Episode 23 – Emotional Health in Gospel Ministry

Emotional Health in Gospel Ministry (Part Two)

Jonathan Hoover serves as the Associate Pastor and Couples Pastor at NewSpring Church in Wichita, Kansas. Jonathan holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and counseling from Liberty University, a Master of Science degree from Regent University in general psychology; and he is currently a student at Grand Canyon University, pursuing his Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology.

Warning Signs of Emotional Health

Executive Function Decrease
Working Memory Loss
Task Switching Lag
Feeling of Powerlessness
Loss of Purpose
Feelings of Threat

Challenges, Causes, and Contributors for Pastoral Emotional Health Struggles

Stress Levels Not Monitored
Lack of Relational Support
Creative Demand
Physical Stress of Being on Call Constantly
The Loss of a Sense of Accomplishment
Work and Family Life Mix

Physical Stress of Being on Call Constantly

On diet
We now know that chronic stress creates bodily inflammation, so we do not want to further contribute to that by eating a diet that is also inflammatory.

On sleep
You need 7-1/2 hours of restful sleep a night!

On exercise
We are talking about good, mid-level cardio that will put your heart in a target range.

If you’re a pastor of a growing ministry, you need to do what only you can do and delegate everything else. —Jonathan Hoover Click To Tweet

Someone can never take care of your body for you. —Jonathan Hoover Click To Tweet

If you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not taking care of your church’s pastor. —Jonathan Hoover Click To Tweet

If it compromises your ability to be healthy, then leave it undone. —Cary Schmidt Click To Tweet

The Loss of a Sense of Accomplishment

Burn out is when you have those feelings of emotional exhaustion, but all of a sudden there is a drop in your feelings of accomplishment.

Boredom burn out happens when I’m not emotionally exhausted, but I’m not accomplishing anything.

“Pride” and “sense of accomplishment” are two different things. Pride says I want everybody to look at me and realize how wonderful I am. A sense of accomplishment is the celebration that we have when we recognize that a goal has been manifested.

Work and Family Life Mix

I cannot think of other occupations where your ability to do your job, have your job, is so contingent on your family health. —Jonathan Hoover Click To Tweet

Family stress or discord puts an exponent on the end of whatever the difficulty level is in your career. —Jonathan Hoover Click To Tweet

Solutions

What did God do for Elijah?