Tag: passion

2013: The Year of Increase

I never imagined the airport hall was so long. She purposely walked toward the security check; never looking back. When I yelled out, “I love you MORE” she threw her hand behind her head in acknowledgement but kept moving. My heart leap-frogged into my throat and I lightly pounded my chest a couple of times to hopefully knock things back in place. So, this is how parents and loved ones feel when letting go of their precious AIMers as they leave for the field! Thirty-years ago my own wife made such a journey. A trip of three or four months turned in to a lifetime of mission’s service. Things have come full circle. What will happen to our fledging AIMer? Time and God will tell!

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As our own missionary prepared, packed, repacked, and repacked I pondered what the next five or six months on the field would bring. She had purchased white mugs from the Dollar Tree (expensive shopper!). Special friends and family took colorful Sharpie markers and designed a special keepsake for her. (I’m not sure what she is going to do with eight coffee mugs in one hundred plus weather. She doesn’t even drink coffee!) To solidify the ink and art I guess you put the mugs in the oven, bake them, and the ink doesn’t come off. I thought of her time overseas as an opportunity for increase. I designed her mug with life’s purpose in mind and depicted her AIM tour as 2013, the year of increase. Increase of what, you might ask? Well, I will tell you since I think it also applies to you—whoever you are; wherever you are.

I pray that 2013 will be a year of increase for you. I’m sure this involves many things but here are a few I sketched on the mug:

Increased…

  • Vision
  • Purpose
  • Passion
  • Burden
  • Word-view
  • Worldview
  • Friendships
  • Cross-cultural Experience
  • Faith
  • …and last—but not least—souls!

Her time in all of these will increase. Like John the Baptist reminds me, her time with me will decrease. I’m a little bitter about that. Why must I increase? But, she will be a better person because of AIM and I’ll be a better father and leader in the process. So, I leave her and each of you to a time of increase.

I love the picture of her and one of her friends as she was about to step out and walk that long road to the security checkpoint. Her mother and I are in the background, tears in our eyes, smiles swelling in our hearts, backing her up, and cheering her on. So, the Poitras household is quieter this evening, lonelier tonight, but the mission team in Ghana is on the increase.

So, dear AIMer and friend, we back you up, and cheer you on, as you proceed down the path of increase in 2013.

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Avoid the Ministry Fizzle

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).

Dave Wiedis in “Ten Rules to Avoid Ministry Burnout” writes, “When burnout runs its course, pastors often report that they have no initiative or drive, little energy, don’t want to visit with people, and just want to be left alone. Other symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, and disillusionment with people, loss of confidence, a feeling of being mistreated, and feelings of detachment. Of course, with the intense and unrelenting demands of ministry, there is a spiral effect: Burnout causes inefficiency, inefficiency creates increasing demands, demands create pressure and concomitant guilt for not achieving desired goals, added pressure and guilt causes stress, stress causes a depletion of energy and drive, which in turns causes inefficiency.”

Here’s his ten rules:

  1. Take heed to yourself.
  2. Cultivate dependence on God. Your ministry and calling come from Him. Maintain your personal disciplines.
  3. Lower your expectations. Learn to say, “No.” Delegate.
  4. Learn to balance your life and pace yourself.
  5. Create time to get away for refreshing. Factor solitude, recreation, and refreshment into work. Put them on your calendar. When asked for a meeting at that time honestly say, “I have an appointment.” That’s exercising good stewardship.
  6. Cultivate interests that are not directly related to your work as a minister.
  7. Develop a sense of humor.
  8. Cultivate proper diet, exercise, and sleep patterns.
  9. Seek close fellowship with pastors and others with whom you can share your burdens and concerns. Oftentimes, it takes a pastor to help a minster. Yet, we often to see ourselves in competition with one another rather than on the same team. Remember, the ministerial body is not designed to compete with one another but to complete one another.
  10. Get help if needed. Meet with a biblical counselor to get insight on your life.

Satan is fully aware that “if you smite the shepherd, the sheep will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7).

Avoid ministry fizzle today!

photo credit: .robbie via photopin cc

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