Books @ Leadership Network

Uncovering stories about church burnout, aka Mad Church Disease

Jud Wilhite is starting an online book discussion this week about "Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic" by Anne Jackson.

Today we’re starting the discussion on Anne Jackson’s “Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic.” My hope is that whether you’ve read the book or not, you’ll be able to jump into the discussion this week. ...  Also, on Thursday night at 9pm Central (7pm Pacific) Anne is going to do a live video chat to discuss burnout and answer any questions.

I've been slowly reading through Mad Church Disease during the past month, allowing the connect with the the heavy feelings embedded within the stories told in the book. And that really is the way to soften your heart to be compassionate for those who obviously love God and love the church.

It's all too easy to over-spiritualize and say that God will provide all the energy we need to do the work of ministry. In fact, and realistically, we are all finite, and we have limited energy, and we have personal needs that need to be attended to and not ignored. The work of the church can be so demanding because there are always more needs to be met. As I've heard it said, a need does not mean it's a call.

What I love about the book is its short sections, which I could dub as sub-chapters. This makes the episodic stories very easy to read, and great for those of us with short attention span. And the interviews at the end of each chapter adds extra insights from other Christian leaders.

I commend Anne for having the courage to step out and address this issue of church burnout that is too often swept under the metaphorical rug. I can't wait for Anne to address some of the other church-related topics and elephants in the room.

// DJ CHUANG, Leadership Community Director at Leadership Network

Ministry in a Shame Filled World

One in four girls is sexually abused before age 18.

One in six boys is sexually abused before age 18.

Sexual abuse and the collateral damage it brings have reached epidemic levels. Those who lead in the church and Christian ministries must be equipped to support and walk with people who are processing the shame, pain, and fears associated with abuse. Marilyn Hontz has given a gift to those who have faced abuse personally or who walk with people who are seeking healing and freedom from their past. Her book, Shame Lifter, tells her own story of God’s grace and power to overcome the pain and shame of abuse.

Shame Lifter is not gratuitous or voyeuristic. Rather, Marilyn tells her story with grace and thoughtfulness. Those who minister to people who have faced painful family experiences, rejection by a loved one, and abuse of any sort will want to review this book. As a pastor and leader, I have talked to, prayed with, and tried to minister to many women and men who have faced abuse. At times, I have felt very ill-equipped for the task. As I read Shame Lifter I learned a number of very helpful lessons:

• Healing from abuse takes time, work, introspection, and caring people who will partner with you in the process. The church is a perfect place for this kind of ministry to happen.
• Wonderful and healthy people can have deep pain and dark places in their past. As a leader, I can’t assume that someone who appears to have their life in order has traveled through life exempt from the pain of abuse. I need to ask good questions and create space for people to share who they really are.
• It is possible for a person who has been deeply hurt to forgive with equal depth. Not only is it possible, it is essential.
• Most importantly, the love of God and power of forgiveness can release captives and restore shattered hearts. In a cynical world, it is easy for leaders to think of wholeness as an ideal that most people will never attain. I have been encouraged to see wholeness as a goal that God wants each of His children to reach.

The narrative style of Shame Lifter makes is very readable. The honesty and transparency with which Marilyn writes makes you feel like you are sitting and having a conversation with a trusted friend. If you minister to hurting and broken people (and I think we all do), this book will be a valuable resource. At the end of each chapter there are questions to help the leader through a process of personal reflection. Then, there are suggested actions and activities called, “Shame Lifters.” These offer practical and attainable steps for personal growth and spiritual healing. As a leader, this book will give you a wealth of tools for helping others move forward in the hope and healing that can be found in Jesus Christ. If you are a leader who has lived with abuse and if you are still on the journey of healing, I believe Shame Lifter will minister to you in a very personal way.

Kevin G. Harney

Overlooking the Obvious

    Once again my travels have turned up two books that are oddly related. After ten years of consulting with established, stuck churches of all brand names, I still live in the illusion that nothing can surprise me. I am always wrong. Churches have a knack for overlooking the obvious.

    Zondervan Press will shortly release Ten Stupid Things that Keep Churches from Growing by Geoff Surratt. I’m not sure why Geoff chose these particular ten stupid things. There are plenty more. However, Geoff’s are all right on. My favorites are “Promoting Talent over Integrity” (“We know he’s a thief and a liar, but no one can make the organ sing like Bob”); and “Letting Committees Steer the Ship” (“I wanted 60-watt instead of 40-watt bulbs, but the Worship Illumination Committee said no”). This is a “must read” for 80% of the churches in North America … and if you are a Church Planter and think you are immune, guess again.

    The other book is more serious: Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer (HarperCollins Publishing). I had heard about the book, and finally someone pressed it into my hands to read on another long airplane ride. Much of the book is autobiography, but there are gems embedded in the story relevant to every dying church that lives in the illusion that they are a “friendly” congregation.

