(1). What causes "burnout" in a ministry? (2). How can one recover from it? Thank You for your help!
2007-10-18 02:43:32 · 15 answers · asked by Gilligan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
(1) Any number of reasons. Sometimes it's because the minister got into the work thinking it was a good career. It's not -- it's a lifestyle. It's your whole life, not a 9-5, 5 days a week gig.
Sometimes it's because the minister is torn/overwhelmed by the demands of family vs. the demands of the church. Both are important. Invariably, though, you have to ignore one over the other, and 9x our of 10, it's the spouse/kids who get jilted. So they get stressed and that stresses the minister even more.
Sometimes it's because the people of the congregation are not supportive enough. They expect the minister to do everything and be available 24/7 without any care for the minister's health, family, work load, etc. I used to be a secretary for a church, so I saw that ALL the time.
Sometimes it's because the minister doesn't have support from other preachers or the denomination at large. For a while, we went to a tiny church that belonged to a certain denomination that provided absolutely NO support to our minister, even after he had emergency surgery to remove a football sized tumor in his lung (he didn't smoke) and had a heart attack. He finally had to quit ministry because his doctor MADE him get an easier job. All that while, absolutely no support from his superiors, not even a card or note of encouragement.
Sometimes it's because the minister is in a church that expects a dog-and-pony show every Sunday. The people want to be entertained more than anything. This is a situation that the minister has let get out of control. Church is supposed to be about worship -- not worshiping the people by giving them what they want, and not worshiping the minister by everybody basking in his talents as a speaker or whatever, but worshiping GOD. When it's God-centered, it's easier because you only have One to please.
Sometimes it's a habitual sin, like pornography or gambling.
How do you recover? If it's based in sin, you need to stop sinning and get another preacher or a Christian counselor to help you overcome your past and resist temptation in the future.
If you think of ministry as a career and not a lifestyle, you either need to change your attitude/approach or get out of it altogether.
If you're torn between family and the church, you either needto quit the ministry, get rid of the family (which would be really, really wrong), or hire a second minister so you only have half as much work to do for the church.
If the people of the congregation are not supporting you, you need to stop letting them get away with that. The Bible says we are all part of one body and everybody has a role. You need to teach out of 1 Corinthians and make it abundantly clear that everybody has a task. It might be teaching, office work, or cleaning. It might just be bankrolling the church. It might be prayer. But every single person in that congregation is called to be an ACTIVE part of the church, and they need to tell you what that is, how they will accomplishment and how often.
If the denomination is not supporting you, you need to go ask for their support. If they refuse, get your congregation together and suggest finding a different denomination to take you on.
If it's because the congregation expects entertainment, then you need to buck up and teach them properly. They wouldn't think that way if you or your predecessors hadn't taught them to. Get serious about worshiping God. Check all the songs/hymns to make sure that every one of them is God-focussed. (There are lots of pretty and Biblically sound songs out there passed off as praise/worship but they do not have a single lyric that is worship of God!)
There might be one other reason: A lack of faith. Many, many clergypersons have found themselves faced with silence from God and a faltering faith. Sometimes, it's because the more they study Scripture to prepare their sermons/teachings, the more they realize that Scripture does not support certain theological beliefs of their particular denomination. That's another time when a minister ought to look into changing denominations. And pray more, study more and get more people to pray with you.
2007-10-18 03:14:28 · answer #1 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Over reliance on your own steam and not delegating to junior workers. Trust others to help to carry the load. Pray about it and God will show you who to trust with the bits of ministry you do not need to do. Even Jesus had twelve disciples and seventy followers plus the multitudes. The 12 would be for inner sanctum work, the 70 for more mundate stuff and the crowd , well, they are the crowd but even there they are there for a reason. you are not a part of the body of Christ on your own. Use the other bits, and if they refuse or resist take it to the Lord and he will sort them out !
Take time to rest and relax, Jesus went to the mount of Olives to recharge all the time or went to the middle of lake Galilee, so stop and rest in God's presence once in a while... if you drop dead someone will still pick up where you left off so enjoy your time on earth in the ministry but remember you are only passing through and someone is hot on your heals to pick up the mantle... I hope you are training them up already!
God bless and enjoy the still waters... Psm 23!
2007-10-18 02:53:23 · answer #2 · answered by unix 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There can be sseveral reasons. Considering all a minister has on his plate at any given time, it's no wonder it happens.
A retreat for a given time, for prayer, personal Bible study, and reflection on one's direction would improve some things.
Ministers can often go at a rapid pace, and do still need to stop at times.
Consider Christ, while He walked this Earth in His ministry, from time to time, even He would take rests. Notice also, when He traveled, He often times took the "back roads", this for several reasons, but one I am sure was to relax as much as possible along the way...the road less traveled.
2007-10-18 02:58:03 · answer #3 · answered by Jed 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although there can be many factors, I think burnout comes through:
1. Lack of personal prayer, devotion time
2. Lack of fellowship and accountability.
3. Lack of balance in one's life.
People in ministry often get too busy and too isolated from others. People in ministry tend to hold onto their ministries tighter than they hold onto the Lord who called them!
The recovery?
1. Repentance.
2. Personal prayer, times of reflection
3. Committing oneself to others.
4. Re-thinking priorities, etc.
email me if you want to discuss more
god bless
2007-10-18 02:59:14 · answer #4 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Burn out in a ministry can come from many things and can be multifacested. Just as occurs in all jobs, ministers, pastors and priests can become burdened by their duties, obligations and responsibilities. They are people, just like you and me, although many times, they live their lives under many pressures we don't have. There are a lot of expectations placed on the leaders of our churches that, at times, can become crushing......not to mention they are "on call" 24/7. They are called upon at all hours of the day and night --- expected to be there and to be physically and emotionally "on" at all times for whatever the needs of their congregants might be.
I have two very close friends who are pastors and it's certainly not an easy job.....the close scrutiny, the demands of trying to please an entire body of people (which, of course never happens), being available, physically and emotionally to all people at all times, and the perception that they are somehow "more then human" can certainly cause burn out in even the strongest of people.
2007-10-18 02:55:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
In order to recover, do not return to the house to start with.
Ultimately, someone who is 'burned out' has not received the proper anointing...their lamps have no oil.
2007-10-18 02:50:04 · answer #6 · answered by witnessnbr1 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God created the earth in 6 days and did what on the seventh? He rested. Each of us, especially those of us in the ministry, need a time for rest. Sounds to me like you may be so busy filling the cups of others, that you have allowed your cup to run dry. Sometimes the minister needs to be ministered too. I agree with The Catholic Crusader. You need a time of rest. A time where you can focus on nothing but God and YOUR relationship with Him. A time to renew your spirit and focus on your first love, Jesus Christ! May God bless you and open the door for you to partake in a time of rest and the renewing of your spirit!
2007-10-18 02:54:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
maybe someone started a ministry for the wrong reason. Say if someone started a ministry just for their own fulfillment, and not to see others come to Salvation.
2007-10-18 02:47:43 · answer #8 · answered by brian 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
1) By doing more than God wants you to.
2) By doing only what (and when) He wants of you.
Many people feel the need to try and save the whole world themselves. But that may not be God's plan for you. And so we run ahead of God and wear our selves out.
2007-10-18 03:18:41 · answer #9 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well one thing that can cause it is not staying in the word of God and praying.
Only help I know that can pull one through is first God and second is talk to someone who has gotten away and backslidden and is now back with the Lord. Someone who has been there can offer help.
2007-10-18 02:49:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