Comments on: Harsh Reality of Ministry

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 17:54:18 +0000

Oh, I believe the stats, I’m just not sure they are any worse than many other professions. Try being a DHS social worker. We all have it worse than some and better than others. We could be living on a mountain of trash outside of Manilla. I am not unsympathetic to the crap pastors have to put up with (or dish out in some cases!), I just question whether they are unique. People are people. I am sure pastors would have a great job if they didn’t have to work with them.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 16:32:09 +0000

My daughter wants to be a youth minister. And although I would not try to pursuade her away from this…she is so tenderhearted and caring. I have seen our poor pastors, assistant pastors and youth director deal with some really nasty crap from our congregation. I would hate for her to deal with stuff like that, yet I know how mean-spirited people can be.

I keep telling her to get a minor in business or finance or something to fall back on…just in case.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 12:08:49 +0000

Here’s to all of us statistics! For everyone who doesn’t believe the stats, let me give a little personal experience. I have served at 3 churches on staff and many more part time or lay. Of those, at least half of the leadership has been personally abusive to the point of being under discipline or needing to be. I have had personal counselling betrayed and even lies in the community started about me by the pastor. If you can’t believe the stats, I am glad you have had such great experiences in the church. If you can believe that stats, I hope that you know that your calling sustains you because it is God who works in you to finish his mission.

BTW, does anyone know of a church who is looking for a… nevermind.

By: Catbird

Catbird — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 03:09:16 +0000

I have wanted to comment for two days now, but I’ve had a hard time coming up with what to say without writing a book or slamming the valid opinions expressed by the other commenters.
What I’ve finally come up with is this: it’s easy to dismiss statistics when you’re not one of them. And I’m one of them, so it is both a relief and a discouragement to see that I’m not alone.
God IS working (PTL!) but ministry is sacrificial by nature. And all sacrifices are felt. Sometimes we feel the sacrifices in ways we had expected (low salaries, delayed gratification/fruition of efforts, family-life interrupted by ministry-life, etc.)
And sometimes the sacrifices we make are not ones we choose, but ones that are forced on us by imperfect people serving in imperfect churches in an imperfect world. And there’s the rub.
Life is hard. Ministry is harder.
But God is good.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:03:44 +0000

You also need to consider the stats on us smucks. What is the percentage of people dissatisfied with their job or pay? Probably very high also. What is the denominator of the 1500 number? Statistics are good things, coming from a person who uses them all the time, but can be used inappropriately.

I heard a story on Humankind (NPR) last night that talked about about a community of people that lived on a literal mountain of trash outside of Manilla. Bill Mosher, the host, was amazed at how gracious and happy the people were. He claimed that they were happier and more content than you will find in wealthy American cities. He attributed it to a sense of community and meaningful human connection. Maybe we, even pastors, are looking in the wrong places for our contentment.