Blog Assignment #6

Once again we were asked in class to do a blog assignment for English class.  The topic for my Blog's once again is Pastors and the many reasons they drop out of ministry.  For this project we have already been asked to do research on the topic so now we have to answer some questions based on this research.

P. 144-145

Step 1- For step 1 we were asked to have a conversation with ourselves concerning our topic.  We were given 11 questions and were asked to answer them in this blog based on what we have discovered.

1. Why? Where? Who? When? What?
• My topic affects mostly christian, especially Pastors.  It is about why Pastors tend to drop out of ministry and the biggest reasons for this.  The biggest reasons I am analyzing for my project are they aren't called, they don't know the roles and responsibilities of being a pastor, and how they are influenced by the world and flesh to do wrong and sin.
2. What do you mean by ________?
• What I mean by my topic is that Pastors are quickly failing out of ministry and not accomplishing their responsibilities as a leader.  I heard in one of my Pastoral classes that  the average stay of a Pastor is 2 to 3 years which really breaks my heart.  It kills me inside knowing that a Pastor can only stay at a church for that long before leaving or getting kicked out. 
3. How do most people see this? How do you see it differently?
• Depends on what view you are looking at it from.  If you are looking at it from a christians view it should be something that breaks their heart and make them truly seek for revival but if you look at it from the worlds view it makes them say why should I be a christian if thats how their head people act.  I see it the Christian way crying out why and wanting to be able to make a difference.  I also want to find out what the roles are and want to find ways to prevent failure, especially for myself, as I am studying to be a pastor and I do not want to end up being one of those statistic numbers of people who leave within 3 years of being at a church.
4. Are you kidding? I didn't know that. What else did you find out?
• I found out also from my english teacher that one of statistics of why a pastor leaves a church is due to only 7 people.  That upsets me too.  Their are always going to be people who don't agree with every little detail about the Bible but their is one thing that you all have in common and that is Jesus Christ and that should help unite a body of believers.  Another reason this upsets me that the pastor leaves because if God's desire for you is to be in that church you can't leave because of a couple of people.  The bible specifically tells christians and pastors it won't be easy and that people will despise you because of it but through this all it tells us we need to continue to do God's will and never give up!
5. Can you give me an example?
• An example of a pastor dropping out could be my old youth pastor was made to resign for problems within the church.  He was not following the roles or requirements to be a pastor and thus it made him have to resign.  This would be an example of dropping out due to sin or failure to follow the duties of a pastor.  An example of someone not being called could be many things.  For one, possibly the pastor just can't preach.  As obvious as it seems this is a sign that your not called to be a pastor.  
6. Did that surprise you?
• The fact that many pastors seem to drop out of ministry does and does not surprise me.  It does surprise me because if these people were called by God and if they truly believe what they have been studying most of their lives (the Bible), then how could they just give up and walk away.  However it does not surprise me with the direction of this world and the direction of the church.  Both are on a decline.  For example the church is trying to be as close to the world as possible which is a serious danger and problem for the church to be participating in.  Another reason is that the morals and ethics of this world are going so far down hill that many people are doing wretched things (including pastors) that the Bible specifically says disqualifies a man from being a pastor.
7. What other questions does this raise?
• It raises many other questions on this subject.  It makes me explore what the Bible actually says. Why do pastors do the things they do?  Does the church try helping them?  What help do they get for this?  Is their people who try to help them rather then push them down?  What does a calling look like?  How can one tell if he has or has not been called?  What experience have I seen that I can also apply to this?
8. Who does this affect, mostly?
• This affects the church but it most primely it affects the pastor.  It affects the church because they will follow their pastor and could possibly be completely destroyed if their pastor drops out or leaves.  It also affects the Pastor because he would be the one losing his job, his church, and what he studied his whole life for.
9. What should we do about this?
• We need to learn the roles about pastors.  We also need to learn about how to better help a pastor accomplish his duties and keep him on track to succeed.  Another thing we need to do is set the pastor up to succeed rather than tear him down and pick out all his little flaws.  We need to find ways to encourage and help pastors get help in areas they struggle in so we can better serve our pastors.
10. I'm not sure I believe this. Why do you?
• No matter what you  say, you can't deny the fact that ministers are dropping out doing wretched things.  We need to stand up and change this way of life and help pastors succeed in what God has planned for their lives.  What some people may disagree with is the reasons for failure but in my essay I will state more of my explanations that back up my 3 main points or reasons.
11. What do you think we should do about it?
• I think we need to gain awareness of the trouble which the church is starting t wake up and see that their is a big problem.  Another thing we need to do is find the roles of a pastor and clearly outline those responsibilities and roles.  The final thing we need to do is encourage and uplift our pastors.  We need to stand by their side and forgive them when they stumble since we all stumble once in a while.  We need to show them grace, but also be able to understand that grace only goes so far especially for a pastor for God.  

Step 2- For step number 2 we were asked to answer one final question.

Question- Okay, this is all very interesting. But based on everything you've learned so far, what's your point?

My point is that the world, especially the church and christians are on the down fall.  We need to stand firm to our beliefs and to be able to help each other out.  Through this down fall however pastors are struggling and beginning more and more to fall into the traps and the snares of the world causing many pastors to drop out of or fail out of ministry.  There are many different reasons behind why this all happens.  In my essay I plan to outline a few, in hopes of getting my main point across that America needs revival and needs to be turned upside down for Jesus and it all starts with those in charge of the Church getting their acts together and serving God with all their hearts.