Surviving the Recessions of Ministry

"It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job, its a depression when you lose yours."

Recession is the buzz word of the hour- economic recession! Downturn in stock market, banks, jobs, personal income and investments and on and on.

But these are not the only areas of recession- we can experience recession in our ministries that are just as debilitating as the economic recessions.

Recession- the act of becoming more distant; act or action of receding; withdrawal-(1): social or emotional detachment (2): a pathological retreat from objective reality.

There is great danger in the recession that a pastor might experience. If it is not stopped it can lead to depression, detachment, and then to ultimate destruction!

Pastoral Recession occurs:
1. When your dreams and vision are slow in being realized!
2. When your finances are down or misuse of them.
3. When people disappoint you and abandon you.
4. When you experience a moral failure.
5. Feelings of being unappreciated.

If one is going to re-engage during a pastoral recession, one must:
(a) Adapt to what has happened.
(b) Appreciate what you can learn from it.
(c) Accept the opportunities it presents.
(d) Acquire support.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV ""But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Pastor friend, let's guard our lives during ministry recessions so that we stay the course of God's calling on our lives and maintain our care of the God's flock!