Robbie Mackenzie » Youth Ministry 6.3 #40 – Wayne Cordeiro (Burnout and Depression) FREE RESOURCES!!!!

I had the amazing blessing of interviewing Wayne Cordeiro who is pastor of the New Hope Christian Fellowship Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. He wrote a book a couple of years back called, Leading on Empty where he talked about his journey through burnout and what ministers can do to keep from burning out. We talk about depression, burnout and what we can do to make sure we are leading our church with a full tank. I know you will be blessed.

This is my 40th interview and because I believe in empowering youth ministers with cool resources I want to give away some amazing books for you to read. All you have to do is comment below and talk about your experience with burnout and what you did to overcome it. I will select a random person on December 30th and will mail you these resources:

The Millenials by Thom and Jess Rainer
Theological Turn in Youth Ministry by Kenda Creasy Dean and Andrew Root
Sticky Faith (Youth Worker Edition) by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin
Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro
Ministry by Teenagers by Jonathan McKee and David Smith
One.Life by Scot McKnight
Life in Student Ministry by Tim Schmoyer

Why am I doing this? I believe in these men and women who wrote these materials and I also believe in helping other youth ministers succeed. So please watch the interview and comment below, spread the word and you may win some amazing resources.

http://thesehonestwords.wordpress.com annaspencer

Often times, I take on to many activities. Truth be told: I have a hard time saying no to people and places that could benefit from my time. As a college student and youth leader (among other things), it gets tricky. People are always asking me to help with this or go to that. These questions and requests will always exist and after stress and struggle semester after semester, I have begun to see how important my yes’s and no’s really are. In order, not to go back to this place of burnout, I am now working prioritize what I do and don’t do. I am asking, what saying yes to this (person/activity) will do to that (family/friends/health/ministry)? How will it better or pull away from my goals and priorities. I also have friends asking me these questions as well. I also have a physical card that says no. I made this card for myself and those like me who have a hard time saying no. It reminds me that no should be the answer more often than yes when extra activities and things come along at least in this season of my life.
- Robbie Mackenzie
  
  Anna, thanks for stopping by. Great comment. I read a book by Doug Fields called, “What Matters Most when NO is better than YES,” that has been very formative for me. He made the statement, “every time you say ‘Yes’ to something, it means you are saying ‘no’ to something else.” When it comes to a family that could be very crucial with what we say yes and no to. Thanks for your comment.
http://Clilliethoughts.blogspot.com Curtis

Great topic and discussion.

Rest can’t be our response to depleting or coming to the end of or own resources. Rest must have a central place in the intentional rhythm
- http://Clilliethoughts.blogspot.com Curtis
  
  … Of our lives with God.
  
  Only then are we ministering out of God as our source, rather than our own abilities.
  - Robbie Mackenzie
    
    Thanks Curtis. I do believe rest has to be a rhythm otherwise our rest becomes another “program” we do to check off of our list. Great comment.
http://jrhighuthguy.blogspot.com/ Jr. High Guy

I think we have all experienced burn-out in different and various levels every day. I think that also depending on your season of life we will experience burn out. I know for my wife and I we went through a couple different times over our years of youth ministry.
Right after we had our second child, while also being under a very demanding leader, we were also handed the young adults/college ministry in addition to our growing and active Jr. high/ministry. In addition, I had committed to starting my Masters. We really went through a time of burn out, frustration, and just about to the point of breaking.
If it wasn’t for an amazing wife that is as called and committed to ministry as I am, I would have completely quit. We dealt with our time with openly talking to each other, praying with each other, and finding/protecting our family times.
I believe strongly what I was told by an old pastor a long time ago. “Your make and break in ministry and in life is your wife and your commitment to family”
- Robbie Mackenzie
  
  Awesome. A team mentality is so important to an effective ministry. Thanks.
Coffee Guy

I agree with Curtis…rest when you’re beginning to experience burnout is going to come too late. Being proactive is very important. I think confession and honesty are keys that have really worked for me. I’ve always worked hard to have a couple of people (preferably other youth pastors who ‘get’ the struggles and joys of the job/calling) who can be listening partners with me. They’ll let me rant when it’s legitimate and hold me accountable when it’s obvious I”m being a baby and then we’ll continue to encourage each other and remind each other about the privilege of our calling. Guys aren’t always great at ‘talking it out’ so good coffee always helps, or if the conversation warrants it, follow the lead of the Inklings.
- Robbie Mackenzie
  
  It seems that accountability is an important factor in all aspects of Christianity. Having that sense of community with other guys/gals is extremely important. Thanks Coffee Guy.
Neal Mathis

I really like the comment, “we’re only as busy as we plan to be.” I purposely try to schedule some slow days during the summer and school years to just wind-down. I play golf, I go visit family for the day, I simply spend the day with my daughter, whatever that doesn’t require effort and energy that drains me. Thanks again Robbie.
- Robbie Mackenzie
  
  I loved that comment as well. Those slow days are crucial for the rhythm of our bodies.
Vanessa

It can be discouraging when we feel like our efforts are not appreciated and when we don’t see the good fruit. But we must keep our eyes focused on Jesus. We are not doing it for people’s applause. And we must be patient and we will see the great harvest! We have to remember why we do what we do and the urgency of spreading the gospel message so that more will come to a knowledge of the truth and be prepared for Christ’s return. Also remembering Christ’s great sacrifice and love for us. Ministry can be a huge responsibility and sometimes seems overwhelming, but remember that it is God who empowers us and works through us to do His work and it is such a wonderful opportunity and privilege to serve.
- Robbie Mackenzie
  
  Thank you Vanessa. It is very important to make sure we are Christocentric in our approach to ministry. If we gauged our ministry by applause of the masses then the work of Jesus would be considered a failure. Great comment.
http://gravatar.com/bishopbarry 34.1,117.7

I realize I’m too late for the drawing, but being in this state currently I gained a revelation from conversation with one of our volunteers this week that I think would ring true for at least one other out there in ministry. That revelation being, having my hands in something that defines a clear “win” and sense of accomplishment is crucial for me in combating depression and burnout. Sometimes it’s tough to see progress or have a clear sense of “things are really getting done” in this career. So to have definable goals/wins in the ministry we’re charging along with something(s) outside our careers that give us that sense of well doing is key. For me it has been even as simple as a woodworking project or exercise program. I also needed the reminder that there normally isn’t one “cure all”, but additives of the earlier comments are necessary as well. Thanks for hitting this topic in the manner you did, Robbie.