I, also, read these posts with tear-filled eyes.  Four years ago, the church I served was growing by about 25% a year and the Old Guard was becoming very uneasy with all the children running around the place.  For a year, they attacked me and my wife on various specious grounds (none of which were Biblical ... or even secularly moral).  After a year I decided that the expense my family was paying for my remaining as the Pastor was just too great.  I quit the parochial pastorate and went to work for a hospice.  I just wish I’d done it 20 years earlier.

I haven’t always been in full time ministry, but I have usually found myself in leadership roles, business, sports etc.  There is a sense of loneliness as a leader, and I often feel very much alone.  I talk to the Lord all the time and I told Him Monday that I was discouraged and depressed and asked Him to fill me up with hope - get me out of the constant trap of despair.
There have been several difficult days dealing with people - email - phone calls - angry outbursts - cussing - divisive activity - folks leaving the church and taking others with them.  I do know that is very common so I carry on.
One personally humbling experience happened a couple of years ago.  My District Supervisor sat with me in a coffee shop and said something like the following to me:  “How many people do you have in your church right now (it was between 85 and 110)?  And you’ve been there 3 years?  When you look at those numbers and consider you’ve been there 3 years - you have to admit to yourself that you are not a gifted speaker.  I mean - if you were a gifted speaker there’d be more people - I mean you’ve got to look at the numbers”
I didn’t quite know how to respond to my supervisor - I’ve since taken my thoughts to the Lord in prayer and I constantly am reminded of the original call I sensed from Him to preach the gospel.  I keep working on my preaching skills, telling myself that I am not somebody else - I’m His workmanship and He is making His appeal through me as I submit myself to Him.
That’s how I keep going - I’m often on my knees and feel like quitting on Monday - but by Tuesday I’m convinced I’m called.
I know I’m not alone
I want to know Christ and make Him known

Talk about God’s timing!  The article title caught my eye and I had no choice but to respond.  Pressing on is becoming more and more difficult.  I have been in ministry for 15 years and currently serve as the senior pastor for a 3.5-year-old church plant (tri-vocational).  Yesterday, just prior to teaching, I had the worship leader’s wife blast me with both barrels about something that was out of my control.  She has always been outspoken, but this conversation was a personal and vicious attack.  I am not a youngster just out of school unfamiliar with the ways of such people, but a seasoned pastor with 15 years corporate management experience prior to ministry.  Unfortunately, try as I might, I allowed her comments to set the tone for the next hour or two.  I continually am amazed at those who believe they are allowed to the speak whatever passing thoughts they have in whatever manner they wish. 

What keeps me coming back week after week is the realization that God is not through with me here.  There have been times when I have prayed that He would release me – He hasn’t.  Additionally, the love that is shown by the majority of the congregation, the new people that are coming, and the sense that God is making a difference in the lives of those in and around the church fuel me on.  The frustrations are great and the resources are limited - but God remains unchanging and at work.

My Prayer:
1) A congregation not satisfied with the status-quo
2) A church community that has a deep longing for intimacy with God
3) A church community that has a deep longing for intimacy with each other
4) A realization that we CAN make a difference for the Kingdom of God

Blessings….Press ON!