Ministry is a tremendous privilege and yet can become overwhelming at times. While supervision and local collaborative support processes can provide great assistance, it remains a sad fact that burnout has claimed too many ministers across the world in recent years.
In their important 2001 survey of leaders through NCLS data, Peter Kaldor and Rod Bullpit studied the depletion and exhaustion of burnout, arising from prolonged or unresolved stresses, and found that only one in five ministers claimed burnout was not an issue.
Hierarchical structures were conducive to burnout, but burnout was also more common in ministers who did not view the Bible as the word of God. Those who were reading the Bible daily and who felt close to God in daily life were clearly less likely to burn out. Those who prayed both at set times and spontaneously were also far less likely to burn out.
Those who were task oriented were also more likely to burn out than those who were people-oriented, as were those who were generally less healthy and also leaders typically more negative about change!
In short, integrating a dynamic faith with helpful support structures will be key to ensuring best protection. We all get overwhelmed, but it is those with fewer strategies to address stress who seem to struggle most.
For the NCLS resource, see: https://amzn.asia/d/4U9VJqK. Also, for a great personal ministry story on burnout with some practical tips for replenishment, see ‘Leading on Empty’ by Wayne Cordeiro may be a helpful resource and is available from: https://amzn.asia/d/2pkCZbO.
