You've heard the expression, "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you."
Every pastor faces three challenges. Each one is big. Sometimes, all three will gang up on you on the same day.
The nature of your ministry will change in these crucial moments, and you can ensure the changes are for the best.
The Big Three Challenges And How To Overcome Them
1. Job-Related Stress
Stress is by far the most common challenge facing pastors. While many factors contribute to stress, three aspects of pastoral ministry bring the most pressure.
Time management: Juggling work, family, emergencies, counselling, and personal time.
Relationships: Handling conflicts, managing church staff, reporting to the board, counselling, caring for your congregation's spiritual health, and caring for your family.
Finances: Managing church and personal finances, including income, debt, savings, expenses, and budgets.
Working as a pastor can be tough, but living up to everyone's expectations (including your own) is impossible. The first step to dealing with stress is to become self-aware and acknowledge that help is needed.
Seek outside support from coaching and counselling. For coaching, contact coach@abnwt.com; for pastoral support, contact Al Downey, the Pastoral Care Director for the ABNWT District.
Look for opportunities to network with other church leaders.
Implement healthy ways to cope with stress, like prayer, less caffeine, and exercise.
Set healthy boundaries to create a better work-life rhythm.
2. Distractions and Discouragement
Pastors have more tasks, communication, and job expectations to manage than ever before. This makes distractions and discouragement two of the most significant mental health challenges in ministry today. Discouragement can easily arise from a lack of affirmation from congregants, conflict with people in the church, or a general lack of friends and peer network for support.
Minimize or avoid toxic relationships and conversations. You are not obligated to be with everyone in your congregation equally. Create working relationships that feed your soul. Seek out peer relationships, confidantes, and mentors. Cohorts in the ABNWT are a source of empathy, support, and encouragement. See the list of cohorts here, and for more information, email bob@abnwt.com.
Set aside time that is not work-related to pursue healthy activities and friendships.
Help your church and your board/council know and understand what your pastoral role is and is not.
Help yourself by being intentional with your schedule.
3. Leaders and Volunteers
Two main demands that pastors face are growing leaders and managing volunteers. It doesn't take too many rejections, missed responsibilities, or a lack of attention to excellence to cause a pastor to default to doing everything. We all know very few superhero pastors who can sustain that behaviour with excellence or without burnout over the long haul.
Jeremiah Raible reminds us, "Ministry was never meant to be done alone."
Glean ideas and strategies for volunteer recruitment and development from the ABNWT Church Vitalization Course. Practical, productive, on demand, and it’s FREE. In the Course, John Albiston shares insights on a volunteer system that works.
There is no reason to have to do ministry alone, whoever you are and wherever you are.
The coaches in the ABNWT are your remote staff. We're on your team.
Send us an email at coach@abnwt.com.
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.