pastoral care

We come alongside pastors, their spouses and family, and the leaders in their churches, as they live out the calling God has placed on their lives. Through building long-term relationships, we foster a support system that is safe, agenda-free, confidential, and modeled after the way Jesus and Paul cared for and ministered to leaders. This may look like prayer, pastoral counseling, coaching, or fellowship.

the importance of pastors to pastors

If you’re a pastor, you do not need to be told the statistics of pastors facing depression and anxiety, lack of confidence in their calling, or thoughts of leaving ministry. But here is just a glimpse into the overall well-being of pastors. From January 2021 to September 2022 the number of pastors who had thought of leaving full-time ministry went from 29% to 41%! And while Barna indicated that by September 2023 this statistic dropped to only 33%, in January 2024 Hartford Institute for Religion Research released a study showing another negative downturn in this trend. “Nearly half of Christian clergy have considered leaving their congregation and over half have considered leaving the ministry altogether.”  Along with conflict in the church and lack of personal relationships, three of the top reasons for those that answered ‘yes’ to having thought of leaving ministry were: stress of the job (56%), feelings of loneliness and isolation (43%), and unhappiness with the effect of ministry on their family (29%). Here are further statistics of what pastors are enduring:

• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression

• 50% say they would leave their ministry if they could, but can’t find another job

• 80% believe their pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families

• 80% of spouses feel left out/unappreciated in their church

• 65% say their family is in a glass house

• 53% do not feel seminary or Bible college adequately prepared them

• 85% have never taken a sabbatical

While a recent study shows some signs of positive change, even Forbes lists being a pastor as one of the most challenging leadership jobs, requiring incredible skill and burden (even above politicians and CEO’s).

THIS is why we do what we do. To come ALONGside pastors, their spouses and family, and leaders in their churches. To encourage, support, listen to, equip, and pray with them. To simply be there for them. Time and time again, we hear from pastors: thank you for just listening and being here for me. Para, in Spanish, means ‘for’, and in Greek, ‘alongside’. We are for pastors, their families, and their churches. We are for the Church, for the Great Commission, and for the Kingdom of God. We are for coming alongside pastors as they live out the calling God has placed on their lives.