I knew how taxing the ministry was going to be. But no one told me how being in leadership meant going through loneliness.
A recent study conducted by Lifeway Research called, “Pastors’ Greatest Needs” a survey of 1000 American protestant pastors of the past 2 years revealed that pastors struggled with discouragement and depression. The stress of ministry can often lead to loneliness with a lack of friendship.
This is understandable, as I serve as a Senior Pastor myself. So much of the training pastors receive in seminary is how to lead through theological doctrinal differences and correct those thoughts.
However, according to Peacemaker Ministries, over 19,000 congregations experience conflict every year. Out of that only, 2% involve doctrinal issues; the other 98% is interpersonal in nature. A survey of 506 pastors revealed 95% experience conflict, sadly only 16% reported reconciliation as a positive outcome.
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