The Ministry Marathon: Caring for Yourself While You Care for the People of God

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 requires training, pacing oneself, perseverance and endurance, and constantly remembering that the goal lies ahead. To survive and thrive in ministry requires taking care of oneself physically, maintaining a vital and disciplined relationship to God, and always pressing on “toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Written in an engaging and inspirational style, this book will help pastors and other clergy develop the perspectives and practices that will enable them to run the ministry marathon.