Podcast Episode #341
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There are danger signs in any vocation. But if you ignore these, it might be more than just your job that you lose—it could be your ministry that’s lost. Thanks again to Chuck Lawless for the post from which these warning signs come.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Living for your days off is a miserable way to live in ministry.
- If you consistently don’t get enough rest and sleep, you likely won’t produce good results at work.
- Don’t try to feed the congregation without first feeding yourself.
- If you’re not happy and content in the work to which God has called you, people will notice. You can’t fake it.
- Your family is your first line of ministry.
- Pastors should invest in assistants to help with administrative work.
- When you work a ministry schedule, you need a system for returning calls and emails.
- Don’t make friends just to use them as conduits to find your next place of ministry.
The 13 warning signs we cover are:
- Living by a “get me through the day” philosophy.
- Losing vision.
- Developing poor sleep patterns.
- Declining spiritual disciplines.
- Repeating lessons and sermons.
- Faking joy and excitement.
- Frustrating family members.
- Magnifying minors.
- Failing to return emails and phone calls.
- Misdirecting affections.
- Decreasing exercise.
- Focusing on a “grass is greener” syndrome.
- Avoiding people who speak truth.
Episode Sponsors
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Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. Their Fall Lead Pastor and Executive Pastor Coaching Networks are now open for registration, and our very own Dr. Rainer will be speaking at the Fall Lead Pastor Coaching Network.
So if you’re a Lead Pastor or an Executive Pastor looking for peer roundtable coaching, check it out at vanderbloemen.com/coaching. It’s limited to 16 folks, so apply today before it fills up.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Podcast
- Seven Ways to Deal with Gnats in Ministry
- BELAY (affiliate link)
Thom, have you any research on church fatigue? I believe I’m facing this issue and I have no clue how to deal with it. Thanks.
Doug Jones
dougandleslie733@gmail.com
Doug –
Contact my office. We would like to find you help. Email my assistant: Amy.Jordan@LifeWay.com.
To help prevent burnout you need good people around you. That can be expressed many ways. For example, someone to help go through your emails and handle the ones they can, and direct you to the ones only you can deal with. Also, someone to help visit people in the hospital or at home, etc.
Also, it helps if the people will give positive reports to the pastor, not just all of the negative!
Well said.
It’s important to recognise that fatigue is not necessarily connected to a heavy workload. As long as the focus and motivation and enthusiasm is there, then a person might be able to effectively handle a very full schedule. But when the enthusiasm is lost then everything becomes a chore, and all ministerial labours may appear to be futile. Many pastors need to find a better balance between preaching and pastoring – between the time spent in the study and the time spent with people. Many people have never met their pastor – they have only ever known the preacher.
I am only a gardener so I am not an expert on pastoral ministry, but in my line of work, it is communicating with people which adds zest to my work. Where I barely know my clients, where I don’t feel like I have anything in common with them, where we remain only acquaintances rather than friends, those are the jobs which I least look forward to going to. But where the clients have become my friends (sometimes almost like family), where we enjoy seeing each other and catching up on all the news each week, going to them is a highlight of the week. My weeks go past so quickly because almost every day I am going to people who I am looking forward to seeing, and my working life is so enjoyable as a result.
I think pastors often need to take off their preaching cap and step down and get to know all the individuals in their congregation – which requires meeting with them on a regular basis – often enough to enable a relationship to be built up. If a pastor took the time to chat to each person in his congregation he would find much to concern him (in terms of their defective theology, liberalism, indifference to Christian doctrine, or Biblical illiteracy), but he would also find those who gave him great comfort and encouragement, and those who inspired him. He would find young people with a thirst for learning, and people who immersed themselves in good books, and he would discover what information people were needing in order to grow, and it would add focus to his labours. He would be able to tailor his sermons to the needs of the congregation, and have specific aims in mind as he sought to stamp out prevalent heresies, or sought to bring out the best in promising people who looked like they had a future of active Christian service. You can’t find out what is in a person’s heart and mind by preaching at them, but only by talking with them. Many people find their pastors inapproachable. Their pastor would be the last person they would care to open their heart or their mind to.
John – Based on what you have said, you are so much more than “only a gardener”. You probably know that. I understand why you said it.
John, I totally agree with your statements wholeheartedly. This
Not that we are driven by ego by nice positive feedback is important, so many times people will only give you negative feedback, ” you shouldn’t have said that”, We try our best to be messengers of a positive message, some back helps a lot! Great article as always
So true, Mike.
9 out of 13 isn’t too bad, right? Looks like I have 4 more to go before I’ll take break.
In all seriousness, thank you for the podcast.
I’ve been fighting these symptoms for about a year now.
Just now getting the help I need.
Aaron –
I am so glad you are getting help. Contact us if you us.
The organizational chart comment was the most humorous thing I heard all day. So funny. Great Podcast
Thank you, Alan. I absolutely love doing the podcasts!
Thom – Thank you, for your diligence in seeking to help the body of Christ become all they can be for God’s glory!
Blessings,
Michael
Thanks so much, Michael.
Thom,
Thanks for your message on burnout. Drs Dallas and Sheila Speight, former LeaderCare Retreat Leaders for LifeWay are offering a free retreat for clergy couples at beautiful RoseMary Beach, FL. Details can be found at http://www.transitioningpathways.com. 904-233-6885.
Thanks for sharing this. I’d like to encourage any burnt out pastors reading this.
A couple of years ago I was utterly burned out. I see myself in a number of these on the list. A year and a half ago the Lord opened doors for me to become bi-vocational. Stepping back into the secular work force at 54 years old was a faith leap, but it saved my ministry – and my sanity. I now work full-time and pastor a small church and I am loving it.
Burned out brothers, before you quit the ministry, prayerfully consider bi-vo ministry. It’s of course not for everyone, but it sure is working for me. I am enjoying ministry more than I have in many years.
Thanks and God bless you.