Comments on: GUEST POST: Burnout Culture http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-burnout-culture.html A blog about youth ministry and youth pastor life from Josh Griffin, the High School Youth Pastor at Saddleback Church. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:25:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andy Lawrenson http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-burnout-culture.html#comment-27039 Andy Lawrenson Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:39:19 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=7622#comment-27039 I think too many fine folks in ministry are "burnt out" because they do it all themselves. Some do so because that is what their church has been taught by generations of staff doing all the ministry instead of allowing the church to be the ministers. Some do so because they don't want to or don't know how to bring others along in ministry. If I tried to do what I do in ministry without the awesome team of volunteers I have I would have burnt out years ago. We also have in our "by-laws" a policy that we get a 90 day sabbatical every 7 years. A paid sabbatical on top of our regular vacation time. Which makes me wonder if the "burn-out" is a result of not taking time off to rest. God did. I think too many fine folks in ministry are “burnt out” because they do it all themselves. Some do so because that is what their church has been taught by generations of staff doing all the ministry instead of allowing the church to be the ministers. Some do so because they don’t want to or don’t know how to bring others along in ministry. If I tried to do what I do in ministry without the awesome team of volunteers I have I would have burnt out years ago.

We also have in our “by-laws” a policy that we get a 90 day sabbatical every 7 years. A paid sabbatical on top of our regular vacation time. Which makes me wonder if the “burn-out” is a result of not taking time off to rest. God did.

]]> By: Brad http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-burnout-culture.html#comment-27033 Brad Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:31:32 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=7622#comment-27033 I think "burn-out" really can be a cop out. I'll be frank and tough on us for a minute; sometimes I think we overestimate how difficult our job is and forget about the work others do outside of "full-time" ministry. Usually when I'm feeling overwhelmed, I can look back on some bad decisions on my part or some lack of action that helped lead me to this point. Now granted I am a bit of a dinasour from a family and a community that worked hard and played hard, but in my 14 years of youth ministry experience, I usually trace my feelings of burn out as my own fault. Now I understand that some individuals work in some tough situations and with some difficult and demanding people and those individuals have to take a good look at why they are where they are and if they need to get out of that tough spot. Sure there are days that I long for the 9-5, clock in, clock out world, but that isn't what God has called me to....I work with a generation of people who sometimes do their best thinking at 11 PM and who want energy from me at times when I just want to go to bed, but this is where I am, and I wouldn't trade it for anything....well maybe a for a cabin and a life of fly-fishing but that's a whole different matter. I think “burn-out” really can be a cop out. I’ll be frank and tough on us for a minute; sometimes I think we overestimate how difficult our job is and forget about the work others do outside of “full-time” ministry. Usually when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I can look back on some bad decisions on my part or some lack of action that helped lead me to this point. Now granted I am a bit of a dinasour from a family and a community that worked hard and played hard, but in my 14 years of youth ministry experience, I usually trace my feelings of burn out as my own fault. Now I understand that some individuals work in some tough situations and with some difficult and demanding people and those individuals have to take a good look at why they are where they are and if they need to get out of that tough spot. Sure there are days that I long for the 9-5, clock in, clock out world, but that isn’t what God has called me to….I work with a generation of people who sometimes do their best thinking at 11 PM and who want energy from me at times when I just want to go to bed, but this is where I am, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything….well maybe a for a cabin and a life of fly-fishing but that’s a whole different matter.

]]> By: Keri http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-burnout-culture.html#comment-27031 Keri Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:30:51 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=7622#comment-27031 It does seem like "burn-out" is making its way right up there with "God told me to . . ." How can you argue with that? I am a youth pastor's wife and Jr High volunteer staff and I mentioned to my mentor that I was reading a book on burn-out. I loved her response. "Do you feel like you are burned out? Why do you feel that way?" I know a lot of friends who would be quick to say "you need to learn to say no and take care of yourself" blah, blah, blah. How quick are we to support and empathize with someone who is feeling "burned out" instead of figuring out what that really means. I wasn't burned out, I was just going through a difficult and busy season of life. However, I believe some people really do "burn out" just like God really does tell people to do things. I tend to kind of follow your thinking that maybe we need to dig deeper and find out what is really going on. From there we can encourage perseverance or come alongside someone who is really struggling. It does seem like “burn-out” is making its way right up there with “God told me to . . .” How can you argue with that? I am a youth pastor’s wife and Jr High volunteer staff and I mentioned to my mentor that I was reading a book on burn-out. I loved her response. “Do you feel like you are burned out? Why do you feel that way?” I know a lot of friends who would be quick to say “you need to learn to say no and take care of yourself” blah, blah, blah. How quick are we to support and empathize with someone who is feeling “burned out” instead of figuring out what that really means. I wasn’t burned out, I was just going through a difficult and busy season of life. However, I believe some people really do “burn out” just like God really does tell people to do things. I tend to kind of follow your thinking that maybe we need to dig deeper and find out what is really going on. From there we can encourage perseverance or come alongside someone who is really struggling.

]]> By: Michael http://www.morethandodgeball.com/youth-ministry/guest-post-burnout-culture.html#comment-27029 Michael Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:28:52 +0000 http://www.morethandodgeball.com/?p=7622#comment-27029 Here are just a few thoughts: 1. I wonder if this "burn out" is simply a realization that they entered the ministry without a call. There are times when I struggle with what is going on and feel in a rut. However, I always rest in the fact that God called me to do this. I am not in ministry because I thought it would be a fun gig or because I thought I would give it a shot. There are several different things I wanted to do as a profession but I could not get away from God's call. I guess it boils down to "If you can do something else besides ministry then do it." If you can't do anything else then I think you have a pretty good idea that you are right where God wants you to be. 2. The other problem I see in student ministry is the tendency to be a workaholic. I fight this tooth and nail. I mean I could spend all my time meeting with students, going to ball games or concerts, having them over to our house. I do these things but I also know that I need time away from them. Time with my family, time with other adults, and time with other student pastors. I need to have a life outside of student ministry! Just my humble opinion! Here are just a few thoughts:

1. I wonder if this “burn out” is simply a realization that they entered the ministry without a call. There are times when I struggle with what is going on and feel in a rut. However, I always rest in the fact that God called me to do this. I am not in ministry because I thought it would be a fun gig or because I thought I would give it a shot. There are several different things I wanted to do as a profession but I could not get away from God’s call. I guess it boils down to “If you can do something else besides ministry then do it.” If you can’t do anything else then I think you have a pretty good idea that you are right where God wants you to be.

2. The other problem I see in student ministry is the tendency to be a workaholic. I fight this tooth and nail. I mean I could spend all my time meeting with students, going to ball games or concerts, having them over to our house. I do these things but I also know that I need time away from them. Time with my family, time with other adults, and time with other student pastors. I need to have a life outside of student ministry!

Just my humble opinion!

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