Why the Pastors Are Leaving
By David Burke, Barnabas Partner & Leadership Team Member
David serves as a facilitator of ideations, and helps ministries prepare to present at Barnabas.
Over the last few years, I've had the privilege of sitting with hundreds of pastors, ministry leaders, nonprofit executives, and business leaders. Almost every conversation begins differently, but many eventually arrive at the same place.
Someone leans forward and says, "I've never told anyone this before."
That sentence has become far more common than it should be.
There has been no shortage of articles about pastors leaving ministry. Most point to burnout, conflict, finances, or changing culture. Those factors are certainly real. But from where I sit, they are often symptoms of something deeper.
Loneliness.
Many ministry leaders have no safe place to process discouragement, disappointment, fear, or failure. They are expected to be the encourager, the visionary, the counselor, and the steady presence for everyone else. They spend their days carrying the burdens of their congregations, staff, boards, donors, and families while quietly wondering who is carrying theirs. Eventually, many begin carrying weights that were never meant to be carried alone. The result is rarely a single dramatic collapse. More often, it is a slow erosion of joy, resilience, and hope that eventually leads gifted leaders to wonder whether they can continue.
The Church has seen this problem before. In the book of Acts, we meet Joseph—a man the apostles nicknamed Barnabas, meaning "son of encouragement." Barnabas didn't become indispensable because he preached the greatest sermons or planted the most churches. He became indispensable because he consistently came alongside people who needed someone to believe in them. He advocated for Saul when others were afraid to trust him. He sought out Paul when he needed a partner in ministry. He stood with John Mark after others had written him off, giving him another opportunity to fulfill God's calling. Time and again, Barnabas strengthened leaders at pivotal moments in their lives, and the ripple effects of that encouragement shaped the early Church for generations.
That is why I have always appreciated the mission of the Barnabas Group. Your name is not accidental. Encouragement is not a secondary ministry—it is a Kingdom strategy. While many people think of encouragement as simply saying kind words, biblical encouragement is much richer. It means coming alongside another person, strengthening them, helping them persevere, and reminding them that they are not alone in the work God has called them to do.
That same conviction is at the heart of my work with Standing Stone Ministry. Every conversation is confidential. Every leader is welcomed without judgment. Because our ministry is supported by generous partners, we are able to provide coaching and soul care at no cost to the leaders we serve. That removes one more barrier for someone who may already be hesitant to ask for help. My hope is that every ministry leader has at least one trusted companion who knows the real story—not just the ministry report—and can help them finish their race faithfully.
To the Barnabas community, I want to make two invitations.
First, if you know a pastor, ministry leader, nonprofit executive, or Christian business leader who could benefit from having a trusted, confidential companion, I would be honored to connect with them. Sometimes a single conversation can make all the difference. You can learn more about Standing Stone or reach me through my profile there.
Second, if this ministry resonates with you, I would invite you to consider becoming a financial partner in this work. Like many missionaries, I raise my own support so that leaders can receive coaching and care free of charge. My prayer is that financial constraints never prevent a leader from receiving the help they need, and the generosity of ministry partners makes that possible.
About The Author: David Burke
David is passionate about seeing leaders thrive and flourish, providing coaching and care for leaders in multiple spheres with Standing Stone ministry. A former atheist turned pastor, David served in college ministry, non-profit, and local church contexts in associate and senior roles for 25 years. He holds a doctorate from Fuller Seminary in the church as an entrepreneur and has an ICF coaching credential through Western Seminary. He is married to Kelsey, a gifted artist and art teacher in the Sacramento area, and they have six children.