Ep. 004 | Soul Care for Pastors - Dale Sellers
For the Church to be Healthy, the Pastor Needs to Be Healthy
Pastors Must Attend to Their Own Emotional and Spiritual Health to Be Effective Leaders
August 15, 2024
Episode 4 Show Notes
In this episode of the Revitalize My Church podcast, host Bart Blair interviews Dale Sellers, Executive Director of 95Network, a ministry focused on serving and resourcing small to mid-sized churches. Dale shares his personal journey in ministry, the mission of 95Network, and the importance of soul care for pastors.
Dale recounts his early years in ministry, traveling with his wife in a music group and noticing the discouragement among pastors and church leaders. After pastoring a church for 12 years, experiencing a split, and closing the church, Dale felt like a failure. He eventually started 95Network to serve and support pastors of small to mid-sized churches, which make up 95% of churches in America.
A key focus of the conversation is the importance of pastoral health and soul care. Dale shares his own struggles with insecurity, feeling like he could never do enough for God, and the physical toll ministry took on his health. He emphasizes that pastors must prioritize self-care, including taking a Sabbath, maintaining friendships, and balancing family and ministry responsibilities.
Dale and Bart discuss the misconception that "healthy things grow," noting that unhealthy things can grow as well. They stress that the goal is not necessarily to turn small churches into megachurches, but rather to help churches become healthy and biblically grounded.
To address the need for pastoral soul care, 95Network developed the Soul Care Essentials Conference. This half-day event focuses on three key areas: the pastor's private life, personal life, and professional life. The conference provides practical guidance on maintaining accountability, friendships, and a healthy work-life balance. Attendees also receive a copy of Dale's book, "Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They'd Be There by Now."
Throughout the conversation, Dale and Bart emphasize the importance of vulnerability, admitting struggles, and seeking help when needed. They encourage pastors to develop relationships with other ministry leaders outside their own circles to gain fresh perspectives and avoid isolation.
The episode concludes with Dale offering words of encouragement to pastors who feel stalled or alone in ministry. He reminds them of their calling and the great opportunities that lie ahead for those who prioritize their spiritual health and soul care.
Bible Passages Cited:
1. Mark 6:52 and Mark 8:17-18 - After the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000, the disciples' hearts were hardened, showing that it's possible to develop a hard heart even while doing the right things in ministry.
2. James 5:16 - "Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." Dale emphasizes the importance of having someone to be honest and transparent with for healing and growth.
3. Proverbs 18:1 - "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire." Dale warns against isolation, which can lead to seeking one's own desires rather than God's will.
Key Takeaways:
1. The majority of churches in America are small to mid-sized, and pastors of these churches often feel discouraged, under-resourced, and isolated.
2. Pastoral health and soul care are essential for effective ministry. Pastors must prioritize self-care, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and cultivating meaningful relationships.
3. Unhealthy things can grow, so the goal should not be merely numerical growth, but rather spiritual health and biblical grounding.
4. Pastors need to be vulnerable, admit their struggles, and seek help when needed. Isolation can lead to burnout and moral failure.
5. Developing relationships with ministry leaders outside one's own circle can provide fresh perspectives and accountability.
6. Despite the challenges, pastors must remember their calling and the great opportunities that lie ahead for those who prioritize their spiritual health and soul care.