The following statistics have been gathered from basically three sources: The 1991 Fuller Survey, Barna Research Group (George Barna), and from a tape by H. B. London, Focus on the Family.

There is stress in the ministry!

• 90% of pastors work more than 46 hours a week
• 75% of pastors report a significant stress related crisis at least once in their ministry
• 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month

In such conditions, it is natural that a pastor's sense of adequacy and self-worth often suffers.

• 50% of pastors feel unable to meet the demands of the job
• 90% feel they were inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands
• 70% of pastors say they have a lower self-image now than when they started in the ministry
• 50% of pastors go to work each day with the feeling that what they do doesn't count.

What can be done about stress? Jesus said (Matthew 11:28) "Come unto me and I will give you rest" (later "rest for your souls"). There are times when physical activity (aerobic exercise, recreation, etc) can help, but an intimate (up-to-date) relationship with Christ, opens the door to relief from stress. Pastor Cho has spoken of how he MUST pray three hours a day. Otherwise, he says, he could not possibly stand the stress. Another valuable source of stress relief, is to develop significant friendships (especially with other pastors) who understand the stress you experience, and afford you the opportunity to "vent" as necessary.

Stress in Pastors' families

Pastors' families are under a great deal of stress!

• 80% of pastors believe that pastoral ministry has affected their families negatively.
• 33% say that being in the ministry is an outright hazard to their family.

Pastors are constantly trying to juggle the demands of ministry life- verses- family life, usually satisfying neither side! My own daughters (Tom Salter speaking) both follow the Lord as adults-I am very grateful! But both of them have confronted me in adult life to share that while they were growing up they felt that the ministry was more important in my life than they were!

Pastors Wives---often suffering in silence

Only 5% of pastors nationwide are women, but the overwhelming majority of the 95% of male pastors nationwide are married. Pastors' wives are often out of the limelight. Many of them are isolated from other women who understand their plight (like other pastors' wives). At Barnabas Factor, both in representation on our Board, and with future programming, we desire to address the special needs of pastors' wives.

One survey I heard about (source: H.B. London, Focus on the Family) said that 53% of pastors' wives are "in depression"!

With their husbands going through their own kinds of ministry stress, and wives suffering (often silently), it is easy to see why many pastoral families are in crisis!

It is so easy for pastoral couples to develop blockages in their marriages! Each spouse has unique challenges, and the demands upon them make "communication time" absolutely essential, but also difficult to schedule. What can be done about it? More "get-aways" can certainly help! One of our main focuses in our Lake Tahoe-based ministry (Barnabas Factor) is to provide housing for little cost for pastors and their spouses to get away for up to a week at a time. Contact us and see what we can do for you!

In addition, there are several resources that we've become acquainted with through our association with "Care Givers Forum" that offer a guided retreat for pastoral couples, focusing on marriage. In addition, there are several geographically placed resources for more intense therapy specifically aimed at problems in pastoral marriages. Contact us for referrals.