07T09:40:00.000-08:002007-12-07T09:40:00.000-08:00In response to b-w,I don't know if you were referr...In response to b-w,<BR/><BR/>I don't know if you were referring to my post, but just in case, I was not exactly ranting, and I don't think there was anything in my tone that would suggest a rant. I was simply offering my own reflections. But perhaps my observations were a little out of place. I might be willing to grant that.<BR/><BR/>I do think you brought up a good point about the statistic concerning the happiness of ministers. I'm not sure what to make of that statistic, whether I thought it would be higher or lower. Ministers have a lot of stress and many congregational issues to deal with, and on account of those considerations I think I'm surprised that the percentage was as high as it was. But on the other side, their work is spiritually fulfilling; and when someone believes that he is serving God and people, he is probably going to be a pretty happy fellow.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, I'm hoping to attend grad school and get a master's and PhD in New Testament. I ultimately want to be a college Bible professor and a preacher, so some of this information may be useful to me.<BR/><BR/>-KeithNew England Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972032226966200270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-27531594310008862562007-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:002007-12-07T08:35:00.000-08:00By the title, I'd hoped for more commentary on the...By the title, I'd hoped for more commentary on the specific statistic of happy ministers. Instead, I got another rant about all the things that are wrong with America on the basis of the numbers.<BR/><BR/>This is not to dispute the numbers, nor the wrongness of the actions described. But that's a REALLY old tale, by now, and I hoped for something more interesting.Mark Baker-Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14593390925694976101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-5783877505352416212007-12-06T23:09:00.000-08:002007-12-06T23:09:00.000-08:00Dr. Witherington,Those facts that you provided are...Dr. Witherington,<BR/><BR/>Those facts that you provided are amazing, although truth be told, I'm not really all surprised by them. I wonder how those statistics would feature in the Christian sphere. I don't think they would be much different. It goes to show that the Corinthians are alive and well today.<BR/><BR/>-KeithNew England Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972032226966200270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-57036051457504257802007-12-06T22:27:00.000-08:002007-12-06T22:27:00.000-08:00Well, except for the Vodka, I've had just about ev...Well, except for the Vodka, I've had just about every food item on that list this year alone. Yikes!<BR/><BR/>I am just a tad biased, but I think being a minister is the coolest job in the world. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Getting paid to study the Bible and to teach others also, how much better can it get? Plus, I get to read all the books I want, and I get to hang out with God's people. And with my sermons on the Net, I'll have a ministry long after I'm with the Lord.<BR/><BR/>For me, it's a dream come true. I bet you feel the same way about teaching God's Word. Your books and tapes will continue to teach others also for decades to come!<BR/><BR/>Marc, who's burning the midnight oil again.Marc Axelrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364703655694001236noreply@blogger.com