nothing left to give

The following are indicators that ministry leaders are heading toward burnout, if not already there. Sadly, we too often become so focused on our tasks and responsibilities that we fail to see these warning signs until it is too late.

1. Unusual mood swings that may include weeping without just cause, anger, or depression
2. Exhaustion
3. Paranoia and suspicion
4. Weight change, including gain or loss
5. Moments of panic and feeling totally overwhelmed
6. Fantasizing about dying or running away to get away from the pressure
7. Fight-or-flight cycles where you rise up to intimidate and conquer others or run away from difficulties just to avoid them
8. Insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep, which can lead to a reliance on sleeping pills
9. Too frequent use of alcohol or tobacco High blood pressure
10. Comforting yourself with unhealthy foods packed with fat, sugar, and simple carbohydrates (more…)

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Saving Grace

The Turmoil

During this time, spiritual enemies seem to gain a foothold in the church. There are subtle changes in attitude toward the minister. Once he was held in esteem, but now there are conflicts and discontentment expressed toward certain aspect of his work or life. The spiritual battle increases in intensity almost daily. Pressure on the pastor and confrontations with certain people grow worse, with no satisfactory resolution. Even fasting and prayer often fail to turn things around. The particular events that cause the turmoil vary from church to church, and pastor to pastor, but this stage is a common one in most stories I’ve heard.

The Trauma

Eventually, the opposition that’s been partially hidden comes to a head. Open conflict breaks out, or secret meetings take place. Either way, it leads to the resignation or termination of the minister. As a result, there is deep emotional damage. The pastor, spouse and family experience an overwhelming sense of rejection and disbelief. The extent of the injury varies, depending on how ugly things become before the pastor is forced out. It may range from a minor scratch on the heart to complete soul crucifixion. Sleeplessness and depression are common, and often bring a minister and spouse to the point of despair. (more…)

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Pastor Pie

written by Bill Vanderbush

Let’s pretend that you’re a cook who feeds the same people every week. You go to the store, pay for the ingredients, work hard cooking the meal, open the doors, and the usual patrons wander in. Many of them are actually out of shape, lazy as a dog, and picky as a two year old. Some things are too hot, some are too cold. Some simply go through the line and take what they want. Others complain about everything that’s on the menu that they don’t like. “Why do they even have squash? I hate squash.” Or, “How come they don’t have sweet potatoes? Every other decent restaurant in town has sweet potatoes.” Sometimes they’ll say, “We have the best fried chicken in town. It’s better than every other diner out there.”

You begin to notice that most of the patrons aren’t really that hungry. They just come to inspect the food. They load up anyway, though most of the food on the plates will go unconsumed. When they go through the line there is a donation box at the end to offset the cost of the food and perhaps to tip the cook. Most pay. Some even leave a tip, smile, and say thank you. It’s this appreciation that will often make the difference between whether or not the cook keeps cooking, for some days it can get discouraging to be a cook. (more…)

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sometimes, ignorance is bliss

An interesting thing happens when a minister is wounded in action. He stays quiet. Why? Because he knows about the unwritten rule of silence. Those outside career ministry will not easily understand this but filing a grievance is not something a pastor does.Here’s a quick look at the drama.In ministry there is a statement that needs much examination (for further discussions). A minister will be taught that things will need to be done “for the sake of the church”. What that ultimately means is that at the end of the day, the organization that resides at xxx maple street needs to come out a winner.

In many situations, “for the sake of the church” law will take precedence over what was known to be right, spiritually and legally. To violate the rule will surely come under some serious spiritual abuse. Scripture verses will be thrown your way and pseudo-spiritual guilt will be placed upon you. (more…)

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Burning the candle at both ends

When PTSD occurs at once it is usually because of some great stress experience that was a kin to war or terrorism. In other words, your life was at stake literally. But PTSD (complex) can occur after a long period of stress we sometimes call “bullying.”We hate to say it, but it does occur in churches, by the board, the influential members, the denominational leaders, etc. Over the years, it can take its toll.

Just think what years of unconditional love could do to you? The pain and the abuse can be incredible. For those of you who are not suffering too badly, please allow us to take a journey into PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) with those who are so very deeply wounded. PTSD is most often associated with war or terrorism. For those pastors on the very edge of life/death, pastoring has been an experience in war and terrorism.

I want to introduce the subject with a definition and a few symptoms. (more…)

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I wonder how many testimonies you will hear from Pastors like myself who also got tired of the church game, didn’t know what to do about it, and when I prayed, there was great silence in Heaven (as well as on my part of the earth) so I quit!!

I pastored Foursquare churches fifteen years and an Assembly of God for eight. I finally got tired of pouring my heart out to people who just didn’t seem to “get It.” Oh, there were some with a good degree of zeal, but they went right off to Bible school and became ministers in their own right. This is not bad, but it left me with no one to help me. We had “glorious song services”, exiting prophecies, messages in tongues, testimonies, special singers and all the rest—but it didn’t seem to have any lasting effect on anybody. If we should have a rather dull service following one of the “glorious” ones, people were ready to leave. (more…)

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