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NEW RESEARCH REVEALING THE 7 PRACTICES THAT MULTIPLY DISCIPLES Most North American churches are busy—but not multiplying. Many still lack a reproducible pathway from conversion to disciple making. In 7 […]
From the Introduction: I remember the day we made the decision to not pursue starting the church we had moved halfway across the nation to plant. Even though we had already begun establishing ourselves in the community, we were burned out. There were a lot of contributing factors to our burnout, and it would take several years to unravel that wire that had wound around the axle of our lives. For that moment though, all that mattered was that we were being honest with God and ourselves and recognizing we did not need to be in ministry at that time.
The following days brought a wave of thoughts and emotions:
I faced those and many other questions in the following days, weeks, months, and years. In fact, the questions became my prayers. And somewhere in those difficult moments, God met us. He loved us. He gave us community. He provided for us. The next five years was not an easy season, but it was good. It was good because God was leading, and we were following.
Fast forward five years and I had an opportunity through a graduate program to research what I had experienced: pastoral burnout. What I discovered in my research, both in what I read and through interviews with thirty ministers, gave me hope that burnout is indeed preventable. The pathway for resilience though is not through more tools, life hacks, or understanding. Thriving in ministry is not about doing more or learning more.
Resilience is created through living a different kind of life—a life that takes Jesus completely seriously when he said,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV)
Does Jesus’ invitation of rest sound good? Like something to start taking seriously—instead of a nice but unrealistic sentiment?
NEW RESEARCH REVEALING THE 7 PRACTICES THAT MULTIPLY DISCIPLES Most North American churches are busy—but not multiplying. Many still lack a reproducible pathway from conversion to disciple making. In 7 […]
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For a whole segment of Bible teachers and preachers, N. T. Wright is their go-to theologian, for whom if Wright says it, then it’s probably right. He is, for many, […]
