YWJ: In what ways do social factors such as the breakdown in community or technology contribute to stress?

Anne: I have had a Blackberry for a couple of years and was always easily accessible via e-mail, texting, Twitter, Facebook ... it all came to my phone. Every buzz I would feel from my phone said, “Someone needs you,” and it poured in affirmation that my life was making a difference. When I started checking my e-mail in the shower on my phone, I knew I had crossed a line. Some things need to stay sacred. I decided at that point to kill the Internet on my phone, and I have never looked back. My stress level, which was being fed by the need to connect 24/7, has been removed. I highly recommend a tech fast for everyone in ministry—to what extent is up to the individual, but it needs to be a sacrifice.

Henry: It used to be that you had two lives—work and personal—that had boundaries of time and space. There was a time when you were at work; when you weren’t at work, you were off. Now when people are off, they’re checking e-mail, getting phone calls and texts, and hearing at all hours from people they’re leading. The personal life no longer is protected. Technology has invaded that space—not just in terms of the hours but the physical space. Now, we have only one life and have to have the structure and integration to ensure all these parts are working without the multi-tasking resulting in a chaotic life of fruitlessness.

YWJ: What are some ways youth workers can manage and reduce their stress?

Larry: We have to decide self-care is a biblical principle. The need for spiritual retreat is critical, in groups or as individuals. Sabbath day can be a part of that. We need to step back from what we’re doing and rest to allow the Lord to run His fingers through our lives so we can face issues we don’t face when we’re running a hundred miles an hour. For those who are married, let your spouse already in that place of burnout, find help. Find someone or some place you can go to for help in unpacking and understanding what you are experiencing.

Anne: Create and stick to your boundaries. We always think we have to say yes to everyone; but by following Jesus’ example in Luke 4, we learn that by saying no, we’re actually saying yes. Jesus had people chase Him down, begging to be healed; but He said no. He saw His Father’s larger, kingdom purpose. Eating healthily (72 percent of pastors are overweight!), exercising and getting some sleep will help during those seasons of stress that are out of the norm.

Henry: Get honest. It’s really easy to excuse a bunch of this stuff by saying, “It’s the nature of ministry,” but this is part of stewardship. Do a time audit around your vision, mission and key objectives. When you do this, you find activities and relationships that are pulling you away from what’s important. There’s usually a reason for those places where there’s a disconnect—a person who’s irresponsible, who you’re always having to cover; someone who’s too needy. It really begins to show you there are some personal steps you need to take, like setting limits, coaching and having hard conversations. I encourage people to follow the pattern of misery and make a rule to prevent it. For example, you know there’s a talk you need to have ready every Tuesday, but you find yourself preparing it every Monday at midnight because every Monday afternoon when you’re in the office, you get interrupted. Figure out how that happened. Realize it’s a pattern, and then set a rule: “I’m not available on Monday afternoons for any meetings. I won’t work from the office on Monday afternoons.”

YWJ: Anything else we should know?

Larry: Many of us who were in youth ministry have left the wrong trail for those who are youth pastors today to follow. Youth pastors today need to work to try and correct this. We see way too many great people who have a heart for the Lord and His kingdom work who, after five to 10 years of ministry, are throwing in the towel and saying, “I’m not doing this any more.” That’s really a scary trend.

Henry: Time and energy are really all you have. Everything else is created from those two things. I hear leaders say all the time, “Well, that would be great, but I don’t have the money or the people for that.” If you have the time and energy, you can find the money and the people. If you don’t have the time or energy, then you’re out of control. You must be a good steward over your time and energy if you’re going to accomplish the mission God put you on this earth to do.

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