Conflict is normal in life and ministry

Conflict is normal in life and ministry, with people you work with as well as within the family and other personal relationships.

Look at some statistics. These were done specifically about pastors, however they are very similar for missionaries and anyone in ministry. (We believe all believers are in ministry of some kind, whether with your family, friends or running a huge nonprofit ministry.) Can you relate?

The statistics in this section are about pastors, but they equally fit anyone who is in ministry.

Pastor Darrin Patrick gathered research from organizations such as Barna and Focus on the Family:

• A major reason that pastors leave the ministry each month is due to contention in their churches.
• The majority of wives surveyed said the most destructive event that had happened in their marriages and families was the day they entered the ministry.
• Fifty percent of pastors and ministry leaders’ marriages will end in divorce.

According to Maranatha Life, 85% of pastors said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people. Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.

Why pastors leave the ministry

The number one reason pastors leave the ministry is because church people are not willing to go the same direction and goal of the pastor. Many pastors believe God wants them to go in one direction but the people are not willing to follow or change. Ministers feel they have a message and direction from God for their church but the people are not willing to listen or respond.

40% of pastors report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month. The statistics for missionaries having a serious conflict with other missionaries or with those they serve is probably even higher.

Excerpted from Reconcilable Differences, a free eBook. Click the link to download it today.

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