I don't even know the man...or ever heard of him.
But for some reason, this feels like an arrow in my heart.
Maybe because many people forget that Pastors are merely human beings and too much emphasis is placed as the pastor "watching over our souls" as someone here put it.
People need to remember that we are responsible for ourselves for what we do. There are too many 30 and 40 year old babies sitting in the pew waiting for the pastor's ok to do anything. Christ expects us to grow and mature in our walk with Him and go out into the world and bring others to Christ and help them to mature. It's like raising your family at home.
There isn't any place on God's earth where one man is able to watch 'watch over the souls' of 800 people. Even to watch over the souls of 50 people is too much for one man. He is supposed to feed the people with knowledge of the Word of God so they can discern for themselves what to do, not run every aspect of their life. Not run interference for every problem they may have. That is too much of a burden on any one man.
Consider in the OT, when Moses sat to 'counsel' people from day to night. Read the words of wisdom from his father-in-law, Jethro.
13And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why
sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee:
for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And
thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let
them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter
they shall bring unto thee,
but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so,
then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
(
Exodus 18:13-23)
These are very wise words spoken by Moses father-in-law and God did not forbid it.
Pastors wear themselves out with this "watching for your soul" business. They inadvertently ruin their own family life and personal time with their spouse because even in a small church, there will always be someone who is having a personal problem that needs attention from the pastor. Jethro saw that this is not good for one man.
I don't know why my heart grieves for this man and his family, but as saints of the Lord, we all take responsibility for moral and financial failures because Christ's church is not supposed to be cultish-like. It is supposed to be a vibrant, ever growing entity that is somewhat electrically charged in that wherever we go, our spark of Christ (Holy Ghost) should leap off us and touch the unsaved wherever they are at and they feel the real deal of our Savior.
We should be followers of Christ showing the pathway to Him, rather than saying "Hey, why don't you come to church with me". Show them Christ first even if it means having home bible studies with them before bringing them to the assembly for the worshiping service. Going to church for some folks are too big a step to take.
If we are called to Christ, then we are all ministers to Him in some capacity. Quit relying so heavily on the pastor for everything.
I wonder if this is what was in mind when the following scripture was spoken saying: Obey
them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
(
Hebrews 13:17)
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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