You're Not Alone

Statistics in Ministry

“The vast majority of pastors with flourishing mental health, compared to only about half of those with burnout, expressed intentionality in personal care. The personal care that flourishing pastors described included things like physical activity (exercise), spiritual practices (like prayer or Bible reading), relational activities (such as spending time with friends and family), and recreational activities (hobbies like fishing or hiking).
These activities could all be classified as 'lifestyle activities.' Roger Walsh is a psychiatrist who sought to identify evidence-based lifestyle changes that therapist could recommend to patients to treat mental health problems or promote positive mental health. He found extensive studies supporting eight kinds of activities that he dubbed 'therapeutic lifestyle changes:'

Exercise
Nutrition and diet
Spending time in nature
Relationships
Recreation and enjoyable activities
Relaxation and stress management
Contribution and service
Religious and Spiritual involvement"

Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell and Jason Byassee, "Faithful and Fractured” (Grand Rapids: Baker Academics a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 139
Walsh Roger, "Lifestyle and Mental Health” American Psychologist, 139

90% of pastors feel they are called and in the place where God has called them
Over 50% of pastors are unhealthy, overweight, and do not exercise
90% of pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week
84% of pastors feel they are on call 24/7
78% of pastors report having their vacation and personal time interrupted with ministry duties or expectations
26% of pastors report being over fatigued
75% of pastors report significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry
95% of pastors report not praying daily or regularly with their spouse.
28% of pastors report they are spiritually undernourished
38% of pastors are thinking of quitting the ministry.

Permission for use of statistics was granted by Pastoral Care Inc.