Four Signs You Are Thriving In Ministry

by Mark Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader

Thanks for the emails and conversations on last week’s article, Done With Clergy Life Balance. Many of you resonated with the idea that undue commitment to life balance can prevent significant enriching experiences that make for a life well-lived. Certainly life balance has its place, but it’s not the holy grail aspiration for clergy and church staff. Instead, many of us want to thrive in ministry. Life balance may assist us in our quest to thrive, but it’s role is limited to a contributing factor.

Rather than give technical definitions or descriptions of thriving, I would like to channel perspectives of clergy coaching clients and colleagues who are thriving. Though they don’t use these exact words, these four statements speak for many thriving clergy and church staff.

“I would (and do) recommend this life of vocational ministry to others.”

What rises in you when you engage with someone who has gifts and graces for vocational ministry? What do you say to yourself? When you readily engage them, sharing about the joys and challenges, while suggesting they consider a call to ministry, then you are likely thriving in ministry. When you wouldn’t recommend vocational ministry to anyone you halfway like, then thriving is not likely where you are. Certainly ministry is tough. Most of us have the scars to show for it. Yet when we know we are called, finding ways to thrive within this challenging existence, then we find ourselves recommending vocational ministry to others who may be bent in this direction.

“Were my end to come today, I would look back with fondness, knowing this was a grand way to spend my life.”

There were times along the way I wish I was not called to vocational ministry. The vicissitudes wore me down; becoming so immersed in running the church that I lost the essence of our faith. Perhaps you’ve been there too. Simultaneously, knowing many of you, I’m aware that you wouldn’t choose another way were you given the choice all over again. With reflection, you recognize this was your road to travel. The synchronicity between you and God along with your sense of purpose has remained, clearly convincing you this was your life to live. What will you do with your one precious life (Mary Oliver), one might ask? Those thriving in ministry know they are in the groove, living into the lives to which they are called.

“As I serve, I’m becoming a more developed person and disciple of Jesus.”

Those thriving in ministry can sense it; can even see it… personal growth. They discover they are different people now than five years ago. Those who know them well can see it, too. The channels of love in their lives are deeper, while their abilities to receive love are greater. Through the practice of ministry, their muscles for giving and receiving in relationship grow. Their leadership skills, and even abilities to complete administrative tasks, improve. Over time, those thriving in ministry are witnesses to their own growth as human beings, church professionals, and followers of Jesus. If this work doesn’t change a person, then that person isn’t much into this work.

“There are moments of deep joy and exceptional vocational satisfaction as I serve.”

Not every day. We aren’t looking for heaven on earth. In fact, unrealistic expectations about vocational ministry are either burned away early on or people leave ministry in frustration. No, those thriving in ministry realize that pain and suffering are part of the human condition, as well as vocational ministry. They have their place, contributing to our refinement while deepening the experience. But I digress. Thriving ministers live with a sense of abiding vocational satisfaction. They know serving in God’s vineyard is their calling, receiving more blessing than they give. They recognize people let them into their lives in special ways, unlike other vocational opportunities afford. Those moments of deep joy and vocational satisfaction are truly exceptional for those thriving in ministry.

So what contributes to your thriving? How do we get ourselves there when we are not? I’m pretty sure this article raises questions for many. Those thriving in ministry find ways to answer the questions sufficiently, or at least they learn to live with them in peace-giving ways.

May God bless you as you roll up your sleeves to serve in God’s vineyard this day.