The Pastors’ Problem and a Solution The Four Hardest Jobs In America Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, has been widely quoted to have said: “The four hardest jobs in America (and not necessarily in this order) are the President of the United States, a university president, a CEO of a hospital and a pastor.”          A vocation that has a dismal track record           In H.B. London Jr’s “Pastors at Great Risk” we find these startling statistics:  • 80 percent believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively. • 33 percent say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family. • 75 percent report they’ve had a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry. • 50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job. • 90 percent feel they’re inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands. • 25 percent of pastors’ wives see their husband’s work schedule as a source of conflict. • Those in ministry are equally likely to have their marriage end in divorce as general church members. • The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions. • 80 percent of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse. • 56 percent of pastors’ wives say that they have no close friends. • 45 percent of pastors’ wives say the greatest danger to them and their family is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual burnout. • 52 percent of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family’s well-being and health. • 45.5 percent of pastors say that they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry. • 70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend. • Further stats: • The average service in ministry was 21 years in 1990 to 12 years today. • 94 percent of pastors say they feel pressure to have a perfect family. • 70 percent say their self-esteem was higher before they began ministry. • 40 percent consider quitting the ministry every Monday morning. • Doctors, lawyers and clergy have the most problems with drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide. • Pressures like these drive 1,600 shepherds out of the ministry every month. That’s over 19,000 pastors each year - not including the missionaries. What Matters the Most For the pastor, then, is what matters the most to him?  What responsibility does he have to his family and to himself?  The question may be, as Wayne Cordeiro asks in his book “Leading On Empty” [more on this author soon], “If you had only one month left to live, you’d be surprised at all the things that really didn’t matter anymore”.  The Solution Reviewing the problems above it becomes apparent that something must be done.  We can not afford to lose the quality pastors that our country needs.  That has to “STOP”. We can’t wait to try to resolve the problem when it is possibly too late.  Taking a six month sabbatical for the pastor may be difficult.  Yet, at this point, the pastor must take a proactive approach to solve the problem. Our non-profit (Given By Corp) may head off the problems stated above.  We call it the “Restoration Center”. We are asking thousands of pastors across our great land to donate $100 and invest in their well-being.  Once enough donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit are received a final restoration site will be selected.  Pictures of potential sites are shown on page two (2).