By Shawn McMullen
This issue of Christian Standard looks at several critical challenges Christian leaders face and some of the ministries that exist to help them overcome those challenges.
The impetus behind the theme is a report issued by Barna Research published in the spring of 2022 titled, “Ministry Challenges, By Pastors Who Have Considered Quitting.” (See related article at: https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry/.) The articles you’ll read in this issue consider the challenges and point to ministries among our churches that provide encouragement, direction, and support for Christian leaders who face them.
Adding to the present political turmoil, local church leaders and missionaries around the world face rapidly changing social, moral, and sexual standards. No wonder many respondents to the survey cited “current political divisions” as a reason they were considering leaving the ministry. Others simply said, “I don’t feel respected by the congregants.” In Facing the Changing Face of Culture, Karl Halverson, executive director of Literature and Teaching Ministries and president of College Press Publishing Company, shows us how several ministries (LATM and College Press, along with the International Conference on Missions, Pioneer Bible Translators, Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism, and LifeLine Christian Mission) are helping church leaders guide their congregations through the present cultural maze.
Nearly one-fourth of survey respondents cited, “My church is steadily declining” as one of their great challenges. With many church leaders leaving the ministry in their first five years of service, what can be done to help young ministers begin well and develop good habits that can lead to successful ministry? In Three Habits for Ministry Today—and a Place to Learn Them, Ben Cachiaras, senior pastor of Mountain Christian Church (Joppa, Maryland) and representing Spire Network, shares three key ministry habits that help us put our focus where it really belongs—on following Jesus.
Building on the same topic, Daniel McCoy, editorial director for Renew.org, suggests specific ways leaders can combat discouragement in ministry in Discouraged in Ministry? 10 Ideas from Renew.org.
Fifty six percent of ministers who responded to the Barna survey considered quitting because of “the immense stress of the job.” In The Fuel That Ignites Unbearable Stress, Jeff Vines, lead pastor of ONE&ALL Church (San Dimas, California) opens our eyes to the things that create stress in ministry. Reflecting on his personal experience with stress and burnout, Jeff points us to the right questions to ask and to the truth that sustains us.
Nearly half of surveyed ministers considered leaving the ministry because they felt lonely and isolated. In that light, how can church leaders develop the kind of personal relationships and support systems to sustain and encourage them in ministry? David Vaughan, president of D. Vaughan Consulting and ministry coach with Christian Church Leadership Network, points to key factors that can lead to a feeling of isolation in ministry and provides a clear path forward in, Avoiding a Mount Carmel Meltdown.
Many church leaders in the survey considered leaving the ministry because they felt their role was having a negative impact on their family. Representing Uncommon Men’s Ministry, Clayton Hentzel, lead minister of The Crossing (Quincy, Illinois), offers seven guidelines for leading effectively while still caring for our spouses and children in The Uncommon Family.
Many survey respondents agreed with the statement, “I don’t feel equipped to cope with ministry demands. To address this concern, we called on two veteran church leaders, Ken Idleman, vice president of leadership development for the Solomon Foundation (Parker, Colorado) and Alan Ahlgrim, administrator for Covenant Connections (Longmont, Colorado). Together they wrote, Staying Strong in Ministry Leadership to help church leaders rise to the demands of ministry while serving with satisfaction and joy.
The sharp decline we’ve witnessed in our culture’s respect toward the church and the Christian faith has significant impact on vocational ministers. In light of this, many church leaders find themselves spending much time with church members and little time with the unchurched. Trevor Littleton, executive director for Kainos Leadership Network (Solon, Ohio), shows us how leaders can cultivate relationships outside of the church for evangelism and discipleship in Fighting for the Unchurched.
Even as we address the crucial challenges church leaders face, we’re aware that this issue of Christian Standard carries us into the Easter season. To help us focus on Resurrection Sunday and all it represents, we’ve asked Steve Yeaton, senior minister with First Christian Church (Columbus, Indiana), to remind us that Jesus Christ dramatically changes the lives of those who put their trust in him. In Never the Same, Steve looks at the apostle Peter’s post-resurrection encounter with Christ to show us how Jesus brought Peter back into the fold and altered forever the trajectory of his life.
The words challenge and hope describe well the focus of this issue. Ministry can be hard. And discouraging. But we stick with it because of hope—hope in whom we serve, and hope in the work to which he has called us.
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