If surveys are on point, burnout is epidemic among professional and volunteer ministers in congregations everywhere. Not only does burnout end ministries, it damages churches and families as well. It's a major problem that congregations and ministers brush off or put off at their own peril.

In this episode, Dr. Darrel Sears (assistant professor of Bible and ministry, York University) defines "burnout," shares his own experience with it in ministry, and talks about how churches and ministers alike can head it off and recover from it. He also introduces Thrive Network, an online small group-based ministry where ministers help each other prevent, and recover from, burnout.

Link to Eliza Rohda's Christian Chronicle story on Dr. Sears's Thrive Network

Link to Dr. Sears's dissertation (free online) that focuses on the causes and cure for minister burnout (includes many books and other sources for further study)

Link to Christina Maslach's research on burnout (referenced in the interview)

Link to Resilient Ministry (Burns, Chapman, Guthrie) (referenced in interview)

To learn more about how to join a Thrive cohort, contact Dr. Sears here.

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