Pray for Pastors

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith…Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:7, 17).

Let me start this devotion with a disclaimer: Pastors Brad, Bill, and James are not going through a pastoral crisis. We all count ourselves incredibly blessed to be leaders at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace.

The reason for this post is because we all can use prayers, but particularly your pastors. Not because anything bad is happening, but so that your pastors can continue serving God and you faithfully.

You see, the devil does not have to destroy a Christian leader in order to mess up what God is doing in a particular congregation. The devil only has to distract a leader.

In a New York Times article, Paul Vitello reported: The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.

Dr. R. J. Krejcir of the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development has been actively involved in multiple surveys of thousands of pastors in various settings from 1989 to 2006. Krejcir states, “Over 70% of pastors are so stressed out and burned out that they regularly consider leaving the ministry. Thirty-five to forty percent of pastors do leave the ministry, most after only five years. 100% of pastors we surveyed had a close associate or seminary buddy who had left the ministry because of burnout, conflict in their church, or from a moral failure.”

God is doing good work at the Little Church Lakewoodgrace. And that is all the more reason why I covet your prayers for your pastors. I know many of you already do. Keep up the good work! I thank God for you! Know you are in my prayers.

Blessings!