Why Pastors Need To De-Stress

When contemplating the idea that pastors need to de-stress, the obvious thought comes to mind: “of course we do, we’re human.” We understand the need for people to de-stress in every area of life. This can be work-related, school-related, or any combination of things that life throws at us. While this is all true, the importance of de-stressing as a pastor demands a higher level of intentionality. When the pastor does not de-stress, the stress that builds up will cause an explosion of unhealthy leadership. How and why should pastors de-stress specifically?

First thing’s first, de-stressing is an absolutely vital aspect of ministry leadership. Think about the number of people who told you that ministry was going to be tough before you stepped into it. Now that you are in vocational ministry, think of the challenges and stressors of the role you are in. Chances are, if you have been in ministry for any length of time, you understand the feeling of stress. Even still, it is easy to accept that stress as the unavoidable aspect of ministry, and simply let it build. Pastors must learn to effectively de-stress, or else stress will consume them.

Secondly, once you understand the why behind de-stressing, it is important to understand the how. How can a pastor effectively de-stress? This is a tough question for a lot of people to answer. How can I set aside my over-active imagination and stop stressing out? What types of strategies can help a pastor with a crazy schedule to not feel stressed? How can a pastor identify stressors and use that knowledge to de-stress?

In this video:

We want to answer all of these questions and more. If you have ever felt any ounce of stress in ministry, this video is for you. Here, you will learn how to effectively de-stress in ministry, making you a more competent and impactful leader.