When asked about their favorite part of the job, most pastors say they enjoy preaching and teaching (60%). But this aspect of ministry is just one of many responsibilities pastors carry when it comes to serving their church and community.

This article, an excerpt from Barna’s new Resilient Pastor series—part of the larger Resilient Pastor initiative and available exclusively on Barna Access Plus—offers new data on what pastors enjoy about their job as well as aspects of ministry they weren’t completely prepared for when entering their role. You can read the full article today on Barna Access Plus.

When asked what they liked about being a pastor, respondents overwhelmingly highlight preaching and teaching, with 60 percent saying this is their favorite part of the job (in a distant second place is discipling believers, with 8 percent).

Of course, through the pandemic, preaching and teaching began to look very different in many churches around the country. The early COVID era highlighted the need for pastors to think beyond preaching as the lodestone of their ministry and be intentional about what else their church provides to the local community.