Check out my latest article on the Christian Index, the voice of Georgia Baptists! I discuss the issue of pastoral burnout and how churches can prevent it.
Plus, at the bottom of the page, Christian Index readers can enjoy a special 40% discount on my new book, “A Preach Well Church: How Churches Can Stop Burning Out Pastors!”
Get your copy on Amazon and Kindle! https://amzn.to/3JZfWPT Don’t miss out on this valuable resource!
Check Out My Article
In today’s demanding church landscape, one of the greatest challenges is pastoral burnout. Many pastors are discouraged and exhausted, and some are questioning their calling. As of 2019, burnout is a legitimate medical diagnosis by the World Health Organization. Lifeway Research revealed in 2014 that one in four pastors admitted to struggling with mental illness, with half of them being formally diagnosed.
More recent data paints an even grimmer picture, showing a significant decrease in pastors’ overall well-being from 2015 to 2022. This decline correlates with an increase in loneliness among pastors, with one in five reporting a lack of true friendships. This growing problem reached a tipping point post-COVID in 2021-2022, when, according to Barna research, 38% of pastors considered quitting ministry. These alarming statistics cannot be ignored by the church.
In my book, “A Preach Well Church: How Churches Can Stop Burning Out Pastors,” I share my personal experience with panic attacks and how it led me to research this issue of pastoral burnout for my doctoral capstone ministry project. I surveyed ninety-seven Georgia Southern Baptist pastors and asked them how church members can help them overcome these challenges and build a healthier future for the pastorate.
A Key to Avoiding Burnout
One of the principal insights from my research, as presented in my book, is that effective preaching can act as a shield against burnout for pastors. When pastors are free to focus their time and energy on proclaiming the gospel, they are more likely to derive satisfaction and fulfillment from the ministry, thus mitigating stress and exhaustion and reducing the risk of burnout…Read more.