122. Burned Out and Broken, with Michael MacKenzie, author of Don't Blow Up Your Ministry

Spiritual Life and Leadership

Michael MacKenzie, the Executive Director of Marble Retreat and the author of Don’t Blow Up Your Ministry, has been working with pastors in crisis for a long time. In this episode, Michael will help us understand not only the danger signs of an impending ministry blow-up, but also how to heal after we’ve blown up our ministry.
THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• Michael MacKenzie is Executive Director of Marble Retreat and the author of Don’t Blow Up Your Ministry.
• Michael shares what led him to his ministry with Marble Retreat.
• Michael MacKenzie describes what he means by a “blown up ministry.”
• Burnout results when the stresses of ministry combine with the pastor’s own brokenness.
• Potential stressors include: people-pleasing, avoidance of conflict, and so forth.
• To avoid these pitfalls, pastors should be on the lookout for: resentment, exhaustion, lack of joy, lack of peace, lack of passion.
• Pride and success can also lead to a blown-up ministry when pastors cross certain unhealthy and inappropriate boundaries.
• Michael MacKenzie shares why failure can be better for the soul than success.
• Michael explains the differences between large churches and small churches and how that affects a pastors well-being.
• Healthy relationships are critical for healthy ministry leadership.
• One way to build relationships is to pick up a hobby that other people do.
• Michael MacKenzie reflects on the connection between confession and healing.

RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:

• Marble Retreat website
• Books mentioned:
  • Don’t Blow Up Your Ministry, by Michael MacKenzie
  • Renovation of the Heart, by Dallas Willard
  • Works of Love, by Soren Kierkegaard
• Related episodes:
  • Ep 47: Leadership, Anxiety, and Family Systems, with Steve Cuss
  • Ep 52: Leadership and Soul Care, with Elaine Hamilton
  • Ep 81: Anger and Spiritual Leadership, with Chuck Whitley
  • Ep 82: Narcissism and Spiritual Leadership, with Chuck DeGroat
  • Ep 92: Against a Culture of Abuse, with Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer
  • Ep 94: Centering Prayer, with Rich Lewis
  • Ep 121: Rewrite Your Story, with Ian Morgan Cron

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