IntenseDebate - jennywilburn

14 years ago @ Shooting the Breeze - Mad Church Disease Gro... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'm a little behind...sorry.

I am understanding that I am in control of a lot less than I used to think I was...some of my life circumstances included. Believe it or not, it's actually less stressful to realize that you can't control something or someone.

Our family has been put into some intense and trying situations of life over the past couple of months. Things that are life-altering. I'll not bore you with the details, but these are certainly things that I thought happened to "other people" and not us...until, of course, they did happened to us. It is amazing how God has taken something that I just didn't think I could handle and made it into something that is beginning to shape us into stronger and more solid followers of Christ. I have no idea how God will fully use this to his glory, but I know it will be something that I just didn't see coming.

14 years ago @ John Gruber 2.0 - Mad Church Disease - D... · 0 replies · +1 points

Personality: I am more of the Type B personality. It seems like the church staffs I have been on like to do the personality tests...so I know what I am: Myers-Briggs says ENFP. Disc test =i . People Map tells me that I am a Free-Spirit/People person. Creative/social type that now has many learned traits that fall outside of all of these classifications.

Past: For whatever reason my past has conditioned me to be a people-pleaser which equals quick and fast burnout.

Parts: I am not consistent with eating. However I view eating as a social activity and I love being social. Don't invite me to lunch if you don't really mean it because my answer will always be yes.

Piety: I am either really good at this or really bad at it. There's not really an inbetween for me and it depends on how busy my ministry schedule is as to how infrequently I am in the Word...and that's horrible...but true.

I know that I also have a tendency to go from completly calm to stressed in mere moments. This is one of the reasons I had shingles when I was 25 years old.

14 years ago @ santz on the journey - Group Blogging Project... · 0 replies · +1 points

The idol of convenience is a huge obstacle for me. Cutting corners emotionally, physically and even spiritually just because it seems more convenient.

>>Anne it's also difficult when you have church members that want to love you to death with snacks, sweets and food in general.

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 0 replies · +1 points

This is something that I am learning to understand more and more. This year is the first time in my adult life that I have been a member of a church without being on staff. I see things so differently now...including how quick you can burnout a volunteer.

While I was working in the church I was so focused on filling holes in the ministry plan that I forgot to make sure that it was good fit for the volunteer. Bill Hybles talks a good bit about this in "The Volunteer Revolution" (which I am also reading). He refers to volunteers finding the right place to serve as their "sweet spot". Even when a volunteer finds their 'sweet spot' the church needs to respect that volunteer's time.

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 0 replies · +1 points

A couple of ideas for proportion:

The "12 hour rule" in ministry. Don't return to the church until 12 hours after you left it. For example if meeting runs until 10:00 p.m. - don't go into the office the next day until 10:00 a.m.

"Chunk" up the day into 4-5 hour parts and then only work or serve 2 chunks per work day. (i.e. Part 1: 8 am - noon; Part 2: noon - 4 pm; Part 3: 4 - 8 pm and so on). Helpful for those days that you have a morning staff meeting and an evening youth event.

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 1 reply · +1 points

This is where I let pride get in the way by thinking that no one can do it like I want it done or that the amount of time it would take to train someone to do it then I could have already had it done. Of course in the long run it's better to grow a team...even Jesus didn't do it alone.

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 4 replies · +1 points

If Sabbath has to be on Sunday then that's a difficult task for those in ministry in the church. That's a HUGE reason I left ministry in the "traditional church". I just couldn't balance church, family and ministry. I refused to let Daniel grow up disliking church because his mommy was ALWAYS there.

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 0 replies · +1 points

That is so true! Being transparent with those who have taken their time to mentor you is so important.

I know I have trouble admitting when I am out of control or that the demands of ministry and the expectations of a pastor/church member are too much. I feel like the confession will only emphasize my weakness and discredit my ability to serve God. Silly...I know, because it's in our weakness that God shines through. (2 Corin 12:9)

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 1 reply · +1 points

Obviously, I have experienced burnout - but God healed me and got me back in the game where I then burned out again. I am in a new place in ministry now and I refuse to fall into the same patterns. I am beginning a new ministry position that involves volunteer development, so learning how to protect myself and our volunteer team against burnout is VERY important.

All of that to say, I'm not sure about HOW to protect against burnout. I'd personally love some ideas. =)

14 years ago @ Andy Darnell's Mindmap - Group Blogging Project... · 6 replies · +1 points

I found myself nodding in agreement to SO much of the first chapter of this book. I laughed out loud when I read, "I (proudly) didn't take a single vacation day during my first year on staff." My personality lines up so well with that statement. Somehow I find myself thinking that people will actually take notice of when I am punishing myself for the good of the cause/ministry. I've had this bizarre mindset for a long time -- I can remember that I didn't leave class to go to the restroom in 7th grade because we had to sign-out to go and since there was a hand-written record of in-class potty breaks I thought that some kind of acknowledgment or prize might be involved at the end of the school year for the student dedicated enough to stay in class and hold it. BTW, I was incorrect about that, however I have still continued to punish and neglect myself physically and spiritually in the hopes of gaining acceptance, approval, praise and whatever else Satan has tried to convince me that I need from others.

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