Comments on: Depression, Burnout & Ministry: Assessment http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Timothy http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-8996 Timothy Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:35:13 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-8996 ok I left a youth ministry I loved to join a church I felt led to volunteer in. after couple of weeks in the choir, i feel so overwhelmed by the new system . I usually have been leading or directly affecting lives but due to the new church protocols, I am very limited. I feel tied and not enjoying everything . I cant go back coz God did not ask me too. I cant force my style on others as well. prayer /Bible study has significantly dropped. any advice. ok I left a youth ministry I loved to join a church I felt led to volunteer in. after couple of weeks in the choir, i feel so overwhelmed by the new system . I usually have been leading or directly affecting lives but due to the new church protocols, I am very limited. I feel tied and not enjoying everything . I cant go back coz God did not ask me too. I cant force my style on others as well. prayer /Bible study has significantly dropped. any advice.

]]> By: Dr. James E. McReynolds http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-8791 Dr. James E. McReynolds Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:35:06 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-8791 Soon I will be 68 years young. I have been serving in church ministry since age 12. Many people considered me too young at 12, now too old at 68. I don't feel old. I have served my latest pastorate for five years, since 2005. I do get tired and weary. I preach quite a lot in churches, prisons, schools, and hospitals. Depression is the common cold of mental illness. We all get it sometime. I think I'll keep active in service until my last day on this earth. Prayer, appreciation from others, support from family, keeping creative with new sermons, books, and communication opportunities help keep the muscles of faith and happiness moving. I keep in touch with young people by offering counseling at a substance abuse treatment center and in our church. For more thasn 12 years I have also served as campus minister for a community college. I wrote a book called Passionate Joy: Building a Wealth of Joy in a World Starved for Love. Norman Vincent Peale anonited me "minister of joy to the world" during one of his Schools of Practical Christianity. Those video tapes in my brain of the joyful times help during the valleys of life. Soon I will be 68 years young. I have been serving in church ministry since age 12. Many people considered me too young at 12, now too old at 68.

I don’t feel old. I have served my latest pastorate for five years, since 2005. I do get tired and weary. I preach quite a lot in churches, prisons, schools, and hospitals. Depression is the common cold of mental illness. We all get it sometime.

I think I’ll keep active in service until my last day on this earth.
Prayer, appreciation from others, support from family, keeping creative with new sermons, books, and communication opportunities help keep the muscles of faith and happiness moving.

I keep in touch with young people by offering counseling at a substance abuse treatment center and in our church. For more thasn 12 years I have also served as campus minister for a community college. I wrote a book called Passionate Joy: Building a Wealth of Joy in a World Starved for Love.

Norman Vincent Peale anonited me “minister of joy to the world” during one of his Schools of Practical Christianity. Those video tapes in my brain of the joyful times help during the valleys of life.

]]> By: Al http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-8582 Al Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:04:28 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-8582 I recently stepped away from a job I loved to become a youth minister. I did this in part because it afforded my wife the opportunity to stay home with our two kids. I wanted this to happen as much as she did. I would have preferred to stay in my previous role but we couldn't survive financially. Here is the problem: I do not really find joy in what I am doing. In fact, I experience a lot of stress, overwhelm and frustration. At times, I have a lot of depression, yesterday I even had flashing thoughts of my death. I feel bad for the church (especially the youth) that I currently serve because I do not sense that I am connecting with them. I have been here approximately 3 months and am already looking for another job. I noticed one at a nearby university, this job would be very similar to what I was doing previously, it contains the ministry aspect I desire combined with the higher education component that I dearly love. Do you have any suggestions? I recently stepped away from a job I loved to become a youth minister. I did this in part because it afforded my wife the opportunity to stay home with our two kids. I wanted this to happen as much as she did. I would have preferred to stay in my previous role but we couldn’t survive financially. Here is the problem: I do not really find joy in what I am doing. In fact, I experience a lot of stress, overwhelm and frustration. At times, I have a lot of depression, yesterday I even had flashing thoughts of my death.

I feel bad for the church (especially the youth) that I currently serve because I do not sense that I am connecting with them. I have been here approximately 3 months and am already looking for another job. I noticed one at a nearby university, this job would be very similar to what I was doing previously, it contains the ministry aspect I desire combined with the higher education component that I dearly love. Do you have any suggestions?

]]> By: Cathy http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-7398 Cathy Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:58:11 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-7398 Get in touch with PastorCare. They have pastors that will walk with you through this. Pastorcare.org is their web site. Contact info for all regions is on the web site. Get in touch with PastorCare. They have pastors that will walk with you through this. Pastorcare.org is their web site. Contact info for all regions is on the web site.

]]> By: Dave http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-7135 Dave Thu, 14 May 2009 18:36:06 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-7135 I am a pastor of a new church and i became so depressed after they evaluated my work (in all areas as a pastor) and they gave me a very very low score. I'm almost 20 years in the ministry, planted 3 healthy growing churches. But this one really made me so depressed after they gave me the lowest score I can ever get. Now I feel that I am inadequate in the service. I feel like quitting and consider change of career or go back to a seminary. What do you think is the best option I have? I need some professional advise... thanks. I am a pastor of a new church and i became so depressed after they evaluated my work (in all areas as a pastor) and they gave me a very very low score. I’m almost 20 years in the ministry, planted 3 healthy growing churches. But this one really made me so depressed after they gave me the lowest score I can ever get. Now I feel that I am inadequate in the service. I feel like quitting and consider change of career or go back to a seminary. What do you think is the best option I have? I need some professional advise… thanks.

]]> By: Rhett Smith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-4830 Rhett Smith Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:39:20 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-4830 John, That is tough, only cause I would have to really sit with a person to get a better assessment. But I think you are right...the episode has to be longer than a day here and there....two weeks, with other indicating factors. rhett John,

That is tough, only cause I would have to really sit with a person to get a better assessment. But I think you are right…the episode has to be longer than a day here and there….two weeks, with other indicating factors.

rhett

]]> By: John Dyer http://rhettsmith.com/2009/02/depression-burnout-ministry-assessment/comment-page-1/#comment-4690 John Dyer Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:31:19 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=1775#comment-4690 Rhett, Would you give a range of time that might help distinguish between a bad day and an major depressive episode? I've heard that two weeks with the above criteria is a good rule of thumb. It's certainly been true for me. Rhett,
Would you give a range of time that might help distinguish between a bad day and an major depressive episode? I’ve heard that two weeks with the above criteria is a good rule of thumb. It’s certainly been true for me.

]]>