We’re pleased to welcome Charlie Conder, Lead Coach for the Youth Cartel, an organization dedicated to encouraging and challenging adults who minister to youth through holistic professional coaching. Charlie led a large youth ministry; in fact, her middle school participants grew to be half the size of the entire church. She discusses the challenges she faced as her ministry grew, leading to significant stress and physical and mental burnout.

Charlie emphasizes the importance of recognizing signs of burnout, understanding the manifestation of stress in one's body, and the need for a more holistic approach to leadership. She also shares more about her decision to step away from ministry, the grieving process involved, and the guilt associated with prioritizing personal well-being. The conversation touches on the role of leaders in creating a culture that values self-care, open communication, and supporting one another.

In each episode, we ask our guests to highlight an organization that is doing work. Charlie wanted to shout out Terre Haute Friendship House, which offers an inclusive and affordable housing model that brings individuals with and without disabilities together in community to reach their full potential in Terre Haute, Indiana.

 

About our guest:

Charlie Conder grew up in rural Illinois but has been living in metro Atlanta, GA for the past 19 years. She has two grown daughters who stop by to shop in the pantry from time to time. Before being called into ministry, Charlie taught Middle School for 6 years. For the last 18 years, Charlie has been serving in the local Methodist Church. She currently works for Orange as an XP3 student specialist and is the Lead Coach for The Youth Cartel. Charlie has never passed a dog that she didn’t want to pet and her most favorite thing in the world is a Swedish Fish. But only the OG red ones. You can find her at charlieconder.com and on Instagram at @charlieconder.

Listener resources:

• If you are a Christian leader or pastor seeking a space for support, growth, and transformation for yourself or for your team, we invite you to participate in one of our cohort programs, called a Circle. To learn more and to get on the waitlist to be notified when our next Circle is offered, click here.
• NEW: Get our latest free resource, Disillusionment with Ministry: 4 ways to renew your purpose in the midst of disappointment. 
• Download the free Clergy Burnout Report