Have felt this tension before! Thanks for sharing Jonny, while giving great perspective and truth in God’s word. We are humans, who are all striving towards the destination God has called us to. Even as ministry leaders, we need communion with our Father and healthy relationships.
Church leadership is an incredibly taxing role to the soul of anyone who is deep in it. I have seen so many pastors burn out from the weight they carry. It's hard to watch in real time.
I love how you compare aloneness and isolation as two separate things, and both are not negatives. Jesus loved to be alone; this was so much of an important part of his success as a leader to the men he discipled. I even see the frustration the disciples experienced when He was off alone. (The Chosen TV show does a good job of touching on this visual.). Jesus needed that time to regroup, refresh, and keep going.
There is no such thing as weakness in taking time to isolate and spend time with Jesus in silence and prayer. I encourage pastors to do this once a week. To get away from all the noise and demands and spend all day in alone time for spiritual growth.
I could spend hours typing and talking about what you shared. Well done.
I appreciate Paul Christopher pointing my attention here ... what an expressive, vulnerable, but faith-filled post. I was moved by your understanding - what so few seem to understand. Even among fellow ministers. I will share this with other ministers and also return to read through it again. It reminded me that I used to take spiritual retreats and it's been a long time now...too long. Thank you.
Johnny, thank you so much for writing this out so eloquently and honestly.
Pastoral loneliness and burnout are very real.
This is partly why my wife and I started a ministry to help heal and strengthen people in these situations.
It’s called “Swift Hope,” and our motto is simple: when the leaders are healthy, everyone benefits.
We use a simple form of prayer counseling that is incredibly effective. Every single day, we watch God heal and transform hurting people. Sometimes they come in knowing exactly what they want to work on, and we get to watch God bring the healing they’ve been longing for. Other times they don’t even know where the root of the hurt lies, but God does, and God leads them right to it, then speaks the healing they crave.
In a single two hour session, we often watch God heal multiple lifelong hurts. And they are healed for good.
All of our sessions are free. We don’t want money to ever become a barrier for leaders getting the healing they need.
Sessions occur by video chat, making them accessible for everyone anywhere.
If you want to know more, there’s a brief introductory video that explains how the process works right here: www.swifthope.com/about
Ministry leaders and pastors can sign up for free session here: www.swifthope.com
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me here on Substack, or at kyle@swifthope.com.
Great deep dive! This is truly a crisis in our western church culture. Jesus spent most of his waking hours with his key leaders. And he spent ample time in intimacy with His Father. It’s a crisis especially among men in general in our culture, but the expectation and clergy-laity culture makes it especially hard. Hers’s an article I wrote for men in general.
Wonderfully written. You are on to something here. Redefine ministry success - you have an overflow of wisdom - praying for you and other leaders. Great job in sharing.
Have felt this tension before! Thanks for sharing Jonny, while giving great perspective and truth in God’s word. We are humans, who are all striving towards the destination God has called us to. Even as ministry leaders, we need communion with our Father and healthy relationships.
That’s such a great insight Adam! Thanks!
Church leadership is an incredibly taxing role to the soul of anyone who is deep in it. I have seen so many pastors burn out from the weight they carry. It's hard to watch in real time.
I love how you compare aloneness and isolation as two separate things, and both are not negatives. Jesus loved to be alone; this was so much of an important part of his success as a leader to the men he discipled. I even see the frustration the disciples experienced when He was off alone. (The Chosen TV show does a good job of touching on this visual.). Jesus needed that time to regroup, refresh, and keep going.
There is no such thing as weakness in taking time to isolate and spend time with Jesus in silence and prayer. I encourage pastors to do this once a week. To get away from all the noise and demands and spend all day in alone time for spiritual growth.
I could spend hours typing and talking about what you shared. Well done.
Such a wonderful encouragement to me Greg! Thank you…
Honest, thoughtful, and full of grace. I felt seen reading this—thank you, Jonny. We need more of this kind of writing in the church.
Thanks so much for your kind words Rich!
This was honest and thoughtful. Thanks for writing this and sharing!
Thanks Aaron! You’re very kind.
I appreciate Paul Christopher pointing my attention here ... what an expressive, vulnerable, but faith-filled post. I was moved by your understanding - what so few seem to understand. Even among fellow ministers. I will share this with other ministers and also return to read through it again. It reminded me that I used to take spiritual retreats and it's been a long time now...too long. Thank you.
Johnny, thank you so much for writing this out so eloquently and honestly.
Pastoral loneliness and burnout are very real.
This is partly why my wife and I started a ministry to help heal and strengthen people in these situations.
It’s called “Swift Hope,” and our motto is simple: when the leaders are healthy, everyone benefits.
We use a simple form of prayer counseling that is incredibly effective. Every single day, we watch God heal and transform hurting people. Sometimes they come in knowing exactly what they want to work on, and we get to watch God bring the healing they’ve been longing for. Other times they don’t even know where the root of the hurt lies, but God does, and God leads them right to it, then speaks the healing they crave.
In a single two hour session, we often watch God heal multiple lifelong hurts. And they are healed for good.
All of our sessions are free. We don’t want money to ever become a barrier for leaders getting the healing they need.
Sessions occur by video chat, making them accessible for everyone anywhere.
If you want to know more, there’s a brief introductory video that explains how the process works right here: www.swifthope.com/about
Ministry leaders and pastors can sign up for free session here: www.swifthope.com
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me here on Substack, or at kyle@swifthope.com.
Thanks Kyle - I will check that out.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kevinebeasley/p/men-you-are-not-alone?r=36m5dg&utm_medium=ios
Great deep dive! This is truly a crisis in our western church culture. Jesus spent most of his waking hours with his key leaders. And he spent ample time in intimacy with His Father. It’s a crisis especially among men in general in our culture, but the expectation and clergy-laity culture makes it especially hard. Hers’s an article I wrote for men in general.
Very well written and to the point Jonny
You’re very kind - thank you!
Wonderfully written. You are on to something here. Redefine ministry success - you have an overflow of wisdom - praying for you and other leaders. Great job in sharing.
Thanks Paul for the encouragement!
Thanks so much for your kind words - it means a lot!