A Crisis in Leadership?
Some say the church is experiencing a crisis in leadership. As proof they cite the disturbing number of leaders who are exiting ministry spiritually drained and emotionally burned-out or even worse disqualified because of some humiliating sin. They also point to surveys that indicate leaders actively involved in ministry consistently struggle with loneliness and depression. If the church is indeed experiencing a crisis in leadership one contributing factor would have to be that while leadership in general is difficult, spiritual leadership, apart from God …is impossible.
Surveys of Pastors have shown*:
- 80% constantly struggle with discouragement.
- 70% have a lower self-image than when they started ministry.
- 50% quit within the first five years of entering ministry.
- 50% would quit if they had another way of making a living.
- 40% are experiencing burnout, frantic schedules, unrealistic expectations.
- 40% have had an extra-marital affair.
- 80% of pastor’s children seek professional counseling for depression as adults.
- 95% do not regularly pray with their spouses.
- 80% spend less than 15 minutes a day in prayer.
- 70% study God’s word only in preparation for sermons.
- 70% have no close friend, confidant, or mentor.
- 1500 pastors leave ministry every month due to conflict, spiritual burnout, or moral failure.
*These statistics cut across denominational lines and have been gleaned from various sources including Focus on the Family, Maranatha Life, Pastors Retreat Network, & Fuller Theological Seminary by using a Google search of: pastors leaving ministry.
“We’re losing spiritual leadership in this country. My suspicion is that this will probably be a really serious part of the demise of the country if we can’t turn this around.” - Blair Dalton, Founder of Renewal Ministries for Pastors
Many ministries have recently been formed to deal with this ‘crisis’. They offer counseling, ministry coping skills, mentoring, a respite from ministry, and most importantly a time of peace and solitude in which to seek the Lord.
WilderneSS offers Christian leaders who are feeling discouraged and defeated a radical time of peace and solitude that has tremendous potential to bring restoration and renewal. For others WilderneSS will be instrumental in helping them be prepared to face the difficulties involved with spiritual leadership, helping to prevent deep feelings of hopelessness and despair that drive many leaders away from ministry.
WilderneSS imprints leaders and emerging leaders with a powerful picture of what it looks like to seek and dwell in God’s presence. As they continue to make dwelling in God’s presence a priority they will be equipped to successfully negotiate the hazards of ministry without losing their heart for God’s work. The goal of WilderneSS is to help leaders say along with the Apostle Paul:
“As for me, I feel that the last drops of my life are being poured out for God. The time for my departure has arrived. The glorious fight that God gave me I have fought, the course that I was set I have finished, and I have kept the faith." - 2Timothy 4:6-7 (Phillips)
Vision & Mission
WilderneSS: A Refining Solitude
Is Solitude Really that Important?
