With Chris Zoephel | Why I Am So Passionate About Formation

YAMIA is the youth and student ministries arm of the Anglican Mission in the Americas.

Some stats I got from a friend (who in turn got them from Mark Driscoll) on ministers:

(please be seated...shocking stuff)
1) 1500 pastors leave the ministry each month.

Did you read that? Yipes. That is 18000 a year due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.

2) 50% of pastors marriages will end in divorce.

3) 80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses fell unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.

4) 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

Ouch.

5) 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first 5 years.

6) 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.

If any of these are you...or might be you if you continue on the way you are going. STOP!

Please stop! It is not God's desire for you to end up as one of these statistics.

Here are a few suggestions:

Listen to my podcast on "growing your soul while working with students"
Read "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster...

Read my next blog on more ideas to help stop this.

Labels: Formation

Involved in Youth Ministry for over 10 years, Rev Chris Zoephel has worked with junior highers, senior highers and those who act like these folks both as a paid staff member and as a volunteer in churches and para church organizations. These days most of his time is spent chasing his son around, keeping his office somewhat organized and trying to point others toward Christ. Currently Chris is on staff at Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, FL as the Pastor of Discipleship (which includes being a youth pastor). Chris also serves as Director of YAMIA for the Anglican Mission in the Americas.