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First, God told me (Carl) to build it, for that story see
the Learn
About En Gedi link.
Second, simply put, pastors, missionaries, and
church workers around the country could use a little time off, a little
time to reconnect with God, reconnect with their families, and a lot of
encouragement from their congregation. A 1998 Focus on the Family
report states the following,
"Of great concern, of course, is
the state of the clergy itself. Thousands of spiritual leaders are
barely hanging on from day to day. Our surveys indicated that 80 percent
of pastors and 84 percent of their spouses are discouraged or are
dealing with depression. More than 40 percent of pastors and 47 percent
of their spouses report that they are suffering from burnout, frantic
schedules and unrealistic expectations. We estimate that 1500 pastors
leave their assignments each month, due to moral failure, spiritual
burnout or contention within their local congregations.
Why are pastors struggling? There are many causes. The
Fuller Institute of Church Growth found in 1991 that 80 percent of the
clergy feel their families have been negatively impacted by the church,
and 33 percent consider the ministry to be an outright hazard to their
families. Financial burdens are common as well. The majority of pastors
are heavily in debt, due to college and seminary expenses. These and
other problems often lead to serious marital conflict and family
dysfunction. Unfortunately, the embarrassment or gossip within the
church leads some couples to avoid needed counseling services."
So it is
easy to see why En Gedi, a place designed for those working in
the church, be available. En Gedi is be a place of refuge, fun,
and relaxation for those who might not otherwise be able to take a
vacation. It will serve as one of many things that
encourages those that work for the kingdom to continue running the race
for the King.
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