A D O S E O F R E A L I T YN A T I O N A L S U I C I D E A W A R E N E S S W E E K 2 0 1 4

“ PA S T O R C O M M I T S S U I C I D E W H I L E C O N G R E G AT I O N W A I T S F O R H I M T O P R E A C H ”

“ N C C O M M U N I T Y B I B L E C H U R C H S H O C K E D AT 4 2 - Y E A R - O L D S E N I O R PA S T O R ’ S S U I C I D E ”

“ PA S T O R G R I E V I N G H I S W I F E S H O O T S H I M S E L F I N F R O N T O F H I S M O T H E R A N D S O N ”

“ C H A R I S M AT I C C H U R C H N E T W O R K L E A D E R D I E S I N A P PA R E N T S U I C I D E ”

“ M E G A - C H U R C H F O U N D E R I S A A C H U N T E R F O U N D D E A D I N A P PA R E N T S U I C I D E ”

PA S T O R A L S TAT S

• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression

• 71% are burned out

• 72% of pastors only study the Bible when preparing for a sermon

• 70% say they don’t have a close friend

S O U R C E S : S C H A E F F E R I N S T I T U T E

N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E

PA S T O R A L S TAT S

• 1,500 pastors leave their ministries each month due to burnout, conflict, or moral failure

• Doctors, lawyers and clergy have the most problems with drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide

S O U R C E S : N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O

D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E PA S T O R B U R N O U T. C O M

G E N E R A L S TAT S

• Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 24-35

• There are two times as many suicide deaths than HIV/AIDS deaths

• Every 13 minutes someone commits suicide

S O U R C E S : N E W Y O R K T I M E S - “ TA K I N G A B R E A K F R O M T H E L O R D ’ S W O R K - PA U L V I T E L L O

D U K E D I V I N I T Y S C H O O L - C L E R G Y H E A LT H I N I T I AT I V E PA S T O R B U R N O U T. C O M

P R E D I C T I V E FA C T O R S

• Depression

• Hopelessness

P R O T E C T I V E FA C T O R S

• Effective Care

• Strong family and community connections

• Cultural and Religious beliefs that discourage suicide

T H E W O R D : I I C O R I N T H I A N S 1 0 : 5

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take

every thought captive to obey Christ.”

J A M E S 5 : 1 6 E S V

“Confess your sins one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed.”

P R AY E R F O R S U I C I D A L T H O U G H T S & A C T I O N S

Lord, I realize that while the thief came to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came to give life. I confess that I have been entertaining and agreeing with the voice of the enemy regarding my own life. !

Whether I can see it or not, I choose to believe that You have a plan for my life and that You will carry it out.

P R AY E R F O R S U I C I D A L T H O U G H T S & A C T I O N S

My life is Yours and not mine, and I surrender to You my life and my death. I choose to renounce the lie of the enemy that my own death can do more for me than the death of Your Son, Jesus. !

I declare Your truth over my life and I ask for a divine exchange of the lie with Your truth. I take control of my thoughts and I thank You for the gift of my life. I ask for and receive your forgiveness and walk in freedom from this day forward in Jesus’ name. Amen

T H E M O U N T L E A D S . O R G / S U I C I D E - R E S O U R C E S

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T