An Often Overlooked, or Neglected, Key To Success for Pastors
As leaders of their congregations, pastors play an essential role in leading and inspiring their church members. Whether one leads a small, medium, or large congregation, the stress of performing at a high level can take time and effort. Unlike many jobs where a person may answer to one or two supervisors, a pastor responds to anywhere from fifty to over a thousand people in a congregation. Having worked in a large corporation, retail company, real estate company, and a large church, I can attest that the church is significantly more stressful.
In this environment, it is not uncommon to see many pastors struggling to handle the stress of having many “bosses.” Each pastor handles stress differently. Some deal with stress by eating. Eating is a common way to deal with the stress that comes our way as pastors. I am guilty of this myself, big time.
It has broken my heart over the years to read such stories as this[1] where the stress of the pastorate led to a pastor ending up in an unhealthy lifestyle gaining over 200 pounds. This pastor is not alone. One report says that fifty percent of pastors are overweight and unhealthy.2.
My goal with this article is to do a little self-talk to myself and hopefully encourage others along the way to may your health an intentional priority.
One of the first things we must do is understand the impact that being overweight or obese can have on a person's health. It can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. This alone can slow a person down to the point where their ability to serve others is significantly diminished. By caring for their health, pastors can set an example for their congregation members to follow and encourage them to lead healthier lives. Moreover, healthy pastors can be more present and active in their ministries, which can significantly impact the growth and effectiveness of their churches.
Brandon Buchard, in his book High Performance Habits, states that to be a high performer, you need to maintain a high level of energy3. That physical energy necessary to be a high performer comes through being fit and healthy. Joshua echoes the same idea in Joshua 14:10b- 11:
V10 “… I am eighty-five years old today.”
V11 “I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.”
At eighty-five, he was still going strong. Undoubtedly, life was more physical in the Old Testament days, and there was no TV or chips to eat. But I speculate that he still sought to maintain his strength and health through discipline to serve the Lord in his ministry.
Physical energy and drive are only possible if we are in shape and not overweight.
A friend works for one of the top Insurance companies in America as a regional manager. His top agent, who happens to be the leading agent in the entire country, is a very high performer. My buddy shared that this agent has a rule: to work for him, you must work out and practice some form of physical fitness. He knows that to perform at the level his agency operates at, a person needs to be in good shape to handle the stresses of his business.
Not only does fitness help you to be healthy, but it also builds discipline and structure in your life. To get a workout in, a person needs to plan and schedule ahead to ensure they do what is essential. I love what former Navy Seal and author Jocko Willink says:
Discipline is Freedom
I am familiar with the idea of losing energy while gaining weight. I gained about 50 pounds over the last 20 years through stress eating. I experienced the slowdown that weight gain creates. I have seen myself go from a high-energy person to having lower and lower energy. I have always worked out as a bike rider, tennis player, weight lifter, and kayaker. But I was still fat. I am currently shedding that weight, and the results in my energy level are excellent. I feel like a 30-year-old and am more excited about my ministry than I have been in many years. (You can follow my journey here and here)
Why should the church world be any different from the secular world regarding being high performers? If we say we have a high calling, taking fitness seriously to carry out our tasks at a high level is imperative.
Secondly, pastors prioritizing their health can impact their churches. When pastors prioritize their health, they can better serve their community members and fulfill their duties with a clear and focused mind. Being able to be there and help others is what can build a church.
Furthermore, a healthy pastor can inspire and motivate members to prioritize their health. By leading by example and sharing their personal health journeys, pastors can create a sense of community and support around healthy living. This can lead to positive changes not just in individual lives but also in the overall health of the church community.
It's important to note that being healthy doesn't necessarily mean being thin or having a specific body shape. Instead, it's about adopting healthy habits and making conscious choices that benefit one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Pastors can work with healthcare professionals or nutritionists to develop personalized plans for their needs and lifestyles.
In conclusion, pastors play a vital role in their communities and must prioritize their health and well-being to serve better and inspire their congregation members. By setting an example and promoting healthy living, pastors can positively impact their community’s overall health, leading to healthier and happier individuals and a more substantial church community.
[1] https://sbcvoices.com/you-reap-what-you-sow-an-exhortation/
2 https://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/
3 https://leaderchat.org/2020/10/20/how-to-build-high-performance-habits-with-brendon-burchard/