Barely thirty years old, I had reached a critical point in my ministry. I had nothing left to give.
After two years of extensive travel, directing 150 full-time staff, and helping reorganize our national ministry, I was emotionally depleted. At home, I tried to support my wife as an agonizing mental disorder consumed her mother.
A subtle cynicism about the ministry began to gnaw at me like a cancer. My initial zeal for "changing the world" gave way to realistic questioning: is the ministry is worth it?
I was burned out.
After decades of ministry since those crucial days, I have discovered that what I experienced as a younger leader isn't that unusual. After doing some extensive research on "ministry burnout," I've discovered some interesting factors about the kind of ministry environment that minimizes "burnout." Here are a few findings that have been helpful to me personally and to those I may lead. Maybe they will be helpful to you as well-especially during these post-COVID days.
What is "burnout" and what do we know about it?
According to The World Book Dictionary, "burned out" applies to an apathetic, exhausted individual. The same dictionary describes the aerospace applications of the word "burnout." In the flight of a rocket," burnout" refers to the extinguishing of the flame in a rocket engine when the fuel is exhausted or turned off.
The pioneer researcher on burnout, Christina Maslach, summarized burnout as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment that can occur among individuals who do "people work" of some kind. The symptoms of "burnout" were first noticed among drug counselors and nurses attending terminal cancer patients.
Burnout may include physical symptoms (stress, headaches, loss of appetite, high blood pressure), psychological symptoms (loss of self-esteem, irritability, cynicism, negativism), and spiritual symptoms (perceiving God as powerless).
To limit its impact, we need to understand some misconceptions about burnout.
- Research shows no direct connection between burnout among ministers and inadequate amount of Bible study, Bible memory, prayer, etc.
- Other research negates the idea that burnout may be a smokescreen for laziness or irresponsible behavior. As Dr. Archibald Hart observed in "Pastor Burnout: An Introduction," that "Burnout is a real hazard, produced in well-meaning and dedicated "people-carers" whose motives are pure and Holy Spirit-dependent. They simply discover that the human frame has its limits, like every machine. When these limits are exceeded, the price is burnout."
How do we help those we lead to mitigate these effects?
During my research, I was surprised to find a clear correlation between burnout and the ministry environment. Beverly A. Potter, Ph.D., in her book Beating Job Burnout, stated: "The nature of supervision is probably the single largest source of burnout" (p. 184). Supervisors who offer clear direction, clear feedback, and unmistakable encouragement are vital for reducing burnout and increasing longevity in ministry. Over the years, I have personally benefitted when I've served in situations where there was an environment of clear direction, feedback and affirmation.
We certainly see this in Jesus' life. Despite going through a very stressful time in His own ministry (rejection in his hometown, the death of his cousin John the Baptist, and the feeding of the 5000), Jesus demonstrated three great examples of leading and nurturing his disciples:
- First, in Mark 6:7-11 (Luke 9:3-5), Jesus gave his disciples clear direction before he sent them out on their ministry assignment. Dr. Potter reinforces the need for clear direction in goal-setting. "Goal-setting has a highly beneficial impact upon performance when combined with quality supervision and feedback. The goal provides a target, something to aim for. It challenges people to stay focused and interested. Industrial research indicates that when goal setting is combined with quality supervision, production goes up; when goals are combined with poor supervision or no supervision at all, frustration and turnover is the result." (p. 183)
- Second, in Mark 6:30 (Luke 9:10), Jesus took the time to have his disciples report back to him "all that they had done and taught." Over the years of ministry leadership, I've learned that listening and providing feedback is critical in working with young leaders. "Feedback is the yardstick we use to measure performance. It tells us how close we are to the bull's eye. Working without feedback is much like an athlete training for the hundred-yard dash without a stopwatch!" Potter says (p. 184).
- Third, in Mark 6:31 (Luke 9:10), Jesus encouraged his disciples to "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Jesus' invitation to get some rest involved three elements: 1) change of location, 2) change in activity, and 3) a certain amount of time.
The tense of the verb "to rest" indicates a relatively short period of time. The point is that a planned amount of time should be set aside, with a change in location and activity.
We also see Paul doing much the same thing in his relationship with Timothy. He gave clear directions to Timothy as he sent him on different assignments. Concurrently, we see Paul giving Timothy feedback and great encouragement as well.
What can we do when we find ourselves near burnout?
What happens when you are in a ministry environment that is not providing the elements that have been described? Ultimately, we must take initiative to do our part in helping create a healthy environment. Take time to cultivate your own spiritual, emotional, and physical life. Hopefully, you can graciously express your needs for direction and feedback to those who lead you. Emphasize that you want your leaders to succeed and knowing how to best empower you helps everyone. If for some reason, your current leadership seems unresponsive or unable to provide the kind of direction, feedback and encouragement needed, it's likely an indication that this is not the best place for you long term.
It's been years since I experienced the severe emotional and physical depletion that almost curtailed my youth ministry journey. I'm so grateful that I was able to navigate through the choppy shoals of this period and eventually learn about reducing the possibility of "burnout." Hopefully, some of these insights will be helpful in stewarding our own lives for the long run and the lives of those entrusted to us.
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Daryl and his wife Donna have served in youth ministry both in the USA and internationally for fifty years. After extensive field ministry with Cru in the USA and Russia, Daryl transitioned to NNYM where he served as the Executive Director/CEO for eight years.