The Session: The Pastoral Grind

Proverbs 4:23: "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life"

Stress, loneliness and political division are the three items that rise to the surface.

56% of pastors say stress of the job is the biggest issue.

(43%) of Pastor, say “I feel lonely and isolated.

Treatment

Pastors should have a leader outside of his church

• Pastors should have a small group that they attend with their spouse outside of the church they pastor.
• Pastors should have a support group that they can be supported in. It should be a safe place where they can vent pray and be supported. If there isn’t one that you’re aware of then maybe start one and invite a number of other pastors to a luncheon to talk about.

The following statistics are likely a result of not feeding themselves before the Lord. Without safe people to talk about how they feel it is very difficult.

• Only 26% of the pastors said they had regular devotions.

This is very important. So, in their spiritual bank account, they are running on a negative balance, because they are always withdrawing from that account without depositing in to it.

• 70% of pastors suffer from depression

Without close relationships or a support group it is difficult to share and open up.

• 77% of pastors believe they are not in a good marriage. 50% of pastors end up in divorce

Pastors have to prioritize their marriages. They have to be assertive with their church to get the time and space to do it They are a role model to their people.

• 40% of pastors have had an extra marital affair.

Hurting people turn to the pastor who is hurting which is when needs get met outside of marriage.

• 70% of pastors only study the word when doing sermon prep.

They are not exercising their spiritual muscles.

• 70% of pastors do not have close friends

There has to be a personal life. (From Scott….should those friends be outside the church the Pastor serves in?)

• 35% of Pastors struggle with from sexual sin

This leads to loneliness and divorce.

As Rev. Dr. Glenn Packiam—author of The Resilient Pastor—writes in Barna’s The State of Your Church, “We need sages to advise us, leaders to direct us or hold us accountable, peers to remind us that we aren’t alone, healers to dress our wounds and companions who carry us when we can’t carry on.”

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com

Click this link to purchase Tom’s devotional, “Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of God: A Weekly Devotional for Improving Self-Esteem.”

The Session: Pastor Appreciation Month

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (NIV): “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”

Pick a different strategy for the week. Do it every day of the week. Do this for the entire month of October.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (NIV): “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”

Here are some ways to bless pastors during pastor Appreciation Month

Pastor Appreciation Month:

• Pray: Pray for your pastor's spiritual vitality, protection from Satan, and the grace and love of God. You can also pray for their family.
• Give a gift card: A gift card to a restaurant or an Amazon or iTunes card can be a great gift for a pastor.
• Post pictures with the pastor: Share pictures of yourself and the pastor at church events on social media.
• Adopt a local church: Send a care package to another church in your area or serve together with another local church.
• Speak encouraging words: Let your pastor know how the Lord has changed you.
• Write a note: Write a note with encouraging feedback about their sermon.
• Set out a gift basket: Set out a gift basket in the church lobby for members to leave notes and gifts.
• Mow the pastor's lawn: Mow the pastor's lawn when their family is on vacation or ministry
• Connect with the church office manager. Find out your pastors likes and needs and organize a plan to meet them
• Encourage time off and 48 hour getaways!
• Develop assistant pastors who can carry some of the load
• Encourage the pastor to
• Plan for more than Sundays.

Resources

• Remember the pastor's role is 24-7; assign a person or persons to be on-call to help in emergencies. Identify people within the church who can counsel or advise others whether that means listening to problems or pointing them to a professional. Also, before your pastor hits the beach, determine the type of events about which he or she would like to be contacted. (Resource UMC)
• The Gravity Community is an online community of practice for Christians to stay connected and learn together in an environment that's safe for questions and doubts. Join the Gravity Community for connection and support for struggling pastors.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com

Click this link to purchase Tom’s devotional, “Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of God: A Weekly Devotional for Improving Self-Esteem.”

The Session - Parenting Today’s Teenager

Mark Gregston, Parenting Today’s Teens

Parenting Today's Teens with Mark Gregston

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Christian parenting today involves guiding teens through cultural pressures by replacing lectures with meaningful conversation, grace, and relational connection.

Core Strategies for Christian Parents

• Ask questions instead of lecturing: Modeled after Jesus, asking open-ended questions invites reflection and reduces teen defensiveness.
• Shift from control to training: Move away from micromanagement and allow teens age-appropriate responsibilities and ownership of their faith.
• Lead with grace and authenticity: Admit your own imperfections to create a safe space where teens know mistakes do not define them.
• Balance boundaries and resilience: Avoid overparenting by letting teens experience healthy trials and natural consequences to build lasting character.

For daily faith-based advice and resources, explore Parenting Today's Teens (A Great resource)

Teen Issues. (Gallup Pole 2006).

The results show that 3 in 10 teenagers (31%) mention consumption of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol as the most important problem. This issue is followed by peer pressure, fitting in, personal appearance, or popularity (17%); sexual issues like teen pregnancy, abortion, or STDs (14%); education (14%); ignorance or lack of youth being involved (10%); and careers, employment, money, or the future (10%).

Fewer than 1 in 10 teenagers mention morality, lack of respect, violence or gangs, or world politics as the top problems.

2024 to 2026 Met Teen Issues (National Institute of Health)

• Anxiety and Depression: Millions of adolescents experience clinical anxiety or major depressive episodes, with rates significantly higher among teen girls and LGBTQ+ youth.
• Persistent Sadness: Roughly 40% of high school students report ongoing feelings of hopelessness or sadness.
• Suicidal Ideation: High rates of serious psychological distress have led to alarming numbers of reported suicidal thoughts and self-harm incidents.

Social Media and Digital Pressures

• Constant Comparison: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok fuel unrealistic body image standards, envy, and low self-esteem.
• Tom: What difference do you think the settlement between the Government and Meta will have on social media’s impact on our kids?

Indicators of positive mental health are present in most children. National U.S. data from 2023-2024 show that:

• Nearly 4 out of 5 children ages 6 months to 5 years (79%) exhibit all of 4 indicators of flourishing:1
  
  • 96% usually or always are affectionate and tender with parents or caregivers.
• 83% usually or always bounce back quickly when things do not go their way.
• 96% usually or always show interest and curiosity in learning new things.
• 99% usually or always smile and laugh.
• 3 out of 5 children ages 6 to 17 (61%) exhibit all of 3 indicators of flourishing
  
  • 84% usually or always show interest and curiosity in learning new things.
• 72% usually or always stay calm and in control when faced with a challenge.
• 81% usually or always work to finish tasks they start.

Teen issues in the 1990s

• Drugs and alcohol
• Teen pregnancy
• Violence

Teen problems in the 1960s (prayer was removed in 1962 from the schools)

• Strict Control: Adults imposed rigid dress codes, curfews, and bans on items like jeans or long hair for boys, viewing them as rebellious.
• Conformity vs. Rebellion: Teens navigated a massive divide from their parents, famously popularized by the phrase "Never trust anyone over 30".
• Music and Media: Rock and roll, Beatlemania, and loud transistor radios served as symbols of youth identity that clashed with traditional adult values.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com

Click this link to purchase Tom’s devotional, “Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of God: A Weekly Devotional for Improving Self-Esteem.”