Message Deer Ridge, Freeport IL - March 5, 2021
Fundraiser for a Ministry to Pastors – they provide Sabbaticals for free to pastors and missionaries!
Illustration: Years ago, I watched a movie called Mr. Holland’s Opus it was about a High School music teacher who never really wanted to teach HS Music but did it for the paycheck until he wrote that great symphony. Years went by and he invested in one young person after another. One life at a time. He never wrote the great symphony but after years of teaching he lost his job due to the budget cuts at the school. He was demoralized and he was forced to retire. He was feeling like a failure – like he had wasted his life - but his wife, former students, colleagues and family had a surprise for him. As he was leaving the school after clearing out his office. His family lead him into the auditorium which was packed full of all his former students, and colleagues – he was stunned - they had all come to honor him and thank him for what he had done for them. One student now the Governor even came and said to Mr. Holland “You may have never written that great symphony but we are your symphony Mr. Holland!” Look around at all the lives you have impacted with music and how many you have touched with your gift.
Observation: We sometimes underestimate the impact our service and our sacrifice has on others - would you agree on this point?
The Theme of this night is, “Lets make some music!” The cakes express this theme beautifully and they look amazing. I am positive they will taste heavenly too.
Introduction:
I read a scripture the other day – please listen to its words and let them sing to you!
Psalm 105:2: “Sing to him (to the Lord), sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”
Tonight, I am making music to the Lord – I am not playing an instrument or singing. But I am making music to the Lord by sharing with you how the Lords wonderful acts of healing have come through this ministry to many spiritual leaders – yes, this ministry’s symphony to the Lord sings of people being renewed, refreshed, restored, revived, rejuvenated, reformed and rebuilt.
These “Re’s” float through Heaven as a sweet sound to the ear of the Lord.
This ministry’s legacy sings praises, throughout the Heavens and tells of many spiritual leaders who got their souls renewed, it sings about those who received encouragement and hope.
Yes, Deer Ridge’s harmonious praise echoes around the throne of Heaven speaking of those whose strength was renewed and rejuvenated so as to enter back into service for the Kingdom of Heaven. So, other lives may be refreshed and renewed.
I know this ministry is making a huge impact on 1,000 if not 10,000 and maybe even 100,000 of lives! Why? Because I hear the songs of praise from many of my fellow ministers and pastors. I hear of how this place of rest and restoration reignited a fire in many whose flame had burned out or burned very low. They have told me how their flames for ministry were reignited again after spending time here at Deer Ridge.
Places of ministry like this are essential and yes spiritual leaders need refreshed too! Can I get an Amen!
Please Listen to these Scripture Verses which remind us of how God views His spiritual leaders:
1 Timothy 5:17: “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in highest regard in love because of their work…”
My message tonight is a sonnet: I am sharing a song from my heart tonight about the importance of this vital ministry. Remember it focuses on ministry to ministers, to pastors, to spiritual leaders and it provides a place for them to have a low cost Sabbatical which helps prevent burning out, falling out, and jumping out of the ministry prematurely.
We need more places like Deer Ridge for weary, wounded pastors, missionaries, ministers and their spouses. It’s a matter of soul care – a place of healing and restoration, a place that prevents burnout. A place which focuses on saving ministerial marriages and families. A place trying to prevent ministers and their families from crashing and burning.
We need Deer Ridges because for some it’s a matter of life and death.
Deer Ridge is a preventive measure in keeping many ministries and churches from going through the turmoil of pastoral and ministerial failures, of preventing unnecessary pastoral transitions and much leadership and church pain.
Point: This is why this ministry is a beautiful symphony to the Lord.
The problem of burnout in spiritual leaders:
I came across an article the other day: “7 Reasons Pastors Burn Out” By Thom S. Rainer, Christian Post Contributor, Saturday, September 28, 2013
He opened up the article saying, “I heard the story again last week. A pastor I know announced his resignation. No moral failure. No severe crisis at the church. No major family problems. No sickness. He was simply burned out. That's how he described it. He said he had gotten to the point that he was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other. So, he quit. Without another job. His church family was stunned.”
I sat and pondered how many pastors I know who have burned out – many of my pastor friends over the last few years are leaving the ministry or have left– some left depressed and just wanting out – others spouses are telling them it’s the ministry or our marriage – I have seen pastors burning out and jumping ship because of ministry stress– I had a pastor friend who had to quit recently over the mask issue in his church – I have a pastor friend being forced out his church because he is very sickly and the church wants fresh young blood “Someone like Andy Stanley” – I have pastors I know wavering between quitting and leaving the ministry right now – I have pastors resigning because they are blamed for the church not getting bigger – I know of pastors being attacked for preaching the truth. I have had a wave of friends young and old leave the ministry over the last few years. It’s tragic and grieves the heart of the Lord.
To be honest - It’s even crossed my mind too! But I am still here and pressing forward to finish strong.
Rainer adds this other thought: “I admit I haven't seen recent statistics on pastoral burnout but, at least anecdotally, it's high. It seems that hardly a week goes by that I don't hear another story of a burnout victim in pastoral ministry.”
Would you like to hear the most recent statistics I could find?
Ministry Burnout Statistics fromhttps://www.leadershipresources.org/blog/christian-ministry-burnout-prevention-signs-statistics-recovery/
• 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
• 80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
• 50% are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
• 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• Pastors are 35% more likely to be terminated if they work less than 50 hours weekly.
• 80% of pastors believe their ministry negatively affects their families.
• 80% of pastors say they do not have sufficient time to spend with their spouse.
