Personal crisis of faith.
Related to the item above, some ministers have not practiced what they preach for so long that the whirlwind of change has left them experiencing their own personal crisis of faith. This leaves them thinking they’re not in shape – spiritually and otherwise – to lead until they work through their own spiritual crisis.
The last straw.
Some ministers have been unhappy in ministry for a long time for various reasons. The circumstances of 2020 and early 2021 were the “last straw” to push them into wanting to leave ministry.
And let me give you one more …
Several of the above items happening all at once!
Some of these pastors have experienced multiple issues like those listed above, and has left them feeling emotionally overwhelmed. I can understand that, ANY one of us would likely feel the same way with that level of troubles happening all at once.
A few closing thoughts. So many ministers are godly men who love God and love others and are devoted to a life of following Christ and serving and loving others sacrificially; many have valiantly and courageously faced the challenges of the past year and have been a profound blessing to their families, their congregations, and their communities. Some of these ministers are trying hard but withering under the challenges and criticism they face – some will overcome, some will leave for a different ministry, and some will quit. Others have been negligent in various ways for years and that is the greatest reason why they’re not responding well to moving forward in ministry (yet I know many of these can be helped to overcome if they would seek some help to go forward). A bottom line is these servants of God need their flocks to stopping criticizing them and start helping them shoulder the burdens of ministry together. We need to do all we can to help every pastor move forward and thrive in the ministry God has called them to.
This article originally appeared here.
