The “slump” metaphor is often used in sports. A baseball hitter is said to be in a slump if he hasn’t gotten a hit in 15 at-bats. A quarterback might be in a slump if he’s only completed eight passes over the past two games. The numbers, the stats, the measurements—they make it easy to identify when something is off.
But pastoral ministry doesn’t come with a box score.
There aren’t many clear metrics to tell us when a pastor is in a slump. Yes, attendance might dip. Giving might drop. There might be a decline in baptisms or small group engagement. But most slumps in ministry aren’t captured in numbers. They are felt—sometimes deeply—but not always seen.
Still, pastors know when they’re in one. They know when the energy isn’t there. They sense when the preaching doesn’t connect like it used to. They feel more strained in their relationships.
