By Darryl Dash Dear Pastor, Thank you for your ministry. It may not seem like it right now, but God has used you. I know this because God uses the kinds of things you’ve done — preaching the Word, praying for your people, caring for sheep, calling people to worship — to make an eternal difference. We often don’t get to see the results of our ministries, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. I know you’re not perfect. I’m…
So, what exactly is “empathy fatigue”? It’s what happens to pastors after extended periods of giving themselves to others without taking any time for personal renewal. We can’t keep giving in ministry to others without also taking time to renew our souls. I talk to pastors every week who are exhausted from caring for the needs of others while at the same time neglecting their own needs. These pastors are visiting the sick, counseling the troubled, comforting the those who…
By Eric Geiger When I first began serving in local church ministry, a pastor told me that “church is a great place to hide out and a great place to burn out.” He further explained that ministry can attract workaholics, those who live off affirmation from others for the work they do. And that ministry can also attract people who are somewhat lazy and want to hide, not doing much of anything. The key, he told me, is to work…
“What we have here is a failure to communicate!” You might remember this famous line from the Paul Newman movie, Cool Hand Luke One of the more serious problems we face in pastoral ministry is the breakdown of communication. It can happen in a congregation, a small group, a business meeting, and in staff meetings. Yes, communication breakdowns can even bleed over into family relationships, husbands and wives, parents and children. Here four guaranteed ways to improve your communication with…
By Chuck Lawless Paul made it clear to us that we wrestle against demonic forces as we strive to follow Christ (Eph. 6:12). In fact, the enemy often seeks to destroy our Christian joy so that our witness for Christ loses its effectiveness. Here are some ways he seeks to rob us: He wants us to magnify our mistakes, dwell on them, and struggle with accepting God’s forgiveness. It’s tough to speak about grace when we’re not willing to receive it….
© 2019 Care for Pastors. - All Rights Reserved - 501(c)(3) - Our Privacy Policy
