We're not facing a resignation crisis. We're facing something more subtle and more dangerous: a discouragement epidemic.

Glenn Packiam, lead pastor of Rockharbor Church and senior fellow at Barna Group, says it plainly: "We are living in a moment of deep discouragement among pastors." The peak of pastoral resignation consideration hit 42% in 2022 and has since dropped to the mid-30% range, but Packiam identifies the real crisis: "The issue is that you're not quitting your jobs, but you're discouraged."

This isn't just burnout; it's the weight of impossible expectations in a digital age. Pastors are expected to be amazing communicators, brilliant theologians, trauma-informed counselors, visionary CEOs, fundraising experts, and social activists who comment on every headline. The composite of fractional expectations from different groups in the congregation creates a crushing burden. Adding onto that only 45% of churchgoing Christians consider a pastor a trustworthy source of wisdom on spiritual matters, even as spiritual openness post-pandemic remains remarkably high.

Here's what this means for your church: Discouraged pastors lead discouraged churches. But resilience lies in recovery and recalibration. Packiam uses the metaphor of a doctor testing how quickly a patient can return to their resting heart rate after exertion. "Resilience means that even when you get disrupted or discouraged, there is an ability, by God's grace, to recover."

Three actions to take this week:

Build recovery rhythms before you need them. Don't wait until you've slid into some unhealthy habits to establish patterns of rest and renewal. Packiam recommends twice-yearly retreats to audit five key spheres: prayer, rest, renewal, relationships, and work. Start now with quarterly check-ins on what's replenishing you versus depleting you.

Recalibrate what you actually control. You may not be able to change your elders, budget, or schedule overnight, but Packiam insists "in every situation, there are a few things you can do that you have agency over." Identify 2-3 small tweaks you can make this month; maybe it’s when you take Sabbath, how you structure team meetings, or which expectations you'll stop trying to meet.

Anchor your ministry in resurrection, not results. Packiam's encouragement to fellow pastors: "God sees you. God knows your name. Your work matters." When Paul was "so discouraged that he despaired even of life," he learned to "count on the God who raises the dead." The hospital visits, late-night calls, and staff meetings aren't in vain because Jesus is risen. Sometimes we just need a longer timeline to see it.

AI tools like ChatGPT have reached 800 million monthly users in just three years, but pastors must understand how this technology will shape both them and their churches. A recent MIT study found that writers using AI chatbots showed the weakest brain activity and struggled to recall their own work—what researchers call accumulating "cognitive debt." The embedded philosophy of AI treats the world as data and truth as probabilistic, potentially atrophying the pastoral faculties of exegesis, interpretation, and creativity that come through rigorous study and reflection.

This week: Before adopting AI for sermon prep or ministry tasks, ask yourself: What spiritual or cognitive muscles might weaken if I rely on this tool? Consider creating an AI usage policy for your staff that prioritizes formation over efficiency.

More than 60 million Americans—20% of the U.S. population—live in rural communities that comprise 97% of the nation's land mass. Yet rural churches face unique challenges and opportunities that urban ministry models often overlook. Rural ministry researcher Kyle Bueermann argues that "rurality is a mentality”: a shared sense of isolation, economy, and values that creates distinct pastoral opportunities like serving as a community pastor beyond Sunday mornings. While there's need for rural church planting, the biggest opportunity is helping existing rural churches become healthy, gospel-preaching, disciple-multiplying congregations.

Quick reflection: Whether your church is in a metropolitan area or small town, how might understanding the mentality and unique needs of rural churches improve your pastoral care?

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