Burnout, suicidal thoughts, demonic attack and despair plague many in the ministry.

Few understand what pastors and church leaders go through. The pressure and warfare is so intense that many are leaving the ministry.

After considering all that I'm about to share, which is a small glimpse into an even greater problem, I want to encourage you to rally around your leaders like you never have.

ELEVEN REASONS PASTORS ARE IN CRISIS

1. 18% have considered ending their lives in the past year.

The weight of ministry is so extreme that one in five pastors have contemplated ending it all within the past twelve months.

2. Spiritual warfare is indescribable.

Especially for those who are advancing with passion and anointing, church leaders often find themselves in a spiritual vortex that can't be easily understood or stopped.

Due to their authority in the spirit, invisible entities target them and attack relentlessly. Nightmares are common, yet not anywhere near the most severe of their experiences.

Irrational, suffocating fear can strike at any moment. Despair, hopelessness and terror can grip them. Actual visitations of demonic spirits are not rare. Supernaturally-initiated anxiety can drive them near mad.

Satan's assault is crafty, continual and impossible to understand in the natural.

3. Ministry often causes crisis in the family.

It's very common for spouses and children to resent and even resist the call of ministry due to the unfair burdens they often have to bear.

People often try to get to the pastor through the spouse. The manipulation, demands, accusations and even well-meaning discussions typically end up spinning wives out. They barely recover, if they do at all, by the following Sunday.

This tension is extremely difficult to navigate for many church leaders. The call to ministry is from God, very intense and not to be taken lightly. Of course, the call to minister to their family comes first, but this tug-of-war can wear leaders and their families down to the point of depression, or worse.

4. Betrayal can be devastating.

Did you know that pastors are often ready to quit and that their wives (if not themselves as well) can erupt in tears for weeks or months when people leave the church or cause trouble? Of course not. They put on a smile and plow through. You never see it.

Of course, people rarely leave churches in a healthy way. The trail of destruction in their wake can destroy a church, and the pastor and his family live in constant concern that the ministry might suddenly collapse.

When people they have supported, prayed for, encouraged, given leadership positions to and trusted with ministry turn on them, it's like a serrated dagger that rips through their hearts.

5. Gossip can hurt more than betrayal.

Betrayal usually ends with people leaving the church. Gossips remain in position in the church and keep talking. It's a wicked attempt to gain influence. It's a true Absalom situation that divides the church and invites dark, evil spirits to ministry through those who are causing distention.

Gossip is fueled by a demonic spirit of witchcraft and is extremely powerful. Pastors most often feel this evil spirit in the atmosphere well before they hear about what was spoken through the “witches,” those who are poisoning the people with their verbal vomit.

6. Financial burdens threaten the church every day.

Pastors should be giving themselves to prayer and study of the Word. In most cases, they are not called to raise funds and deal with the financial pressures of the church.

The bills of the church are not the responsibility of the pastor. They are the responsibility of the people. If there's a mission that must be funded, an electric bill that must be paid, a paycheck that can't be skipped, the people should rally together and cover it. Every week. Every time.

Further, if at all possible, pastors should receive healthy salaries so their own bills don't consume their emotional energy. They must be free of every possible burden if they hope to avoid burnout. Tent making may be necessary at a time, but it must be as short-term as possible.

7. Lack of buy-in of the vision can be demoralizing.

When people don't exhibit passion and don't have a laser focus on the vision of the house, it leaves the pastor spinning his wheels. Instead of advancing in the assignment, they become exhausted attempting to cast the vision over and over again.

They trade the mantle of prophet for salesman, trying to make the mission as exciting as possible.

Instead of a Gideon army who are fully locked-in and devoted, they are left with people who are scattered, complaining, apathetic or resistant.

8. Fear of failure can be overwhelming.

The dream of fulfilling the call that God placed on their lives often leads to disillusionment, depression and permeating sadness.

Rejection by the very people hey expected to run the race with cuts deep, and the threat of falling well short of the goal is very real.

9. Pastors are expected to do what they aren't wired to do.

Pastors should be in prayer and in the Word. Anything beyond that should be according to their specific gifting and calling, not the demands of culture or the people in the church.

We have pastors called on to counsel when they have no training or desire to do so.
They are expected to be available at any hour.
They risk losing people if they turn down invitations or don't meet their demands.
They are starting programs and ministries they have no desire to, but are demanded by the people.

Due to this, many wave the white flag, give up the focused call and do what everybody expects. They show up for work, but in their heart they quit long ago.

10. They spend their energy herding cats.

They are the welcoming committee, the assimilation team, the retention department and the crisis managers.

It's common for them to worry when they don't have the chance to say hi or bye to someone on a Sunday morning. They carry that throughout the week, ruminating on whether they offended the individual or not.

The mission becomes all about keeping people happy, connected and served instead of what it's really supposed to be.

Instead of advancing in the mission, they are continually attempting to make sure the people stay connected, happy and affirmed.

11. By design, God is adding to the pressure.

Leaders aren't only attacked by the enemy or troubled by people, they are crushed, challenged and called to go deeper by God.

This is a difficult, but appropriate and welcome pressure that absolutely should demand their full attention. This intensity is enough to push a leader to the brink. It results in breaking, humility and a greater anointing.

However, when the other ten issues are added in, the pastor can find himself broken for the long term.

And, yes, God will allow some of the ten issues as part of the pastor's personal ministry school. Training in the fire is necessary and God will allow what seems to be unfair in order to make them ready.

The attacks of the enemy and the body can result in refining and a greater dependance on God.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE

Pastoring is considered to be the third most stressful and difficult job in the world.

There are burdens and struggles that go well beyond what I outlined here.

Of course, when a pastor is called, they must do what they can to press on and through. We could look at each of the above points and discuss a resolution for the pastor. God didn't call them to succumb. They have the victory.

There are strategies on dealing with an Absalom spirit in the camp. There are ways to help ensure health in the pastor's family. They can deal with their own limits and fears. They can learn how to war more effectively in the spirit realm.

But the truth remains, most nobody understands what ministry leaders go through on a minute-by-minute basis.

Yes, some leaders are more skilled and prepared to handle some of the above issues than others. Yet, most are not only struggling, they are devastated.

Many are seeking to end their lives.
Over half have fallen into pornography.
Some are on the cusp of divorce.
A significant percentage of them hate the ministry they once loved.

No, there isn't any excuse for falling into sin. But, there are helps, strategies to keep them from falling in the first place.

We must see a loving, responsive people who are holding up the arms of our pastors. When they grow weary, they need the people to step up and carry the weight.