Throughout my teaching at several Adventist institutions, I’ve had the privilege of being an elder in the churches attached to these institutions. This role has afforded me the opportunity to get acquainted with the pastors of these large, multi-staff churches. As I’ve developed relationships with these shepherds of the flock, I have become increasingly aware of how these gifted and committed pastors often find themselves struggling with the stresses of ministry—anxieties, unspoken and unrealistic expectations, conflicting demands, abuse at the hands of church members, and more. These stresses have led to pastoral burnout and decisions to leave the ministry on the part of several pastors I have known.
One such pastor was quite gifted in communicating the gospel and developing relationships, not only with church members but also with members of the academic community—administrators, faculty, students, and staff. He was caring and compassionate to all, especially the students. Toward the end of his tenure at the church, he experienced several challenges and difficulties. He felt mistreated by some members, which significantly impacted his ministry and well-being, leading to burnout. Wounded and bitter, he left the ministry and the church altogether—a tragic loss.
Duty to rest
These experiences of pastoral burnout underscored for me the crucial importance of pastors needing to attend to their health, well-being, and rest. Jesus and His disciples, amid the exacting demands of inaugurating the kingdom of God through a preaching, teaching, and healing ministry, set aside time to rest from their labors. Jesus said to His disciples, “ ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So, they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves” (Mark 6:31, 32, NKJV).
Reflecting on this passage, author Ellen White notes that “Christ is full of tenderness and compassion for all in His service. . . . They had been putting their whole souls into labor for the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest.”1 Yes, it is the duty of pastors to seek rest, to focus on their well-being, and, like their Master, to engage in the practice of prayer: “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12, NKJV; cf., Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; 9:18, 28; 11:1; 22:41–45).
Christlikeness
Under the power of the Holy Spirit, pastors must actualize a disciplined life of certain practices that occasion Christlikeness: “The focus for Christians is becoming more and more like Christ. Christian spiritual practices should result in the person—inside and out—looking increasingly like the Savior. Submission to Christ is paramount to reflecting Christlikeness (1 John 2:3–7). Christian spiritual practices foster an inner conformity to Christ, and these practices encourage us to act more like Christ.”2 And becoming more and more like Christ effects wholeness and a positive and healthy mindset that empowers pastors to cope with the stresses and challenges of ministry as they proclaim the wonders of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Loma Linda University has been at the forefront of whole-person education, striving to inculcate within every graduate the need to provide whole-person care to all. Our reflections, experiences, and educational endeavors through the years have led us to develop a robust definition of wholeness: “Wholeness means the lifelong, harmonious development of the physical, intellectual, emotional, relational, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of a person’s life, unified through a loving relationship with God and expressed in generous service to others.”3
A vibrant ambassador
This issue of Ministry magazine contains articles seeking to demonstrate how a wholistic health message can benefit a pastor personally and professionally.4 We believe they will help you adopt good practices that will enhance your personal health, well-being, and wholeness, positively impacting your professional life. That way, you can flourish wholistically and become a vibrant “ambassador for Christ” as you proclaim the ministry of reconciliation to a lost and broken world (2 Cor. 5:20), nurturing your members “to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18, GNT).
- Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1898), 360; emphasis added.
- Thomas V. Frederick, Yvonne Thai, and Scott E. Dunbar, Caring for Our Shepherds: Understanding and Coping With Burnout as a Pastor (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2024), 62.
- Gerald Winslow, “The Grace of Wholeness,” Loma Linda University and Medical Center Scope, Spring 1999, 6.
- We would like to thank Jon Paulien for his organizational and editorial assistance with the articles and practical pointers column in this issue.
