I have been a pastor at the same church for over 20 years and, like you, understand the challenges of ministry. Pastors experience the great joy of leading people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the gut-wrenching emotion of watching a father serve as the lone pall-bearer carrying the casket holding his infant son down the aisle and setting it at the front of the church. And then we are supposed to get up and say something meaningful.

Not long ago I stood in an Intensive Care Unit with a mom and dad whose son had been in a terrible accident. I was there when the doctors came in and told them that he had less than a 10 percent chance to live. I prayed that God would give me something to say and at the same time every emotion in me wanted to be somewhere else. I also rejoiced with that family several weeks later when they sat in church with their son.

You know the drill. Every week we are expected to lead our staff in such a way that morale is high and the church is running like a well-oiled machine. We are to provide appropriate peer leadership for our elders and deacons. We are expected to give vision talks that propel people to action. There are weddings with rehearsals and long receptions. There is always a funeral to perform. And then every weekend we stand to deliver a well-studied well-crafted message that moves people to action.

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The number of pastors and missionaries coming to QuietWaters stressed and burned out is alarming. Don’t get me wrong we want more pastors and missionaries who are in need of our program to come. The alarming part is the growing number and the intensity of their burn out. One of the answers to reducing the amount of burnout they are experiencing is sabbatical counseling through QuietWaters. More and more pastors are coming to us as a part of their sabbatical, and more and more churches are providing the time and money for pastors to take a sabbatical.However, we are not seeing mission agencies provide in the same way. In this issue we are addressing the need for sabbaticals and rest. Often pastors ask me what they’re going to do when they’re not in their counseling sessions during the Leadership Counseling Intensive. I jokingly respond that I’m going to introduce them to a new concept for pastors—REST.

Jason Nelson addresses the subject of rest from the perspective of having been an addict, “intoxicated with the drug of self-sufficiency.” He writes in his article, “I discovered that I was like the people of God in past generations who were relying on human strength and refusing to enter the rest of God. I didn’t want to be that way anymore. It was obvious that I needed to start living the line ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15).”

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COMPASS ONLINE A Digital Help Toward Renewal from QuietWaters Ministries Volume 10, Number 7 July 2010 Greetings!   In the May Compass Online I told you that we had received a record number of inquiries about our Leadership Counseling Intensive program and many have scheduled to come to participate in a LCI at our Retreat Center. I ask for your prayers for these colleagues as well as the counselors and host couples that will be serving them. Thank you for your prayers.  They have been evident. We continue to serve many so please continue to hold Quiet Waters Ministries and those we serve up in your prayers. Jim Niceness Rather Than Truth by Jim Schlottman

Recently I read the book “Home Town Tales” by Philip Gulley.  One of the stories in the book made me think of some stories I’ve heard from pastors.  Maybe you can relate.

Gene Meerdink, former Director of Donor Care for QuietWaters Ministries passed away this April 29, 2010.

Gene served with his wife Arlene as missionaries to Mexico and as a supervisor of missionaries for the Reformed Church in America.

Many of you may have known Gene for his work with QuietWaters or you may have known him through his work in missions.

This position oversees all donor programs with the primary goal of increasing major gift revenue, developing and maintaining relationships, and advancing donors’ commitments to QuietWaters Ministries.

The successful candidate will be responsible for creating and implementing QuietWaters Ministries’ strategic comprehensive campaign plan intended to raise gift income to support current operations and capital needs.

Qualifications include a minimum of three years progressively successful experience in fund raising, preferably in a Christian organization.  Capital campaign experience beneficial. Successful track record in soliciting major gifts from individuals and organizations.  Documented experience in establishing or maintaining programs for fund raising.  Demonstrated experience in writing successful fund raising direct mail and foundation proposals.

Reports to the CEO/Executive Director

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PRIVACY

10th

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

Psalm 23:1-3