Why student pastors feel insecure in their ministries
Percent of U.S. student ministers citing each reason, 2025 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: Not having children of their own (17%). Lowest: Church sees them as too old (5%).
- Not having children of their own: 17%
- Seen as too young: 14%
- Lack sufficient experience: 13%
Source: Lifeway Research, Student Pastors Face Unique Ministry Insecurities · Article published 2025-06-26.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: Not having children of their own (17%). Lowest: Church sees them as too old (5%). Not having children of their own: 17%. Seen as too young: 14%. Lack sufficient experience: 13%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2025. Source: Lifeway Research, Student Pastors Face Unique Ministry Insecurities (https://research.lifeway.com/2025/06/26/student-pastors-face-unique-ministry-insecurities/).
Where can I get the full data and a citation?
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About this data
Leader Insights collects statistics about U.S. churches from published research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, Barna Group, Springtide, the American Bible Society and PRRI. Every number is checked against the wording of the original source before it is published, and each statistic links back to the study it came from. Figures are reproduced from the publishers named above; see the source for full methodology.