A Ministry Doers Profile

We asked the pastors featured in the “Honest Day’s Work” article to answer some specific questions about their work habits. Here are their combined replies.

ON THE PAST TWO WEEKS, HOW MANY EVENINGS DID YOU SPEND IN MINISTRY ACTIVITIES?

Average: 7. Highest: 11. Lowest: 5.

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, HOW MANY “BUSINESS BREAKFASTS” DID YOU HAVE?

Three said none (“I don’t do breakfasts — they ‘eat’ into study time”).

Average of the rest: 4.

IN THE PAST WEEK, HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU PHONED AT HOME AFTER 6 P.M.?

Average: 11 times. Highest: 30. Lowest: 3.

WHAT TIME OFF DO YOU TAKE EACH WEEK?

-“Thursday (although the last two weeks I worked both Thursdays).”

– “Thursday and half of Saturday.”

– “On average, one half day.”

-“Monday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon.”

– “3 P.M. Sunday to noon Tuesday.”

– “Mondays and Saturday afternoons.”

-“Saturday, unless I have weddings or emergencies, and another half day elsewhere.”

HOW MANY HOURS DID YOU SPEND AT CHURCH LAST SUNDAY?

Average: 9 hours. Highest: 12. Lowest; 6.

HOW MUCH VACATION TIME WERE YOU ALLOWED LAST YEAR (AND HOW MUCH DID YOU ACTUALLY TAKE)?

Average: four weeks allowed (two and a half weeks taken).

IN THE PAST WEEK, HOW MANY EVENING MEALS DID YOU HAVE WITH YOUR FAMILY?

Average: 3. Highest: 7. Lowest: 1.

WHEN DO YOU DO YOUR SERMON PREPARATION (AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE)?

– Parts of Thursday, Friday, Saturday (4 to 12 hours).

– Thursday and Friday (8 to 10 hours).

– Early Sunday morning (5 hours).

– Tuesday and Thursday (10 hours).

– On the run (6 to 8 hours).

– All day Monday and Tuesday, and half of Wednesday (20 hours).

– Four weeks prior: one hour to determine thence. Week of sermon: two afternoons and Saturday morning (8 to 10 hours).

HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SLEEP IN A NORMAL NIGHT?

Average: 7 hours. Highest: 8. Lowest: 5.

DO YOU NORMALLY TAKE A NAP DURING THE WEEK?

Yes: 2. No: 5.

lewin94mrw4L11395818

Posted January 1, 1994