For the past two years now I’ve been developing The Pastor’s Project. To be honest it’s gone in directions I didn’t see coming. Most of that has been a good thing. For instance “Connections” the pastor to pastor mentoring program was set up for men who are in the ministry.

Then while attending a rural church conference, a minister’s wife approached me and said, “I notice that “Connections” doesn’t have something for minister’s wives? You know we have issues that the church never sees or hears about too. We need mentors also.”

So with that lightbulb being turned on, I went to work and recruited three awesome minister’s wives who said yes to being available to provide support and counsel for these women also.

But it wasn’t until I read the story about Andrew Stoecklein that I was deeply troubled. If you haven’t read Andy’s story you need to do so. Andy was the pastor of Inland Hills Church in Chino and had by all accounts a very successful ministry that his father had previously held.

Andy was married to his sweetheart Kayla and had three beautiful sons. Andy had been on an involuntary break to deal with anxiety and depression. On his first Sunday back Stoecklein revealed that even though the church was doing well financially and they were attracting record-setting attendance, he had been falling apart for several months.

Two weeks after his message to the church about his health, Andy attempted suicide inside the church he loved so much. A day later on August 25th, Andy was pronounced dead at the hospital. Andy’s anxiety and depression finally became too much to endure.

A growing and vibrant congregation, a beautiful and supportive wife, three energetic sons, friends, and a congregation that adored Andy hadn’t been enough to help him fight the anxiety and depression hounding him in his life.

One of the things you learn or should I say you need to learn is that ministers are human beings. I am reminded that King David for the most part had a life you wouldn’t wish on your enemy. Talk about someone with issues! Yet in the church we admire David for his Psalms and being the youngster who slew Goliath.

A growing yet silent concern for today’s ministers is the increasing number of those committing suicide. In my next blog I’ll share the data and research that indicates that the category of “Ministers” has the fastest growing percentage of those taking their lives.

What I will ask of those of you reading these posts is to do so with an open mind. I will also share with you the alarming stories of how pastors are treated across the land by those inside their own ministry. Not all are reasons to commit suicide but there are mental health issues among ministers that needs to be lovingly and compassionately addressed to prevent the unthinkable.

Part II Why are Our Pastors Committing Suicide?