In the environment of today, the Church is looking for leaders who serve God by investing in others. They lead from the heart and aid individuals in their growth and development, in turn, allowing the community to benefit from the common good. The Church needs leaders who will work to unify and to heal the brokenness that exists in our communities. Continue reading to learn more.
Why We Need More Servant Leaders: Explore Increasing Societal Conflict in Our World
As society evolves, so does its challenges. The National Alliance on Mental Health reported that in any given year, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness and 1 in 25 experience serious mental illness. Since 1999, the overall suicide rate has increased by 35 percent, making it the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S. for people over the age of 35 and the second-leading cause of death for people ages 10-34.
Not only are the communities we live in plagued with mental health disorders, they are experiencing social friction, too. The WHO estimates that about 1 in 3 women have been subjected to either domestic and/or sexual assault voilence in their lifetime, which has increased since 2000.
Speaking of community, according to a study published in the American Sociological Review, the average person in the U.S. only has one close friend, whereas one in four people report they have no confidantes at all.
This isolation is felt in our African American communities, too, along with racism that permeates not only U.S. culture, but also the entire globe. A KFF Health Tracking Poll found that 7 in 10 Black adults have reported unfair treatment in various settings such as while shopping, at a bar or a restaurant in the past two years. Seven in 10 Black Americans say they have experienced serious incidents of discrimination in their lifetime, including half who say they have felt their life has been in danger at some point solely because of their race. And, 30 percent of Black men reported they have also been a victim of police violence.
Every day there are signs of weakening and increasingly fragile communities in America. The contributing factors are many ranging from the global pandemic and heightening political divisions to issues surrounding families.
For the first time since 2011, income inequality has increased, and the ratio of the 90th to 10th percentile has increased from 12.90 to 13.53 in 2021. The top of the income distribution was over 13 times higher than at the bottom.
In 2020, there were more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. This staggering number is partially a recent result due to the opioid crisis and drug epidemic facing America. In 2019, over 90,000 kids were removed from their homes due to parental drug use.
Our communities need compassion and care now more than ever before. You can help make that difference in people’s lives.
The Decrease of Servant Leaders and Participation in Churches
Gallup reports a five percent decline in adults attending religious services weekly in the past decade - resulting in only 38 percent of the population attending church. In 1950, these same attendance rates were around 50 percent. This is the result of many factors, including an increased lack of religious affiliation.
Pew Research Center predicts if recent switching trends continue, U.S. “nones” will approach the majority by 2070, whereas Christianity currently holds the majority at 64 percent. And according to the United States Census Bureau, 4,000 churches close their doors every year, while only 1,000 new churches are built.
There is an overall decline of active church leaders, too. A survey from Barna, a Christian research organization, asked pastors if they'd given serious consideration to quitting in 2022, and 42 percent said yes. 1.5 percent of leaders left the pulpit in 2021, compared to 1.3 percent leaving in 2015.
Strengthening Your Christian Leadership Skills and Serving the Church in a Modernized World
It’s difficult to reconcile these harsh statistics and realities of turmoil with the belief that there is still good in this world – and, yet, God is still at work. The church needs people who are other-centered to heal the brokenness that plagues our communities. And it’s up to people like you - those who feel a call to ministry and servant leadership, to make a difference.
Vocational ministry is much more than just teaching and preaching God’s Word every week. Just like it states, pastors are to care. If you see the need for servant leadership and love to spread Jesus’ teachings of kindness and peace, then entering vocational ministry may be a great option for you. If God has called you, now is your time to answer.
Why Does Clarifying Your Call To Ministry Matter Today?
The world is changing, and as the polarization surrounding the church continues to increase, so does the separation between church and the world. We need leaders in the church that are adaptable and can help heal the brokenness and bring diverse groups of people together.
Your call to ministry matters. Discerning and living out your call in the world today, however, can take several different forms. Some people are called to become pastors, chaplains and youth ministers. Others are called to become Christian counselors or therapists, teachers and professors, missionaries and more. Many respond to their call to ministry by applying the truths of God’s Word in their work and vocational passions by becoming servant leaders in their companies, in their families and through their personal lives. Now more than ever, the world needs servant leaders.
Answer Your Call and Earn Your Theology Degree at Perkins
At Perkins, we understand that the world around us is changing and has been for years. That’s why we help strengthen and create leaders that can teach and heal. Throughout their time with us, students are challenged to respect and listen to others who may have different views and work toward the common goal of becoming stronger leaders together.
Perkins School of Theology offers many different pathways and programs for your individual goals.
If you are looking for guidance or have any questions, we encourage you to meet with us.
