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Five Ministry Storms

8/18/2020

3 Comments

 
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Growing up in a parsonage as I did, I saw  my pastor-father go through lots of good times and bad in the ministry. I recall one particular rough storm when I was about 14 years old and it stands out because I remember especially the look of fear and weariness in his face. Even though I didn't know what was going on, I knew something was wrong. I felt a bit bad for him, but not knowing the details of his pain, it left me more confused and curious than anything. Oh, and distant. Let's not forget that. 

I recall looking into his eyes one day and saying hello only to be greeted mechanically and dispassionately as if he didn't even recognize me. Fourteen year old boys don't understand things like that, and instead of concern for his mental health I only felt like he didn't love me anymore. 

We got through the worst of that storm, but not without some lingering scars. That's all history and even though I am sure God used it to sensitize me and predispose me to the life of clergy care I chose years later, I still wonder about the particular storms he endured that I never did hear about. He's in heaven now, so I will never know. But my research of clergy care over 40 years has caused me to conclude there are five broad storms that ministers endure. I've devoted my own ministry to helping ministers like my dad find peace in them. 

Burnout - Storms of Ministry Imagination 

Secrecy - Storms of Ministry Internalization 

Doubt - Storms of Ministry Idealization 

Bad Habits - Storms of Ministry Impoverization

Relational Conflicts - Storms of Ministry Isolation 


We all go through these storms, sometimes repeatedly. The details are different for everyone. But the general outlines are the same. I write about them in all my clergy resources and share my own personal as well as biblical and scientific research. 

In the middle of the storms it's easy to despair. I sometimes talk about the neural circuits of despair--the helpless, hopeless, hapless circuits in the triune brain. I saw them and their effects in my dad. I've seen them in myself and others. Tragically, I've seen some ministers never recover from them. 

Yet, as a Christian counselor, I do not believe that was God's plan for the storms. Ministry storms, like the perfect storm on the Sea of Galilee, were always a means to a greater end! God's plan for the storms is to transform us and make us the ministers he wants us to be. The pounding waves and shrieking winds of trauma are necessary to get our attention and show us our fears. We don't like them one bit and desperately want it just to be over! 

But, if we only had eyes to see, Jesus is right close by. It appears he is asleep in the stern of our "boat." And because of that we sometimes shout at him, like Peter in the storm on Galilee: "Don't you care that I'm drowning?" I've done that. So have all ministers. 

And it is then, perhaps more than at any moment in the five storms, that we are ready to learn the steps to peace. For that's what it's all about. The storms are only the means to a glorious end! 

Transforming the Storms

God wants to transform us and use the very storm to do it. 

Transforming Ministry Imaginations through Biblical Wisdom

Transforming Ministry Internalization through Biblical Confession

Transforming Ministry Idealization through Biblical Repentance

Transforming Ministry Impoverization through Biblical Shabbat Shalom

Transforming Ministry Isolation through Biblical Reconciliation 


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3 Comments
Gary Rollins link
11/16/2022 07:54:06 am

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Fire Protection South Carolina link
3/6/2023 02:43:29 am

Very creeative post

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BENSON GWAKO link
3/13/2023 10:32:18 pm

Dear Beloved Brethren,



Greetings to you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am so
Glad to write this loving letter to you. We are so glad to see your good works on the website. I also thank Lord for giving us a great communication to share one another. Before introducing myself, we are assuring our continued prayers for your ministry and for your dear family in all our prayers and you! Please do pray for us and for our ministry in Kenya. My name is Pastor Benson Gwako have been preaching the gospel and also Evangelism and doing our best as much as we can for 2years and
We are heartily inviting you and your team to Kenya to partner with us and share your wonderful teachings with us which will really equip us and also win thousands of souls into the Kingdom of Heaven through your powerful and spiritually filled messages.

Kenyans with many religion, but we are Christians who are intending to know more about the Kingdom of God. There are more villages in Kenya where people still do not know Jesus. We do care for 25 Orphaned and abandoned children. We save these children to win them for Christ. We are accommodating them in our homes and we are praying for having an Orphanage Home.

Please do encourage us and do help this children if you blessed by the Lord.
We need your support for this project. We are also in need of drilling a well in the village for giving water to the brethren since water is a inessential element in our daily life. Please do encourage us in the sea areas if you can save a village with a well of salvation.?

We do also support 5 widows in the church and there are so many widows who desperately need help.(James1:27). Please do pray for the needs of our ministry and also we are requesting you to please visit Kenya so that you will know that we are a genuine ministry. Please let us know of your schedule and please inform our ministry activities in whatever way you can help us,? Or encourage us to your churches, friends, relatives, crusade speakers who are interested in helping.

with the work of Lord in Kenya. Our letter is not to solicit out for funding all of our activities, but we are only

Telling you of our activities and if you are only led by the Lord, we ask you to encourage us and guide us and support us and visit us and give your valuable suggestions and also pray for us as God answers
Our prayers and fulfill our needs.

We also request you to please send us your messages which will be inform of Cds, books and also the Bibles. We will really be thankful for your support and products.

We close our letter with love and greetings and hugs to you. Your consideration regarding this matter will be highly appreciated. Love to hear from you good news.



Your Loving Brother,
Pastor BENSON

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    J.E. Rose, LPC

    Jim Rose is an ordained minister, licensed professional counselor, and director of Fortress Institute. 

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