People are always recommending books to me—I guess that’s one of the benefits of pastoral ministry.
I’m not even sure who recommended this one—but I’m glad it came my way. Resilient Ministry—What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving is by Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald C. Guthrie (IVP Press, 2013).
The book begins with these words: “What does it take for pastors not only to survive but to thrive in fruitful ministry over the long haul?” After reading that first sentence, I said to myself, “This is why Barnabas Ministries exists.”
This book is not about strategy, methodology, or success—it’s about fruitfulness for the long haul of pastoral ministry. Since the last time I wrote to you, I have become a full-time pastor again. I am back in the trenches with many of you, described very well in the book as the “taxing, fast-paced, and unrelenting, often characterized by doing two or more tasks at the same time” kind of ministry again.
I encourage you to get a copy of this book and check out the five primary themes for leadership resilience in fruitful pastoral ministry: 1) spiritual formation, 2) self-care, 3) emotional and cultural intelligence, 4) marriage and family, 5) leadership and management.
As I have poured through these pages, I am reminded that pastoral ministry is often a lonely and hurting place for many of us. Several times throughout this book, the authors remind us that we pastors need community. “Jesus and the apostles never tired of stressing this need for community.”
That’s why pastors need the connections with other men and women in ministry—because we need community. I will never understand why so many pastors act like the Lone Ranger (even he had Tonto!) when God Himself exists in community—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Knowing how to parse Greek verbs, preparing exegetical sermons, and being a great theologian are not the “end-alls” of pastoral ministry. Without healthy relationships, our “ships” of ministry will find it difficult to “dock” and hear the “Harbor Master” say, “Well done.”
“Pastors need to be shepherded and nurtured in order to grow in their walks with the Lord, just like the rest of us,” state the authors of the book. Where does that happen? Let me suggest that one superb place for this growth to happen is in a pastoral support group.
So many pastors are slipping into the trap of going it alone. Too many wait until it’s too late to develop the connections that serve as “life preservers” during the stormy times and “comfortable cushions” during the easier times.
We in pastoral ministry don’t take very good care of ourselves or our relationships, I’m afraid. We stay too busy trying to please too many people. We need to ask ourselves if we spend as much time in prayer as we do in committee meetings. Are we getting the rest we need? Are we taking care of our health? In August of 2010, the New York Times reported that “members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.” (by Paul Vitello, August 1, 2010). Ouch.
Do you get the picture? We need trusted and safe people in our lives to help us navigate the unique currents and stresses of pastoral ministry.
Let’s face it, ministry is hard. Even if you pastor a small church, you have a myriad of expectations put upon you every week. But I have found that most of the valuable lessons we learn in ministry come through the hard times, the tough times, the painful times. Have you found it so? That’s why we need others around us—they help us keep our perspective while we are navigating around the “rocks.”
The authors quote Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky (Leadership on the Line). These gentlemen inform us that we need confidants. These are people who “usually operate outside your organization’s boundary…whose interests are perfectly aligned with yours…” We need confidants in our lives—and I believe pastors probably need them more than any other “professional.”
Again, read these words from Resilient Ministry:
Pastors need brothers and sisters who are confidants: persons who “can provide you with a place where you can say everything that’s in your heart, everything that’s on your mind, without being predigested or well packaged.”
Doesn’t that sound like something all of us need who “sail the seas” of pastoral ministry?
I’m not even sure who recommended this one—but I’m glad it came my way. Resilient Ministry—What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving is by Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald C. Guthrie (IVP Press, 2013).
The book begins with these words: “What does it take for pastors not only to survive but to thrive in fruitful ministry over the long haul?” After reading that first sentence, I said to myself, “This is why Barnabas Ministries exists.”
This book is not about strategy, methodology, or success—it’s about fruitfulness for the long haul of pastoral ministry. Since the last time I wrote to you, I have become a full-time pastor again. I am back in the trenches with many of you, described very well in the book as the “taxing, fast-paced, and unrelenting, often characterized by doing two or more tasks at the same time” kind of ministry again.
I encourage you to get a copy of this book and check out the five primary themes for leadership resilience in fruitful pastoral ministry: 1) spiritual formation, 2) self-care, 3) emotional and cultural intelligence, 4) marriage and family, 5) leadership and management.
As I have poured through these pages, I am reminded that pastoral ministry is often a lonely and hurting place for many of us. Several times throughout this book, the authors remind us that we pastors need community. “Jesus and the apostles never tired of stressing this need for community.”
That’s why pastors need the connections with other men and women in ministry—because we need community. I will never understand why so many pastors act like the Lone Ranger (even he had Tonto!) when God Himself exists in community—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Knowing how to parse Greek verbs, preparing exegetical sermons, and being a great theologian are not the “end-alls” of pastoral ministry. Without healthy relationships, our “ships” of ministry will find it difficult to “dock” and hear the “Harbor Master” say, “Well done.”
“Pastors need to be shepherded and nurtured in order to grow in their walks with the Lord, just like the rest of us,” state the authors of the book. Where does that happen? Let me suggest that one superb place for this growth to happen is in a pastoral support group.
So many pastors are slipping into the trap of going it alone. Too many wait until it’s too late to develop the connections that serve as “life preservers” during the stormy times and “comfortable cushions” during the easier times.
We in pastoral ministry don’t take very good care of ourselves or our relationships, I’m afraid. We stay too busy trying to please too many people. We need to ask ourselves if we spend as much time in prayer as we do in committee meetings. Are we getting the rest we need? Are we taking care of our health? In August of 2010, the New York Times reported that “members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.” (by Paul Vitello, August 1, 2010). Ouch.
Do you get the picture? We need trusted and safe people in our lives to help us navigate the unique currents and stresses of pastoral ministry.
Let’s face it, ministry is hard. Even if you pastor a small church, you have a myriad of expectations put upon you every week. But I have found that most of the valuable lessons we learn in ministry come through the hard times, the tough times, the painful times. Have you found it so? That’s why we need others around us—they help us keep our perspective while we are navigating around the “rocks.”
The authors quote Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky (Leadership on the Line). These gentlemen inform us that we need confidants. These are people who “usually operate outside your organization’s boundary…whose interests are perfectly aligned with yours…” We need confidants in our lives—and I believe pastors probably need them more than any other “professional.”
Again, read these words from Resilient Ministry:
Pastors need brothers and sisters who are confidants: persons who “can provide you with a place where you can say everything that’s in your heart, everything that’s on your mind, without being predigested or well packaged.”
Doesn’t that sound like something all of us need who “sail the seas” of pastoral ministry?
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