Pastors Need to Play

MOST PASTORS are very busy people. Time in personal prayer and Bible study, organization of materials and sermon preparation, and the preaching of sermons on Sunday are all prerequisites to serving as a pastor. In addition to these essentials, many Christian ministers are also expected to conduct services during the week. These activities could include presenting devotional messages, directing worshippers in a study of Bible passages, or leading in prayer meetings.

.

Counseling in spiritual matters, or for personal problems; the visitation of church members in the hospital; and, the conducting of weddings and funerals are also requirements for most pastors. Many of those who serve in the pastorate also have administrative and staff leadership responsibilities; they are often called upon for additional teaching and speaking engagements; and, they often sense a necessity to meet the needs and expectations of deacons or elders, various church committees, and individual church members. Generally speaking, many pastors - according to their own interpretation of the job description - are "on call" on a 24/7 time schedule.

Serving as the pastor of a church - especially one with 300 members or more - can be overwhelming. Some denominations report that "burn-out" is a problem among those in the pastorate. On occasion word reaches news sources concerning pastors who have lost their position, health, marriage, family - or everything - due to the stress and strain caused by long hours and the other demands of the job.

What is a possible solution to the circumstances described above? A pastor who serves in southwest Missouri believes he has an answer. "I give myself 'permission to recreate' on a daily basis," says Billy Russell. "I am responsible to take care of myself. And, I have come to realize that I need to spend more time with my family than I spend in work-related duties."

Billy Russell believes that he can be a better person, a better husband, a better father, and a better pastor, if he schedules time to play. In Billy's mind, "play" is a broad term that includes a variety of activities which are enjoyed during leisure. For example, Billy exercises or works-out on a daily basis - even while on vacation. He also reads every day - something in addition to work-related material - usually a novel or something fun. For pure relaxation, Billy loves listening to jazz.

.

Game nights and movie nights with his family, and getting together with friends, are high on Billy Russell's list of favorite leisure activities. Travel - whether short day trips or vacations -provides enjoyment for the entire Russell family. Time with wife Regina and son Zachary, together and separately, are priorities for Billy. Some of these times are spontaneous. But, this pastor has learned that it is necessary to actually calendar "time away" from his ministerial duties in order to preserve personal and family leisure plans.

.

This pastor knows that he has been called by God to the work of Christian ministry. However, he also realizes that he has been called to refrain from work on regular intervals. Using Christ as his example, Billy sees the value in retreating from the press of duties and responsibilities in order to return - better prepared - to ministry assignments. Billy Russell has discovered that pastors need to play!

_____

-- Pictured above is Rev. Billy Russell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bolivar, Mo.

Recreation: Work & Leisure Enjoyment

KIM NICAS wears several hats! She's a wife. She's a mother of three children. She's involved in her church and community. And, she's a full-time recreation professional.

.

Creighton, a small town in west-central Missouri, is the place where Kim grew-up. She attended Southwest Baptist University where she earned a bachelor's degree in church recreation. Graduate studies took her to the University of Missouri for a master's degree in parks, recreation, and tourism. Recreation internships and summer jobs found Kim in Little Rock, Arkansas, and in the Missouri cities of Harrisonville and Columbia. Her career really started in Warrensburg, Missouri where she joined the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department in 1993. Today, she is the city's Superintendent of Recreation. Kim, and husband B. J., are the proud parents of Mallory 8, Derek 3, and Molly 3.

.

In addition to her work for the city of Warrensburg, Kim serves as an adjunct instructor of recreation at the University of Central Missouri. She is an active member of the Missouri Park and Recreation Association, and she has been a board member for three years for the Johnson County United Way. Also, Kim is a member of the Grover Park Baptist Church where she serves on several committees and assists with recreation and social events.

.

"My favorite leisure activities include my family," Kim says. "But, I also enjoy my own personal recreation." Picnics, swimming, day trips to the zoo or area parks, fun in the backyard, shopping in nearby cities, and going to grandma's house heads the list of family fun. Walking, puttering in the yard, crafts, and scrapbooking top Kim's list of personal free time activities. Whenever possible, Kim and B. J. schedule a recreation event just for the two of them - even if it's just lunch together one day a week. Kim reported that a few years ago she played a lot of volleyball and softball, but now says that walking and swimming are more appealing!

.

Kim Nicas has many demands for her time and attention - but she has somehow learned to juggle her many responsibilities and keep everything afloat. Even as a practitioner in the field of recreation, Kim finds time for her own recreation and leisure activities. She is a recreation administrator and leader who has learned that she - along with everyone else - desperately needs the refreshment that recreation brings to the body, mind, and spirit. Kim Nicas is a recreator who recreates!

__________

-- Kim Nicas, pictured above, enjoys her work - and her leisure!