Episode 123: Guests and the Gifts We Give Them

A primary gift thats has you church name/logo/mission

a bag of some type

a mug

a folder

Information about the church

general information

specific ministries, esp. kids, students, and missions

a set of links or QR code

A book

We Wants  You Here by Thom Rainer

a short book about the importance of a church

a book your church is studying together

A gospel presentation

tract/video link to one

Gift cards

coffee shop...

A notification that a gift is being made in the guest's honor to a local mission for picking up a bag.

Something for the kids

T-shirts

Candy

Episode 122: Compassion Fatigue

 

 

People who are caregivers are at risk for developing compassion fatigue because they become overwhelmed with caring for others.

 

What is Compassion Fatigue?

"Compassion fatigue, also known as second-hand shock and secondary stress reaction, describes a type of stress that results from helping or wanting to help those who are traumatized or under significant emotional duress." https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/compassion-fatigue

 

Merriam Webster medical definition: the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time 

 

"Unlike burnout, which is caused by everyday work stresses (dealing with insurance companies, making treatment choices), compassion fatigue results from taking on the emotional burden of a patient's agony."— Tim Jarvis

 

Examples:

People stopping in at the church asking for help

Covid-19 illness and death

Counselors hearing traumatic stories from their clients

Pastors ministering to families in crisis

    

How do you recognize it?

Compassion fatigue can take a physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional toll on people who experience it. Common symptoms of compassion fatigue include:

Chronic physical and emotional exhaustion

Anxious and intrusive thoughts

Cynicism

Irritability

Feelings of self-contempt

Difficulty sleeping

Numbness or feelings of having nothing left to give

Headaches

Poor job satisfaction

 

What are solutions for compassion fatigue?

 Recognizing you have it is half the battle

 Realize that you are not the savior of the world

 Daily quiet time with God

Set healthy boundaries

 Make self care a top priority

reduce your stress load

get enough sleep 

take vacations

exercise

eat healthy

journal

Episode 121: Starting Over

 

How do you?

Don't burn your bridges

If you carry anger from a previous place of ministry - it will show to others and will put up barriers to new relationships

 

Remember what it was like the last time you had to begin

 

Be bold - take the first steps to reach out to new people

 

Learn the story of what has lead your church to its present place

 

Listen to people, hear their stories

 

Look for the big opportunity - person of peace

 

Establish good habits

Episode 120: Ranger Danger

 

Dangers of a Lone Ranger Ministry

 

Lack of encouragement

Lack of accountability

Loss of an outside perspective

Limited support

Likelihood of burnout

 

3 Be's to think about

Be available

Be vulnerable

Be coachable

Episode 119: Transitions

 

Transitions are

 

...a reality

...necessary

...emotional

...stress filled

...an opportunity

Episode 118: Bite Your Tongue

(recorded in early June)

 

1 Peter 3:10   For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

 

Ephesians 4:29   Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 

Recently I have been in places where I wanted to tell someone off because I was tired of their attitude etc. 

 

6 times we need to hold our tongues

Profanity and course language

Speaking in anger

Untimely sarcasm

Insensitivity

Tearing down others

Gossip

 

When should we speak out?

when we are protecting someone else

 

Unity is a huge valuable commodity in our churches.  So we should do all we can to protect unity.  That may mean giving up our right to blow up the church with our words.

Episode 117: From Nashville With Love

 

Change is forever in front of us. Today we look at the organizational struggle of change.

 

Why we struggle:

People leading change sometimes hate change.

Most change happens without asking our opinion.

The church is about to experience change like it’s not seen in centuries.

It will take years to figure out what happened

How to deal with it:

Add some change and see how it grows in you.

Roll with changes that involve any non-essential doctrine of faith.

Pray for those who will become the key leaders of change

Episode 116: 5 Areas to Improve Communication

1. In our preaching - with our congregation - how is it different?  - Engaging more than the mind - Heightened emphasis on experience and application - video files and series2. In our leadership - with staff/lay leaders - the more sensitive, the more direct3. In our written communication i.e. emails - can't unsend4. In our social media - stays out there5. In our homes - don't give them the leftovers of your attitude - communicate love first before frustration or disappointment

Episode 115: Exegeting Your Audience

 

Who are the people that commonly attend your services?

spiritual maturity?

common issues or struggles?

deficiencies or weaknesses?

note: don't forget your online attenders

 

Who are the guests that attend your church?

how are they different from your regular attenders?

what are the unchurched like in your community?

 

What is your community's culture?

urban, suburban, rural?

fast, slow

values

employers

 

Are you connecting with the heart and the head?

Episode 114: Enjoy Your Ministry

 

Focusing on the hard parts and the parts of ministry that suck the life out of you will turn you negative about all of ministry.  But there is so much good

 

Jeremiah 29:11  11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Your call to ministry was given by God in order to bless you.  He wants you to be blessed and have joy.

 

God didn't call you to ministry in order to punish you.  God gave you your ministry as a gift to bless you.

 

We get used to talking negatively about ministry.  We talk about the hard things and the parts we don't enjoy - but maybe its time to focus on the parts we do enjoy.

 

Enjoy the parts that energize you

What do you do on a weekly basis that gets you excited?

What things do you get to do that cause you to really smile?

 

Enjoy the right now

Sometimes we get so caught up looking to the future - that we forget to enjoy what is happening today.

 

Enjoy the people

The people are the blessing - There are some that cause us trouble - but there are so many more who are an absolute blessing.  Focus on those.

 

Enjoy the place

They say the grass is always greener somewhere else

The reality is the grass is always greener over the septic tank

every place has its problems. 

look around and count the blessings of where you are now.

 

God has placed you where you are today in order to gift you and grow you!

 

Every place of ministry can be better.  Let us come and help you see the blessings and the potential.