Achieving Balance in Ministry
by Anthony J. Headly
Published by Beacon Hill Press

"Do you desire for your ministry to be effective over the long haul? Do you want to avoid burnout? Do you wish to "finish your course with joy"? Do you seek genuine balance in ministry and satisfaction in ministry?" asks Dr. Anthony Headley in his book Achieving Balance in Ministry, Beacon Hill Press, 1999.

• Cultivate personal closeness with God. (click to sample this chapter)
• Follow the pattern of Jesus.
• Recognize your limitations.
• Interrogate your feel-goods.
• Set ministry aspirations consistent with abilities and limitations.
• Avoid becoming overextended.
• Resist the pedestal image.
• De-role yourself occasionally.
• Model stewardship of self.
• Implement a realistic view of ministry.
• Make family priority a foundation for ministry.
• Give a Jethro person permission to confront you.
• Empower others to do ministry.
• Remember the ultimate power that drives ministry

Cultivate a Personal Closeness with God

In his book Creative Ministry, Henri Nouwen advises us, "A Christian minister will never be able to be a minister if it is not his most personal faith and insight into life that forms the core of his pastoral work."' This insight, easily overlooked in the hustle and daily demands, highlights the critical connection between a minister's spirituality and work. Intimacy with Christ is absolutely essential for ministry just like oxygen is necessary for physical life.

This close connection with God is a pressing necessity for finding fulfillment in ministry Personal faith and growing relationship with God is the foundation for one's service to others. "Friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine" is how the songwriter described it. But when we fail to keep God in first place, we easily fall into the trap of making ministry an idol. Then we worship our work.

Mistakenly, many ministers think of themselves as being clergy before they think of themselves as being a Christian.

When this happens, ministry activities take priority over being an authentic believer. Being a professional clergyperson becomes the pastor's primary means of relating to God, of thinking about spiritual realities, and of serving the people of God. Doing ministry is substituted for being Christian?as a result, we have form without substance and activity without empowerment. Then, preaching, public reading of Scripture, praying for others, and providing spiritual direction are done without power and passion.

Being close to spiritual realities is not the same as experiencing them personally Let's not fool ourselves into believing the spin?off from professional activities nourishes our spiritual lives. To do so is to make the Bible and prayer mere tools of our occupation and to make preaching merely impressive speech. Such a fallacy makes as much sense as a doctor cultivating his own health by reading medical books and performing surgery.

For every believer, including pastors, there is no substitute for intimacy with God?not even doing ministry. Such closeness comes through practicing the spiritual disciplines. We draw close to the Father, not merely to speak to others about Him, but so God may speak to us. We open our inner being to Him so He may impact our lives in new, refreshing, even imaginative ways.

EXERCISES: Five Ways to Increase Intimacy with God

• Research and read prayers of the Bible.
• Increase the personal dimensions of your study of Scripture.
• Ask an admired person about how to increase closeness with God.
• Check scriptural record about fasting.
• Increase your being as a source for your doing.