Friday, December 3, 2010

Just thinking

This is my first attempt at sharing on a much wider means. I ask that you check back from time to time to hear what's happening in my life and ministry. God bless you. T.A.B.

2 comments:

  1. What's Tony reading? Anatomy of the Soul - Surprising connections between neuroscience and spiritual practices that can transform your life and relationships by Curt Thompson, M.D.

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  2. Interesting Statistics About Pastors

    December 9, 2007 |
    Posted by michaelp • Filed Under Ministry

    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: (HT: Historicity)

    • 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America.
    • 4,000 new churches start each year in America.
    • 7,000 churches close each year in America.
    • 50% of pastors’ marriages end in divorce.
    • 70% of pastors continually battle depression.
    • 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles.
    • 95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses.
    • 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
    • 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way to make a living.
    • 80% of pastors spend under 15 minutes a day in prayer.
    • 70% of pastors only study God’s Word when preparing a message.
    • Nearly 40% of pastors have had an extra-marital sexual affair since entering ministry.
    • 80% of seminary graduates who enter ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
    • 80% of pastors’ wives feel their husbands are overworked.
    • 80% of the adult children of pastors sought professional help for depression.
    • 90% of pastors said their training was inadequate for ministry.
    • 85% of pastors report that their biggest problem is dealing with abstinent elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.
    • 90% of pastors said the hardest thing about ministry is uncooperative people.
    • 70% of pastors are grossly underpaid.
    • 80% of pastors’ wives feel unappreciated by the congregation.
    • 90% of pastors said ministry was completely different from what they thought it would be.
    • Only 70% of pastors felt called of God into ministry when they began.
    • Only 50% of pastors felt called of God into ministry three years later.
    • 80% of pastors’ wives feel pressured to be someone they are not and do things they are not called to do in the church.
    • Over 50% of pastors’ wives feel that their husbands entering ministry was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families.

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