Beyond the Desert of Ministry Fatigue

With much humor George Ross tackled the serious subject of ministry fatigue at this morning’s main session at the NACC.  This session was not just for those who are employed by a church as pastors, directors, assistants, maintenance workers or in any other position.   The truth is that all Christians are called to follow Jesus and in doing so will serve others in some way.  Ministry is a gift from God – a wonderful gift.  Serving in the name of God is a privilege.  We should be both thrilled and humbled that God wants to use us.

Fatigue is a threat to those in any type of ministry.  Rather than calling it ministry fatigue, Mr. Ross refers to compassion fatigue.  Following Jesus full-out is physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging and draining.  It can also be spiritually draining.  We can find ourselves in a desert – a place where we feel tired, with no energy for ministry, barely any energy to get through the day doing what we need to for ourselves.  Stress, boredom, guilt, despair can become constant companions.  We begin to compare ourselves with others and that comparison makes us more tired.  Entire churches can enter a desert together and begin to compare what they are doing for God with what other churches are doing for God.  This is extremely dangerous because God asks each of us to fulfill a different task in a unique way.  No comparison with others is needed nor desired.

Believers should be following Jesus’s rhythm of life.  Rest and ministry, rest and ministry.   Do what God wants us to do when God wants us to do it.  When He calls us to serve, we serve.  When he calls us to rest, we rest.  Jesus did this.  He often withdrew from people to be with God.  Why shouldn’t we?   The rhythm of  life should be:  disengage from people, fully engage with God, re-engage with people.  Disengage from people, fully engage with God, re-engage with people.  Repeat as often as God says.

Mr. Ross said that three questions are important.

1.  If you are in a desert, how did you get there?

• You lack boundaries.  Boundaries allow you to say “No, I’d like to do that, but I don’t have time.”  “No, physically I can’t take that on.”  “No, I need to recharge right now.  I just can’t help.”
• You lack mentors.  You have no people in your life who are more mature in the faith than you, who may have walked a path similar to the one you’re on.   A mentor can hold you accountable for choices you have already made as well as decisions you are in the process of making.   Reverse mentoring is important for those older in the faith.  A person of a younger generation who helps the older believer “get” the next generation.  Truths don’t change; methods do.
• There is a lack of unity somewhere.  Entire churches can enter a desert if there is a lack of unity among the elders, the staff or the congregation.

2.  Why do you stay in the desert?

• You are addicted to the rush of ministry.  It feels good to help others.  Sometimes getting that feeling becomes the goal rather than doing what Jesus calls us to do.
• You are addicted to affirmation.  Face it.  Some of us think we are more necessary than we are – that somehow God can’t get it done unless we chip in.  And we want people to tell us what a good job we’re doing.  We SHOULD encourage those we see doing good.  And feeling good when someone notices is not a sin.  But when you begin to seek affirmation or whine in your hearts when no-one notices your service, you are heading for trouble.

3.  How do you leave the desert?

You leave like Jesus did.  He was driven into the desert by the Spirit and he stayed there for 40 days.  He was tired, hungry and tempted.  In God’s timing, Jesus was led out of the desert.  In the desert, you can call on God to get you out, but you must wait for his timing and leave when he tells you.

God wants you to recover and re-enter ministry.  In order to do this, you need to disengage from people, fully engage with G od and then re-engage with people.  Along the way, there should be people who can pray with and for you – providing ministry to your soul is their ministry.

The morning session ended with an invitation for those who wanted prayer to go to the banners.  At the banner, people were waiting to pray with those who came.  Alternatively, people were invited to pray right where they were with the people around them.

Are you in a desert?  Experiencing ministry or  fatigue?  People at FCC are ready to pray with and for you now.  Ready to engage you over the web, on twitter, on facebook.  Ready to meet with you to pray with and over you in person at the front of the worship center each Sunday or any day during the week.  When you are ready to receive, all you have to do is ask.

Are you ready to go beyond the desert of ministry fatigue?