Thanks for your continued prayers about my first
Doctorate of Ministry Residency in Charlotte last month. Although it was
intense and powerful, it was also a wonderful two weeks. The first residency
was called “The Pastor as Counselor and Caregiver.” We dealt with so much over
the two weeks, including the statistics I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday,
February 24th. Some of you asked for a recap…The statistics I shared were:
*Almost 20% or 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. In a congregation of 400, that’s 80 people statistically.
*All of us will deal with grief, and NORMAL grief
usually lasts 2-5 years.
*16% of Americans suffer, or have suffered from
depression severely enough to warrant treatment; 40% of relatives living with
someone who is depressed have some level of depression also. Over 80% of
people, who suffer from depression, are successfully treated. Would it surprise
you that according to a study 58% of the elderly are depressed? I don’t know
what the qualifications of elderly are, but 58% is a staggering statistic.
*A survey indicated that 50% of men in an
evangelical church look at pornography. A pastor didn’t believe this statistic
so he did his own anonymous survey at his
church. His survey showed that in the
last year, 60% of the men looked at pornography, and 30% in the last month.
*There are over 3,000 abortions a day in the US—
over 1 million per year. I say this not to talk about abortion itself, or to
make those who have had one feel guilty, or condemn them, but to say that there
are many people out there who have had abortions and who need healing from the
effects, grief, and guilt that come along with this decision of having an abortion.
*We learned about the staggering suicide rates,
and how 2/3 of those who commit suicide were depressed. This issue is in the
news again as another celebrity took their life recently. Everyone who knows
someone who has committed suicide, or knows someone who has tried or has
thought about suicide, recognizes that it is painful and traumatic.
*Approximately one in four women around the globe
has been physically abused by an intimate male partner, such as a husband or
ex-husband. In fact, a woman is more likely to be injured, raped, or physically
threatened by a current or former partner than by a stranger or another person.
Sadly enough, most people don’t get help. Most
people don’t come to their pastor any more. If you choose to not talk to your
pastor, make sure you go to a Christian counselor or your Christian mentor…someone
who can healthily help you and lead you in the right direction. Obviously, Kris
and I are here in Pawleys, but hey, we are only an email or phone call
away. We love you. More
importantly, God loves you. We
pray that you find your hope in Him.