• 45.5% of pastors have experienced burnout/depression and had to take a break from ministry.
Leadership Magazine stated that 40% of those in fulltime ministry today will not be there in 3-5 years.
Other factors I discovered that ministers face which lead to burnout: These are from the book Leadership Pain by Samuel Chand:
• Some of the challenge’s pastors face come from public perceptions of their role. The vast majority of parishioners consider their pastors and staff members to be “on call” all day every day. This means pastors can never completely relax.
• According to a recent survey by the National Association of Church Business Administration, the average pastor in 2012 makes an annual salary of $28,000. One in five has to work a second job to support his family. The average teacher’s salary is $42,000. These two professions, pastors and teachers, are the two lowest paid degreed professions in the country. The financial stress adds to a higher burnout ratio for pastors, missionaries and minsters.
The Fuller, Barna, and Pastoral Care research groups published these conclusions about the external challenges for pastors:
• 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
• 66% of church members expect a minister and family to live at a higher moral standard than themselves.
• The profession of “Pastor” is near the bottom of a survey of the most-respected professions, just above “car salesman.”
Their research also showed that many pastors lived looking over their shoulders because they realize their jobs are tenuous:
• Over 4,000 churches closed in America in 2014.
• Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month in 2014.
• Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month during 2014, many without cause.
• Over 3,500 people a day left the church in 2014.
In another study of pastors, Richard Krejcir reported:
• 78% were forced to resign from a church at least once.
• 63% had been fired from their pastoral position at least twice.
Chand, Samuel R. Leadership Pain (p. 35- 38). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
I have seen a trend which has escalated the burnout and drop out rate of pastors and spiritual leaders over the last 40 years. The position of Pastoring today has become more complex than in the past.
• We deal with city officials on building issues, land issues and building permits, we work with fire marshals, and Health inspectors. We are Human resource directors. We have to stay up on latest tax laws, political laws, employment law, insurance premiums. We deal with architects and repair people and contractors – always seeking best prices and best financial management of repairs and services since money is always tight. We do financial accounting and budget management. We have learned computer systems like Apple and Microsoft and then need to stay up to date on them. We have had to learn and stay up on accounting programs. We have to had to learn and stay current on software programs and communication programs for church. We have had to learn and stay up on sound systems and streaming systems. We have had to learn and stay up on light board systems. We have had to learn and stay up on furnace and electrical systems. We have had to learn and stay up on data systems for our church and congregation.
• We have to help manage global health crisis for our church, deal with political strife among congregation, address racial tensions among congregation and community. And even deal with divisive politics.
• We could add a few more recent stresses of the ministry over just the last year:
o Do we meet in person or not meet?
o Do we stream or have in person services?
o Mask or no mask?
o Listen to government or the Bible?
o What do I do about the missing 30% as a result of Covid?
o What do I say about current political issues?
o What about Finances in the midst of COVID?
o What do you do when you lose your meeting place?
o How do I handle racial tension?
o What land mine have I stepped on this week with Covid, politics, culture issues, or racial issues?
• This is added to all the normal things pastors, ministers and missionary’s have always done – such as worship, preaching, teaching, counseling, leadership development, discipling, prayer and crisis management.
This is why we need places like Deer Ridge they are essential for the spiritual health of pastors, ministers, missionaries, spiritual leaders and spiritual organizations and churches.
I have attended Deer Ridge two different times for needed Sabbaticals over the last few years – Each time I came I left refreshed and rejuvenated. The ministry time here at Deer Ridge along with the rest time brings renewal to weary ministerial souls.
When I was here at Deer Ridge these were some of the pastors and spouses I met and prayed with:
• I met a pastor and wife dealing with major issues with their son and it was all over their small town.
• I met a pastor and his wife who went on vacation and came home to discover they were let go as pastor.
• I talked and prayed with one who was totally burned out with ministry.
• I talked and prayed with one going through severe financial struggles.
Once again this is why we need places like Deer Ridge – the need is great and it’s not getting easier!
When I come to Deer Ridge – I come to be renewed and refreshed. Each time I came I was!
• When I come, I look to unplug from my hectic schedule and ministry life. I come to be refreshed spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I seek words of wisdom from others and prayer. I listen to other people’s stories and learn and grow.
• Kathy and I came last time and we worked through one of the marriage courses and we found it very beneficial and refreshing. The slowing down is very tough, but we know we need to do it. We actually got into playing frisbee golf just her and I – it was renewing to our spirit, soul and bodies.
• Please hear my heart it is a place we could not afford to come to – a place that is filled with encouragement and sound wisdom and much prayer. It’s challenging and rejuvenating all at the same time. When I am here it’s a time of soul searching and connecting with the Lord!
• My time here quiets my heart and mind and asks me questions like “How is you soul?” Not how big is your church” “Not how much money does the church bring in.” But how is your soul and spirit Mike? Is it healthy and whole or broken and fragmented?
Conclusion:
So thank you for giving to the Lord and to Jesus shepherds!
Thank you for supporting Jesus spiritual leaders - it’s a great investment and you are impacting more lives than you could possibly know – Lives such as pastor’s, minister’s, missionaries, spouses, Pk kids, Mk kids and countless other lives connected through theses spiritual leaders – you are impacting many churches and ministries that these leaders serve in.
So, let us make music to the Lord and continually sing, praise and declare the wondrous acts and deeds of the Lord through this ministry. Let us make music to the Lord by giving to this great ministry. You have no idea how many lives you will touch – but one day you will find out in Heaven 😊
