Health in Ministry

How well are you doing at taking care of yourself? I want you to answer that question and not see it as a hypothetical question. The reality is that after COVID or after the worse of the COVID Virus in America that lasted for 18 months many Pastors are struggling. We are finding out in our research that Pastors and Volunteers are quitting ministry and have come to a point of emotionally, spiritually, and physically burned out. 

I want each of you to know that we hear you? I understand what you are saying and can sympathize with you. In a recent conversation and someone asking me questions to learn how to best help their church, I shared that COVID has made Pastors feel lonelier than ever before. In October we will be focusing on missions and mental health in our blogs as we recognize all of our Pastors out there for Pastor Appreciation Month. 

In today’s blog I want to address 4 health evaluations we need to do in ministry as a Pastor or a Volunteer. I am going to put down the four categories and then provide questions to each. 

#1- Spiritual Health Evaluation

·      Do I live to read and meditate on God’s Word?

·      Is my time with God consistent and meaningful?

·      Do I confess my sins by name?

·      Does my schedule reflect God as #1 priority in my life?

·      Do I love what God loves and hate what God hates?

·      What has God revealed to me recently and how have I responded to God calling me?

·      Am I allowing Jesus to be the center of all areas of my life? 

#2- Emotional Health Evaluation

·      How well am I handling my emotions? 

·      Are there things that I am holding on to that I need to release over to God?

·      Am I happy and Joyful person? Or am I quick tempered and easily responding with emotions before processing details?

·      Am I taking rough season or days out on family?

·      Am I eating too much and stressful eating because of emotions?

#3- Professional Health Evaluation

·      Am I able to leave work at work or am I bringing work home?

·      Am I giving my full attention to work or distracted?

·      Am I building a stronger rapport with coworkers or causing issues with coworkers?

·      What am I doing to handle stress at work?

·      What am I doing weekly to become better at my job and calling?

·      Am I getting enough sleep to do my best?

#4- Mental Health Evaluation

·      How am I dealing with stress?

·      Who am I confiding in with battles in my life?

·      Am I exercising regularly and taking care of myself?

·      Am I removing negative outlets or distractions from my life to help me become stronger?

I want to encourage you to do these evaluations and begin to take steps to take care of yourself. I gained weight during COVID and loss my drive to exercise, but this past summer I begin to focus and start to see my health needing more attention. I lost weight and began to take time reflecting on my health. I have become stronger and seen my ministry grow because I started to evaluate these four areas of my health. I hope that this evaluation will help you become stronger as you lead in your ministry.