A Prayer Challenge
A Prayer Challenge
Praying for pastors for the next 30 Sundays
You’re invited to a great challenge: to pray for a pastor/s for the next 30 Sundays. Start today, the first Sunday of November, 2024. This challenge will end the last Sunday of May, 2025. We’ll see where this leads after May.
Each Sunday during this challenge, you’ll find resources to help you pray on Sunday for a pastor/s:
a reminder and encouragement to pray
data about pastoral health and life
stories of pastors
scriptures to help center your soul as you pray
a sample prayer
Today’s Prayer Focus: Sunday, November 3, 2024
Well-documented evidence tells us that significant challenges and pressures have weighed heavily on the emotional and spiritual well-being of pastors in the last few years. Barna reported that 33% of pastors had considered leaving ministry in 2023, 60% seriously doubted their calling, and much worse, 18% of Protestant pastors had contemplated self-harm or suicide.
The reasons behind these troubling statistical snapshots are varied. But a few things stand out: 56% of pastors reported immense stress, 43% felt lonely and isolated, 38% were struggling because of the political polarization that had moved from political life to church life, and 29% were in pain because of how their pastoral work had adversely affected their family’s well-being.
Quality of life issues shed further light on the challenges pastors are facing. In 2015, 24 percent of pastors reported great physical health. However, by 2023, that figure had dropped to 11 percent. During the same period, the number of pastors reporting outstanding mental and emotional well-being fell from 39 to 14 percent. Pastors' satisfaction with their overall quality of life declined from 42% to 19%. Over the same period, pastors who ranked the respect they feel from their communities as excellent fell from 22 to just 7 percent.
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:25
Paul planted several churches around the northern Mediterranean region. While constantly on the move, he attempted to shepherd these little communities of faith. In a disarming six-word appeal, he asked for prayer. Paul knows stuff. Paul’s had been where pastors now are. He had walked a path as he followed his calling; he had not found it an easy way. Here is his revealing request for prayer:
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Paul’s six-word prayer request is our 30-Sunday mission: to pray for pastors.
Today’s Prayer
Father God, please encourage pastors today. (Feel free to pray for pastors by name.) Deliver them from despair and tiredness. Give them the energy and resilience they need to complete the assignment you have given them. Give them victory over any bad assault, and guard their mind, body, and soul with your mighty shield.