The Ministry Marathon

Every pastor knows that parish ministry is about life in the long haul. All of one’s enthusiasm, training, and sense of God’s call will one day run into the wall of too many meetings, too little sleep, and too few affirmations that what one does makes a difference. This is the point at which ministry becomes a burden rather than a joy, and burnout looms large as a possibility. Pastors need to remind themselves, says Tim Wright, that ministry is a marathon. To survive and thrive in a marathon req