    Meyer’s repeated point is that opulent, radical hospitality does not happen by accident or good intentions. It is trained and embedded as a corporate habit through consistent and universally applied accountability. The successful restaurant (and the growing church) expects members to make themselves less comfortable so that they can make their guest more comfortable. Only then can they savor the food.

    A favorite insight is Meyer’s “51% Principle”. Performance reviews weigh both technical skills and relational commitment, and the great restaurants prefer staff who are more relationally intuitive than technically savvy. 51% of success is emotion, passion, caring, and sensitivity to the seeker. Good churches train greeters, ushers, and refreshment servers with communication skills. Great churches empower hospitality leaders who actually love strangers to grace and earnestly desire to bless them within the next hour. It isn’t hard to translate Meyer’s five “emotional skills” to church life.

    But when was the last time you met an usher with: 1) optimistic warmth, 2) intelligent curiosity, 3) a serious work ethic, 4) empathy to feel what the stranger feels, and 5) honest self awareness? It all seems so obvious. Great hospitality helps grow churches. Yet stuck churches cannot do it, or will not do it, or refuse to believe it. Instead they allow the oldest dysfunctional member to remain forever an usher, saying “Just do the best you can.”

    Meyer celebrates “the warmth of deeply emotional food memories”. If we translate that to church, and really believe that Christian community is all about feeding on the real presence of Jesus Christ, we ought to be able to celebrate the “deeply emotional food memories” of Christian people. Let the chef and the waiters serve up the real experience of Christ, and pay less attention to the table settings of tradition.

Tom Bandy

www.ThrivingChurch.com

I Was Not Swayed

After reading The Starfish and the Spider a couple of years ago I was interested in reading Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman [one of the authors of Starfish/Spider] and his brother Rom. It is not that The Starfish and the Spider is the best book I have ever read. But, it was good. It was a laudable attempt to deal with the issue of seeing organizational movements not as centralized or decentralized, but as distributive or networked. It just did not go far enough.

Sway appears to be a book where an author says, "my first book sold so well, let me see if I can produce another winner. Hey, brother, you want to write this one with me?" It had a big roll out by its publisher. The book itself, however, misses the mark.

I was not swayed!

[I was also not convinced by Malcolm Gladwell's second book, Blink; while at the same time loving his first book, The Tipping Point. BTW, Sway is in many ways a counterpoint to Blink. I'm not sure the core premise of both books can be true.]

Sway is like a one point sermon where the singular point is told over and over again to convince the congregation it is true, significant, and something about which they ought to shout "Hallelujah!"

Sway does have some great illustrations that may almost convince you it is possible to be certain of the truth or the right thing in a given situation while at the same time being totally wrong. However, I do not believe anything can be proven by a string of examples. So for me the idea of page 7 that this book will "explore several of the psychological forces that derail rational thinking" is legitimate, but I was not convinced nor swayed by the book that the authors had really found something of great value.

This book would make a great read by a sophomore study group in a college. It may have value in teaching people to be cautious about their assessment or diagnosis of strategic opportunities. But ultimately truth cannot be swayed. Buy and read this book at your own risk.

George Bullard, The Columbia Partnership, GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org

What did I put on the Kindle?

So what did I put on the Kindle?

A few weeks ago I asked the question: To Kindle or not to Kindle over at my personal blog: www.davetravisnow.com.

I got a few responses from the passionate Kindle users, so I used that excuse to blow my tax refund on one.

My youngest daughter has a kindle 1 and she uses it for school and to surreptitiously check her email during class. But I wasn’t crazy about hers.

But the new Kindle 2 is a great improvement. Before I tell you what I put on my new kindle, here is what I like:

1. Saving weight and space. First in my travel backpack and second in my office. It would be pretty cool to not have so many bookshelves. Books are pretty but seem to just gather dust after I am through with them.
2. Ease of buying books. If it’s available on Kindle it’s real easy to hit the “buy” button. Maybe too easy.
3. The free books available. I had no idea so many were free. You will see a few below, but also see what I don’t like number 1.
4. Ability to send Word and PDFs over to it. Makes it easy for me to carry some docs and keep them handy.

5. Battery

   Life. – I went a week without recharging using several hours a day.
6. Type size adjuster – as opposed to the books that sometimes cause me some difficulties. This also speeds the reading for me. (Don’t want to hear any “you are so old” jokes)

Dislikes:

1. Price of the books – When my daughter got hers the max price of any book as around $10. No more. They tend to be very close to the price of bound books.
2. Can’t pass along a book easily. When I get through with a book I am usually through. I keep what I want and pass along the rest. I can’t do that now.
3. Some books not available. In fact quite a few that I have wanted to buy, not there.
4. The cover they sell you is way overpriced and sort of cheap looking. Not worth the $30 but I think the unit does need some protection.
5. The highlighting and note taking is clumsy and doesn’t work well. And I like to make notes.
6. Don’t like that I can’t use it pre-takeoff and the 10 minutes before landing. So you still need something to read in those times.

