"While some believers claim that being spiritual is all you need, I want to submit unequivocally that spirituality is not an antidote for the health and overall well-being of a leader, and this requires clarification and must be approached with caution," writes Pastor Bolaji Oladunni, Chairman of the Business Group Fellowship, in this year's Business Group Fellowship convention booklet, themed "Balancing the Call: Burnout, Rest, and the Health of a Leader's Soul" (Matthew 11:28-29).
"In the 3rd epistle of John, the Apostle expressed his letter to Gaius — by extension to all believers — to prioritize the desire to be in good health, and prosper in all things; as his soul prospers. 'The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth' (3 John 1:1-2). The text above immediately suggests that physical health is not just a defining factor of a prosperous soul, but also a critical component. Gaius' prosperous soul was so excellent that John prayed his physical health and well-being would match his spiritual vigor."
Maintaining health and leading effectively. "The ministry assignment is not for the lazy, as it is a busy combination of hard work and brain work, and no leader is beyond this need. To neglect one's health ultimately can have a cascading negative impact on overall effectiveness, because there are so many 'behind-the-scenes' preparation and logistics factored into ministry work to keep things operational. The assignment of ministry, unlike many other professions, is not one where you clock in and clock out. If care is not exercised, the ministry work can lead to mental exhaustion and ultimately burn out."
Recognize burn out. "Our roles often require lots of emotional demand, 'a strong capacity for mind work' which is a function of the heart. The demands of ministry assignment do require intellectual prowess and effective problem-solving skills, which are the core of the brain work. Quite often, many ministers — especially Pastors — are inundated with responsibilities and are always fearful of letting people down, thereby attempting to live up as a 'savior,' forgetting that God Himself has a precedence for humanity; it was scripted in the story of creation that after the seventh day, God rested! It is safe to mention here that wearing many hats without caution is a red flag associated with overburden. It affects individuals, which then results in burnout, and can unfortunately have a downstream harmful impact on the family. Moses would have been a victim of such, if not for the timely counsel" he received — a reminder, Pastor Oladunni notes, that even the most anointed leaders need someone else to help carry the load.
