I didn’t want to borrow a ladder, so I bought my own.
Are you like this? Well, I now own an extension ladder. That’s been useful. But, there have been plenty of times I should have asked for help and didn’t. I’m glad I have learned to ask. When we had to build scaffolding in the worship center, go up thirty-five feet, stand without a guard rail, and work over our heads to replace the lights before the Christmas program, I was glad I could call a guy that hangs Christmas lights for a living. He was happy to go up there and change the bulbs, and I was much more comfortable assisting from the ground. Sometimes it’s best to ask for some help.
You have probably read the statistics.
Pastors Share Top Reasons They’ve Considered Quitting Ministry in the Past Year
www.barna.com
https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry/
Many of us have considered hanging it up. You’ve probably thought about it if you have read this far. If you have thought about leaving the ministry, have you also made a plan for how and when you would do it? Maybe you have already considered what you would do to replace your income. You may have even planned the choice of words you would like to use on your way out. We used to call those the “kick-me-out-sermons.” If you have made similar plans to quit, that could be an indication of at least two things. 1. This is something serious that you need to address and resolve. 2. You would probably be encouraged to be able to talk through your concerns with someone who is pulling for you.
That’s why we say, if you ever think you should quit, call us. If we think you should quit, we will be honest with you and tell you what we think you should do. Fortunately, in most cases, you are dealing with some facet of ministry that we have seen before, and we would tell you there is hope.
When ministry becomes a burden…
When ministry becomes a burden and stays that way, you could be dealing with subtle, unconfessed sin. Do you feel safe confessing your faults to anyone? Would you like a friend to help bring the best out of you? Friends like that are hard to come by in ministry, especially the solo pastorate. We get it. You may feel you cannot afford to be vulnerable with anyone you know. Let us bridge that gap. You are not alone.
Do you have a coach?
Let us hear your story. We can give you feedback that may prove beneficial.
There is help for your wife and children too.
Maybe you or a family member in your household would appreciate help. Jennifer Pierpont is a trained counselor and helps provide counseling remotely via video call. We can also connect you with others who may be able to help.
You may have an important role to fulfill right where you are. So, before you quit, give us a call. Let us know about your challenges. We would like to pray with you and encourage you in life and ministry.