The average pastor is a burdened man. He is labouring under great expectations from members, the public and his family. He is expected to be perfect and to live above board. He must be a good man, a wonderful husband, powerful pastor, dynamic preacher, a great father and effective shepherd of the sheep. He must adequately take care of the physical, moral and spiritual well-being of the church. These are the kinds of demands that Christians placed on their pastors.

Sometimes, the people's expectation is too much for the pastor to bear. For example, an article in 'Christian Herald Magazine' gave the results of a survey of what the people expect of their pastor. One church said they expected their pastor to spend his time in these ways:

10% Study and sermon preparation

60% Visitation and counselling

10% Social activities and community relations

60% Parish activities and administration

5% Family and personal matters.

The grand total is 145%, which is often the type of pressure many pastors work under weak in, week out. Added to these great expectations are the personal problems that pastors have to battle with constantly. Most times, he is grappling with loneliness, growth of the church, family problems, feeling of inadequacy, temptation, criticism and character assassinations. These are personal problems that many pastors don't share with the church and many Christians unknowingly feel that things are okay with them all the time.

Furthermore, each of these problems has the capacity to render the pastor ineffective in his divine assignment. But nobody wants to know that and nobody cares. Hardly do Christians ask about the welfare of their pastors. Nobody cares about the personal battles he is facing. He is assumed to be okay and alright always. He is expected to pray and God must answer immediately. God must always use him to bless the people at every service and meeting. Such is the pressure pastors live with every time. I think the following facts will help some Christians to appreciate the travails and pressure of the pastoral ministry.

Facts about Pastors

90% Work more than 48 hours a week?

80% says pastoral ministry has affected their family negatively

33% says being in the ministry is outright hazard to their families

75% are largely stressed up

50% are unable to meet the needs of the ministry

90% are inadequately trained to cope with ministry pressure.

70% says they have lower self-image than when they started.

40% Reports serious conflict with a member once a month

33% have been involved in sexual misconduct

70% do not have a person they can call friend

65% of those who start ministry today will quit 10 years later

In the light of these stupendous facts, what should be our attitudes as Christians to our pastors? It should be that of encouragement.

Every Christian must encourage his pastor one way or another. We must stop seeing pastors as a can of milk ­only useful when the content is still there, but once it is milked, it is no longer good for anything but to be thrown away. Encouragement will help our pastors to work better under the untold pressure they find themselves.

ncouragement will help them to aspire and risk more and it will help them to realize that they are truly loved and not hated. Everyone can do better when they are encouraged. Pastors, especially need the continuous encouragement of their members if they are to perform better and be more effective.