A serious question. Having served in ministry for years, I feel burnt out. Still, I know I am there to serve The King. How do you deal with ministry burn out? Serious answers only, please.
2006-09-28 08:30:48 · 11 answers · asked by TubeDude 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Here are a few question to give yourself permission to check in with yourself.
What aspects of your ministry are or have been fun?
Are you still getting to do the fun stuff or are you mostly doing the hard stuff?
Have you just come of a period of conflict? This can be really draining and a little time off might be called for.
How is your self care going? You know the basic stuff...Diet, exercise, sleep, relaxation time, etc?
What are you doing for spiritual self care? Do you think you have been growing, holding steady, moving backwards?
Who do you have that listens to you? Is there someone you can rant and rave to, or cry in front of without fear of judgment?
How are your friendships? Do you have folks you can just hang around with and just be yourself?
Have you explored any new spiritual disciplines recently? Want some ideas? Check out the book, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster. This is an excellent, excellent book and yes Foster is a Christian. No worries this is nothing weird.
Have you thought about getting a spiritual director? This can be a huge help.
Need other ideas? Drop me an e-mail.
Peace to you.
Pabs
And don't forget to crank that amp for a little power tube saturation!
2006-09-28 08:45:54 · answer #1 · answered by Pablito 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a Dance Minister for 8 teenage grils, mentor and I work with the youth ministry in whole . I get burned out many times during the week. I go to my sisters and brothers in Christ for encouragement. And I just remember that God has a plan for my life, and this is part of it.
2006-09-28 15:41:25 · answer #2 · answered by Tiffany 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Head usher at my church takes a vacation not away from the church but he doesn't usher for about a couple of weeks. You may also could change to a different position in church or let go of some of your many hats in ministry. May God Bless you in ur endeavors.
Shalom
=0)
2006-09-28 15:37:29 · answer #3 · answered by Pashur 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i am a minister and i have the exact same problem, today actually funny enough. Just take a day to go fishing with a buddy honestly. Talk about it, dont complain, jsut talk. And see if God is either leading you out of this ministry, or maybe he is carrying you through it. The only person you are really making mad is Satan, remember that.
2006-09-28 15:34:15 · answer #4 · answered by Hafeman 5000 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
maybe take a vacation, re-examine what your motives for being in ministry are, re-evaluate your situation. my husband and i have called this past summer our "summer of discontent". we go to a very small church that meets in a daycare center. we have to set up and tear down every sunday. we've been doing it for several years, with about 5 other people. most people don't even realize we do it. this summer we were very burned out, almost to the point of changing churches. it just grew and compounded until we unhappy with everything. but we realized that we were relying on our own strength and our focus was ourselves. so we took a break and tried to get our focus back on god 1st, others 2nd and ourselves last. it really helped to change our hearts and attitudes.
sorry for the long story, but i was trying to show that it's not about us. not at all. it's about god and others. taking seriously the command to esteem others above ourselves. and even when we are burned out and feeling unapreciated, god sees. he knows and that's enough.
2006-09-28 15:47:35 · answer #5 · answered by gomergirl1 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yep, been there ! Was not fed enough good news, did not fellowship with spiritually filled and overflowing brethren! It was sometimes more like work than enjoyment as the support I was promised fell short like lip-service does! then there were the contentious types that wanted vainly to surround the issue with good intentions but not get involved. Solution: get mentoring from older 'hands', prayer from outside sources, and build Up the hungry for GOD! Prayer Up,partner!
2006-09-28 15:53:13 · answer #6 · answered by K9 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stop ministering for a while and go to churches that you think you can get fed at. If you can arrange a time of reflection and bible study, go for it. Psalms usually helps people feel better. Maybe you need to change locations that you are ministering at also. I wish you the best.
2006-09-28 16:20:13 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your not the only one. I would pray for guidance. If you are thinking about leaving the ministry. Pray that you go do what you are supposed to do.
2006-09-28 15:39:06 · answer #8 · answered by psyry7 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can relate but you may not like the answer. IMO the bible is not enough material for the human mind to exclusively explore. We need fantasy, we need more wisdom from other parts of the world.
Start teaching the signifigance of storytelling and our ability to write the script of our own lives. If you want to keep it christian based, your entitled to. Start teaching them where science is at today regarding conscious thought and our ability to see heaven now.
There is alot of research done in physics aiding the spiritual minded
Check out this technology called hemi-sync, it shows people how to get into prayer states, even just deep thinking states instantly, You will be amazed
2006-09-28 15:39:29 · answer #9 · answered by Corey 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Read Swedenborg
2006-09-28 15:34:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