Avoiding a Heart Attack

Avoiding a Heart Attack: Or how to have a long term ministry without burning out

How do you stay in a ministry 5, 10, 15, 20+ years?

What keeps you from burning out or just going through the motions all the time? I am sure that in the whole world there are tons of reasons, but I picked some I thought were more common and could extend to cover other possible reasons.

First, let me be clear that I do not think it is God’s will that when we start in a specific ministry we will never change. I will say emphatically that if you are a child of God you should have a ministry or several ministries to aid the local New Testament church, no matter where you attend or what stage of life you are in currently.

We will have been at our church for 19 years this October and I would love to say I never wanted to move or just give up on some of my ministries. I would love to say that I have always done my best or been the best… but that isn’t true. It is out of my struggle I will attempt to give you some helps to help you be aware on your way. At the end of the lesson I will give you some questions to ask yourself before changing or quitting a ministry, so read all the way through!

Be aware of: Family history.

Were you raised by parents that were not exactly stable? Did they change home, jobs, friends and churches often? Did you sense a kind of vibe before the move or change that they had become discontent with whatever it was?

I did. My mom was in and out of marriages, jobs, friends, homes; you name it, and she became bored or disgruntled with it at some point.

While leaving some things is not necessarily a sin, at a certain point, it does show a lack of maturity and the ability to hold on to long term things. If we are raised like this, we often have these tendencies. We must stop the cycle and know there can be some long term things in your life: but it takes work. Insecurity can also play a large role in this, too.

So whether you clean the church, work in the nursery, teach Sunday School or any of the other ministries in the church. Be in it for the long haul and only change after totally thinking it through and not just because you are tired.

James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Pro 24:2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Pro 24:3-4 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches

Be aware of: Inactivity

I see this as a huge issue that gets people all the time! For example: You have been teaching a while, you get comfortable with it, and -boom- all the sudden your class attendance drops or starts misbehaving or looses its attention span. Suzie is giving you a hard time and your favorite, Tina, moved away. You start arriving later and later to class. You never make time to visit. Your Sunday school board has been the same for 4 months, etc, etc!!!!

Sound Familiar?

You finally know what you are doing, but everything is going wrong! You have become inactive. You no longer need 2hrs to study for your class because you have taught this lesson before. But instead of still using the amount of time you did when you were hungry to learn and do your best, you just slide on what you know. You have lost your get up and go. I find when I get in these spots I have to push myself to go the extra mile. Do the finishing touches. Google to learn how to do something better. Look for new fun illustrations.

Find a way to do the extra things so you can take pride in your work. When we work for Jesus we should do our best. Brainstorm! Children church worker, choir member, janitor, secretary, associate, water cup fillers, laywoman: find a way to do it better!

Pro 6:6-10 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.”

Be aware of: Stress

This can be anything that causes a distraction, whether it be Family, Finances, or Physical Health. When you are dealing with these things, quitting is sometimes is the worst thing you can do. Why? Because the Bible teaches the principle that by helping others we help ourselves. Your ministry -if done right- can be an relief for the stress you have to battle! Quitting in reaction to stress is never the answer. Remember why you are serving in the first place. Do you have unrealistic fantasy expectations for your ministry?

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the Foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

Be aware of: Bad Habits

I must state the obvious fact that sin does not only cause pain to you but to those around you. Even worse, it will bring shame to the name of Christ when found out.

Guard and protect your life from sin! Guard against every sin of the mind and in deed.

James 1:19-22 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

What I want to focus on here is the danger of never striving to improve yourself as a Christian. We get lazy! How easy it is to say, ‘That’s just how I am’, and give free reign to our besetting sin. No matter how mature you are as a Christian, there is always something that you can improve on.

Pick a fruit of the Spirit to work on for a week, and I promise you won’t feel perfect anymore! You will start to re-notice the flaws in your character, and hopefully feel compelled to work on them.

Be aware of: Changes in your abilities

One day you will find for whatever reason that you can no longer do what you once did. It may come as a sudden shock, or it may sneak up on you gradually, but now you no longer can physically do what you used to.

Maybe when you were younger, you could endure the heat/cold no problem, but now you just can’t. Maybe a disease has crippled you early in life, and it’s hard to do even simple tasks. Maybe an injury has put you on the sidelines for a while, or even permanently.

Whatever your situation, find SOMETHING you can do. Unless you are paralyzed from the neck down, there is something you can do- and even then, you can be a prayer warrior! Don’t find an excuse. Find new ministries or ways to be a blessing to those who fill your shoes.

Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Eph 6:12-13 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

So before you throw in the towel, take this pop quiz.

Questions to ask before quitting or changing ministries:

1. Why are you thinking of quitting?

2. Is this a Pastor-initiated/promoted change?

3. Is it to enable you to start a new ministry?

4. Is there someone willing and able to take your place?

5. Are you quitting because you can’t get along with someone?

6. Can you still physically do the job properly?

7. Are the issues you’re quitting over bigger than the need for the ministry?

8. Have you made a genuine effort to solve any of the issues?