@rynhayden I’ve been where your at. It is a very hard balance. I’m sure you have thought through these ideas but since you asked here are a couple questions to consider. 1. How much are you delegating and allowing others to do? I found when pastoring a smaller church I just did more of

@hopeforaddicts Thank you

@rynhayden I feel this so much. I'm also very aware that I can get away with this for now, but my current workload between the church and my secular job just isn't gonna work in my 40s. I too need to figure something out.

@Biblicist4Life I'm in my 40s. Feeling my health start to slip. I went all in on pastoring in my 20s-30s, and don't have anything for retirement and don't own a home (parsonage). Now my oldest kids are getting ready for college and I feel the pressure to start saving which is why I'm working.

@rynhayden I feel ya. Church is around the same size. Own a moving company doing 70-90 jobs a month. Have 6 kids(4 out of the house). Been doing it for 14 years and I’m 52. Hitting the gym and eating healthy was a game changer for me. I know you run as well.

@GuyBeaumont I need to get back to exercising. I was doing it pretty faithfully when I first started this job but that fell off, and I've probably put on at least 10 pounds.

@rynhayden How often are you preaching/teaching each week?

@Timothy_Dison Typically 3x - plus Sunday School every other week. I actually have an assistant and someone training to pastor at our church, so the solution is I need to get them more involved in preaching, but it isn't easy.

@rynhayden Thankful for your faithfulness to your flock, your family, and God's call. As fellow shepherds, we can all affirm: ministry is not for the faint of heart. Praying for you and yours. Blessings and encouragement as you help people follow Christ. If there is any other

@rynhayden Make rest a priority. God does. Your church should be understanding and minister to you. Many churches don’t have a clue unfortunately. It’s ok to not do everything and saying “no” is important. Don’t involve yourself or church in ministry just because it’s there or it’s what

@rynhayden Dude.. I resonate with this so much. I work full time in aerospace, plus full-time MDiv studies, plus ministry opportunities, plus gym, plus single dad. The margin of error is non existent. I flirt with buyout daily. However, I have learned that small breaks are sufficient, at

@rynhayden Your post popped up on my timeline as…know that I’ve been in your shoes for 25 years. Not sure how I’m still here other than the Lord’s strength shines when we’re weak. Reach out if you need…

@rynhayden I pray the Lord will give you and Elder or two to share the load with. That's a big cart to pull with only one ox.

@rynhayden Same boat. I’ve accepted that our little church of 30 cannot at this time do what everyone else does. I don’t do Wednesday even during the summer, our deacon does a little Bible study. On Sunday afternoon I go maybe 20-25 minutes and the service is over in 45 minutes max. It’s

@rynhayden Praying for you brother!

@rynhayden @YourCalvinist and @MrsYourCalvinis discussed something very similar last night on their podcast. They gave some good advice you will find helpful, I recommend watching.

@rynhayden An averaged sized church (10 families or more) should, theoretically, be able to support a full time pastor. That doesn't mean you have to be that full time pastor and quit your job. This is where the importance of a plurality of elders is important.

@rynhayden What are all the other pastors in your church's plurality of elders doing while you burn out?

@rynhayden Praying for you. I've struggled with the same things and I don't have all the answers yet. Lean on the Lord and let Him guide you.

@rynhayden There is a reason that the pattern in scripture is to have multiple elders. It spreads the load, and provides accountability. It’s not always possible but I would suggest putting as much energy as possible into raising up another pastor to join you.

@rynhayden I was doing two jobs in my mid-fifties, 60 plus hours a week. I wound up at zero with lymphoma and no jobs. Get someone to swing for you on Sunday morning every so often, or something like it.

@rynhayden My prayers for you in renewal and strength! Strong deacons are a special gift to ease the workload of the local church. Grace to you and peace. Keep laboring for the King of Kings.

@rynhayden Everyone else has better advice than I do, but my boat isn’t too far from yours. I’m minus the staff but also the difficult family health situation and my secular work is a hair less intense. I’m also struck, as my oldest is now in college, that I only ever get my kids once.

@rynhayden This was the main reason we switched to doing Sunday nights only once a month starting last year. It’s been so helpful and refreshing for my family, and for many of our church people too. Even if you keep Sunday nights, maybe someone else could teach or preach.

@rynhayden Right there with you, brother. The church I pastor is about half the size of yours. One thing I did do was get with key people in the church and told them specific times I needed for R&R and to help me guard it. And they have.

@rynhayden Teaching Elders who are empowered to co-lead

@rynhayden Praying the Lord to give you wisdom and faithful co-laborers to help carry the burden.

@rynhayden Get an associate

@rynhayden Praying for wisdom for you, your family and the church.

@rynhayden I’ll pray for clear answers.

@rynhayden 🙏🙏

@rynhayden As a bi-vocational pastor, your responsibilities should be limited primarily to preaching/teaching. Everything else should be delegated to elders and deacons.