Christ came to meet me in the garden of my soul, but I was busy. He was longing to share fragrances of love with me, but I was distracted tending to someone else’s garden. Maybe you know this experience? Maybe like me you are someone who cares for other people as a pastor, counselor, caregiver,…
As pastors and ministry leaders, we’re prone to give too much of ourselves, to do too much and try too hard. Its the same for parents and others who care for people in Jesus’ name. We’re called to be shepherds to the sheep God has entrusted to us. But what does this mean? How do…
When the shepherds in our churches and Christian organizations are depressed, overstressed, or struggling with compulsive behavior, then the sheep they care for suffer. If pastors are not growing in their own intimacy with Jesus, then their ministry to others is diminished. If ministry leaders are not setting aside ministry demands regularly to be still with…
Perhaps the most unsung person in a church is the pastor’s wife. Hers is a very difficult and stressful role. (When the pastor is a woman the same could be said for the pastor’s husband, but this article focuses on the wives of male pastors.) Unfair Expectations on the Pastor’s Wife So much is expected…
We talk with pastors, leaders, counselors, parents and other caregivers who are struggling to be “cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9:7). In their helping of others, they’ve become tired, stressed, or burned out. Problems with setting boundaries are a main reason why many pastors and leaders experience overwhelming ministry stress and eventually burnout. Most people are…
