Avoiding ministry burnout: the practice of simplicity

An ever-present danger for all who are active in ministry is burnout.  

A key antidote to ministry burnout is the practice of the ancient (but ever-fresh) spiritual habit of simplicity. Read about simplicity in an excellent Christianity Today article titled "Two of Me."  

Click here to download the article.

Using FaceBook for ministry

Click here to read an interesting article on using FaceBook in pastoral ministry.

Avoiding burnout

Click here to download the November 2008 issue of GC2 equipper. It continues our discussion concerning burnout in ministry.

GenMin on YouTube

GenMin is on YouTube with two new video series that address key aspects of the Trinitarian, cross-generational ministry that we share with Jesus. Click here for the series concerning presenting a trinitarian vision of the gospel within camp settings. Click here for the series concerning mentoring young leaders for pastoral ministry.

Encounter 2008

I just returned from Encounter 2008. This cross-generational, Christ-centered event, conducted near Cincinnati, OH, was the first of its type held under the banner of Generations Ministries. The goal of the event was to bless WCG members and their friends and families with the best of WCG's experience in worship festivals, youth camps and family weekends.

About 250 attended this marvelous time of worship, fellowship and fun. The focus was on our shared life in Christ. There was a wonderfully balanced mix of children, teens, young adults, and older adults. It was all generations, gathered as one family; sharing Jesus' love and life together.  Fabulous!  And thanks to Encounter Ohio director George Hart and his great team - they did a marvelous job.

We're praying now about other Encounters in 2009. We'll provide details here as they emerge. Please join us in prayer for God's clear direction.

Flow-Through Ministry

I'm impressed with the Today's Children's Ministry online article by Keri Wyatt Kent titled Flow-Through Ministry. She reminds us that ministry is not ours - it's God's ministry flowing through us. What a blessing it is to participate in the ministry God is doing, in Christ, in our world! Here is an excerpt from the article. To read the full article, click here.

To paraphrase Rick Warren: Your ministry is not about you.

It would be easy to think just the opposite. It gets confusing, especially when we hear people ask us, "How is your ministry going?" or "I appreciate your ministry to children so much."

And while we are Jesus' disciples and co-laborers with Him, it really is not supposed to be about us. But we sometimes start thinking that way. And really, who could blame us?

Your ministry is a gift to God, and a gift to the kids who receive God's love through you. It also, at times, blesses you. You give, and yet you receive—fulfillment, awareness of God's presence, His very real help as you face the struggles and challenges of ministry. But really, ministry is meant to point others (those we minister to, and those who simply see us doing it) toward God, not toward us.

One of my favorite verses is one that is repeated through the Scriptures, like the hook in a pop song. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8, and elsewhere).

Effective ministry reflects this essential character of God. We are Christ to those we minister to, so we are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, rich in love. We cannot manufacture this no matter how hard we try. True ministry simply flows out of our relationship with God. It is not something we power up to do; it is not about the tasks. Ministry is an expression of our love for God, inspired by his love for us. We are simply a conduit through which God's love can flow to others.