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A Jesus-centered year-end review for ministry leaders and partners
As the year ends, most churches and ministries review:
- Attendance
- Giving
- Programs
- Events
Those things matter. They tell part of the story.
But if you only measure numbers, you can end December feeling like you have either “succeeded” or “failed” without ever asking a more important question:
How are the people doing
At Cedar Creek Ministries, we pay close attention to another set of numbers.
In recent years:
- About 42 percent of pastors and ministry leaders said they had seriously considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year
- More than 60 percent reported battling exhaustion, isolation, or loneliness
Behind every metric is a human soul, a family, a calling.
As we finish this year, we want to invite you, whether you are a pastor, a church leader, or a supporter of Cedar Creek Ministries, to review things a little differently.
A Different Kind Of Year-End Review For Pastors, Church Leaders, And Missionaries
Before you run the final numbers, take a quiet moment with the Lord and ask:
- Where did I see God’s faithfulness this year
Not just in church growth, but in small, personal ways. - What did this year cost my soul and my family
Be honest, not dramatic. - Where did I sense God inviting me to slow down, and I ignored it
- Where did I take steps toward healthier rhythms
Even if they felt small.
You are not just a producer of ministry outcomes. You are a person loved by God.
Your well-being is part of the Kingdom story, not a distraction from it.
A Different Kind Of Review For Churches
If you serve on a board, elder team, or leadership council, consider asking together:
- Do we know how our pastor is
really doing
- Have we made space for regular rest, not just crisis recovery
- Have we budgeted for sabbaticals, counseling, and care for leaders
Studies continue to show that when pastors and ministry leaders are supported in rest, counseling, and healthy rhythms, they are more likely to stay in ministry, lead with joy, and build healthier churches over time.
Investment in leader health is not a luxury. It is a growth strategy for the entire body.
A Different Kind Of Review For Supporters And Donors
If you love what Cedar Creek Ministries does, you already know this:
When pastors and ministry leaders rest, whole communities feel it.
Year-end is a critical time for ministries. Around 30 percent of annual charitable giving in the United States happens in December, and about 10 percent of all giving often occurs in the last three days of the year.
That means your decision to give now has a real, measurable impact.
Here is what your generosity makes possible in very practical terms:
- More nights of rest for pastors and ministry families
- More marriages strengthened quietly before crisis hits
- More leaders who return to their churches with renewed vision instead of resignation
You are not just “donating to a ministry.”
You are strengthening the basecamp that supports countless churches and communities.
Three Questions To Pray Through As The Year Ends
Wherever you are in this story, here are three simple questions to sit with as the year closes:
- Lord, how do You see this past year in my life and ministry
Let His voice be louder than your inner critic or your highlight reel. - What do You want to heal, restore, or realign in me before the new year begins
- What step of obedience are You inviting me to take
For some, that might be planning a sabbatical.
For others, it might be becoming a monthly ministry partner to support pastoral care.
For others, it might be asking for help.
A Hope-Filled Final Word
If this year felt heavy, you are not behind.
If you are tired, you are not disqualified.
Your calling did not begin with your strength, and it will not be sustained by your strength. It began with Jesus, and He is committed to finishing what He started in you.
As we close out this year at Cedar Creek Ministries, we are:
- Grateful for every pastor and ministry worker who stayed faithful in hard seasons
- Grateful for every church that is learning to care well for their leaders
- Grateful for every supporter who has made space for leaders to rest, restore, and revive their vision
Thank you for being part of this story.