The first books loaded on there:

I had just met Frank Viola that week and found him to be such a delightful and generous soul that I felt guilty for not reading his books. He has strong opinions but is so gracious, I immediately loaded some of his including Reimaging Church, Pagan Christianity and The Untold Story of the New Testament. I haven’t read them yet but they are there ready to read.

I found out that the ESV Bible translation was free. I didn’t have a copy of that translation so I put it on the kindle. I will say that I am so used to handling scriptures by turning pages that it is quite an adjustment moving to this format. But I am liking the translation so far. Might take the place of the NIV for me.

I put Outside Innovation by Patricia Seybold on there the first day. Another book I had been wanting to buy but not lug around. Haven’t read it yet.

I found multiple P.G. Wodehouse classics available for free. I snagged them immediately. I have to read his humor every week to keep me sane. So I got Psmith, Journalist, The Adventures of Sally, and My Man Jeeves.

I bought Living Brands by Raymond Nadeau. I am half-way through. Don’t waste your time or money.

I bought Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers and Warriors shaped Globalization by Nayan Chada and it is about the spread of globalization through traders and preachers. Fairly interesting.

Finally I bought House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street by William Cohan. I bought it because I heard an interview with the author on the way to the airport. 60 seconds later it was on my kindle so I could read it on the plane.

So look for future entries on “what’s on my kindle? Worth it or not?”

---- Dave Travis, Managing Director at Leadership Network

Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion

Recently I have been very intrigued by the topic of burnout and depression in ministry, and I have been writing on the topic mainly because it seems to not only be so prevalent, but it's rarely talked about.  In fact, I would say that the symptoms (burnout and depression) are often a result of a lack of boundaries, and a mentality that says do more and more in ministry...as if that equates to godliness.

There are lots of great resources out there, and some pastors are beginning to approach the subject and write about how burnout and depression has affected not only the ministries they are involved in, but everyone around them. In fact...

I think openly discussing and seeking help for burnout and depression is innovative...

because so few are doing it, that to broach the subject puts you ahead of the curve in this area of thinking and praxis.

Recently I read the book Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion by Wayne Cordeiro, who is the Senior Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, Hawaii. Wayne's book is a great read, and it's not only very authentic, vulnerable and insightful, but he provides some great steps and resources for those who may be suffering through burnout and depression. Wayne says:

We don't forget that we are Christians. We forget that we are human, and that one oversight alone can debilitate the potential of our future.

It arrived without warning, like an uninvited guest. Decisions that were once simple now refused solution, and I found myself dodging anything that asked for my emotional input. My once stalwart faith was left fragile; I avoided whatever required my action.

It was a balmy California evening. I had gone for a jog before I was to speak at a leadership conference. I still can't recall how I got there, but I found myself sitting on a curb, weeping uncontrollably. I couldn't tell if it took place suddenly or gradually, but I knew something had broken inside. I remember lifting my trembling hands and asking out loud, 'What in the world is happening to me?'

I had been leading on empty.

This is such an important topic, and I think one that needs to be talked about more in church ministry, especially among leaders. But it must not only be talked about, but action must be taken to move leaders to a more healthy place of leadership. If Christian leaders do not model a healthy life, then what exactly are they modeling?

Wayne helps leaders assess what burnout and failure looks like, but he also provides a roadmap for how they can get back on track. His seven hard lessons seem obvious, but unfortunately they don't become obvious except in hindsight for many of us.

Wayne also does a great job of talking about some actions that one can take such as sabbaticals, and he provides some important resources (counseling centers, camps, retreats, books, etc.) for leaders to access. I think if more leaders would read this book, and learn some important lessons ahead of time, as well as possibly finding a partner in their own burnout (such as Wayne), then they will find themselves in a much more healthy leadership position than before.

Rhett Smith

rhettsmith.com

Marriage and Family Therapist (MSMFT)

Pastoral Care to Youth at HPPC (M.Div)

Peppermint-filled pinatas

Eric Bryant rocks... for a self-confessing Bald white guy.  Peppermint-filled pinatas is a hilarious read, weaving in biblical truths and mostly embarrassing stories from Bryant's own life - From his many attempts at serving outsiders, to a turning point relationship with his father, and even a lesbian encounter that had me laughing out loud.  

 

Some quotes I enjoyed

 

- the church was still something I had to endure, one of the sacrifices god was calling me to make...

