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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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