- more people see christianity as part of their past rather than as a guiding force for their future

- we want to live in an environment where the laws or policies enforce our beliefs and morality rather than engaging a lost and broken world where they live.

 

The most convicting personal innovation mentioned in the book would be his suggestion of not inviting people to parties, but accepting other people's invitations as well.  One one level this speaks to us living lives where are presence is desired of course.  But on another level it's about entering a space that we don't own or control.  I expect everyone to attend my parties, but maybe I should take some of the 172 invitations i have waiting in my facebook account a bit more seriously.  

 

Eric tackles moving from tolerance to love, with raw honesty, and redemptively.  Afterall, aren't a lot of us 'bald white guys' on the inside?

Lon Wong
http://solarcrash.com
http://twitter.com/lon

Gimmick or the real deal?

The core of John Burke’s  Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended is the “60-60 Experiment.” He challenges readers to “stay in a continuous, honest conversation with God, willing to do his will moment by moment.” How does he want them to do this? By setting their watches to beep every hour (60 minutes) as “a reminder to reorient yourself into a continuous conversation of willingness” and doing this for 60 days.

Sounds a little gimmicky, right? But how many of us have despaired that the Sunday teaching or the mission trip high seems to have a life span that is only slightly longer than that of a fruit fly? And if we were really honest, how many of us frequently lose sight of God as we get caught up in the busy-ness of the day?

The basic concept doesn’t need a whole book to explain, but Burke does a great job in unpacking what this continuous conversation with God can look like. He includes many examples of life transformation from his church in Austin, taking the reader to a deeper spiritual place with each successive chapter. Soul Revolution is very readable for “non-professionals,” but also will inspire pastors.

So is it a gimmick or the real deal? When I was still on chapter 1 of the book, I happened to be in Austin and stopped at a Starbuck’s between appointments. As I placed my order with book in hand, the barista immediately asked, “Do you go to Gateway (Burke’s church)?” When I explained that I was not from Austin, she pointed to her arm and said, “I’m still wearing my watch. If you’re here this weekend, you should come worship with us.” It was enough to convince me.

The Red Rubber Ball at Work

In scouring research and resources on innovative processes I came across The Red Rubber Ball at Work   by Kevin Carroll. Simply written, it's a fun read about the serious business of play and how it impacts how you innovate, interact and produce in the workplace. Carroll cites stories and research from dozens of thought leaders and successful individuals, such as Seth Godin, Tom Kelley, Tinker Hatfield and Ivy Ross about their play histories and how it brought them to where they are today. Their stories reveal that as children they were allowed to be messy, try new things and sometimes skin their knees. In other words they were encouraged to dream, create, innovate and fail. It served them well. Not only are their stories inspirational and intriguing, but the corollaries between their childhood play styles and current genius is thought provoking. Carroll asks, 'Why, then, do play and work seem so contradictory? Why, as adults, do we relegate them to separate spheres, and why do so few workers and companies vaule play as a means to producing effective work?'  The reader is challenged to wonder, can bringing elements such as creative toys, board games based on strategic thinking, and improvisation into your board room or staff meetings effect your productivity and effectiveness as an organization? Can it help your team arrive at those illusive solutions and get past the 'stuck'? Carroll says yes, getting there faster and having more fun on the journey.

If you're looking for inspiration in stimulating the innovative thinking processes of your team, here's Carroll's advice, 'in order to play at work you have to be willing to work at play.'

Written by Sherry Surratt, Director of the Women's Initiative

Community in the 21st Century

One of the biggest challenges a church will have to answer over the next few years is how to continue to stay relevant and connected in a virtual society. For many community happens not in an auditorium on Sunday morning or in a small group on Wednesday night but on Facebook at 2:00 a.m. Communication is no longer a letter, a phone call or even an email; many people exchange information in 140 characters or less through a text message or a status update on Twitter. Community is out, social networking is in. Churches that don't connect in this new world will eventually be out of the loop in reaching the next generation, but connecting can be overwhelming because of the speed of change.

While the book Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies is written for businesses, it is also a good resource for churches trying to stay up with the change and form a vision for social networking. The authors begin with several cautionary examples of companies and industries that have been caught off guard by the sudden rise of social networking, a rise they call the Groundswell. They then give an overview of the general social networking landscape and define the technologies available. Finally they lay out a strategy for companies who desire to effectively engage this online community. While parts of Groundswell aren't applicable to the average church, it is a great resource for understanding what is ahead.

Should your church have a presence on Facebook? Should your pastor write a blog? Could a private social network be a supplement to your small groups? Could a social network replace your small groups? These are the kinds of questions all of us will have to find answers to; Groundswell is a good resource to begin the search.

Geoff Surratt
www.geoffsurratt.com
www.twitter.com/geoffsurratt