“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit".” 3 John 1:2

Physical health is an essential part of a ministers overall health that is often overlooked in ministry. When you're physically healthy, you have the strength and energy to be ready for anything that God may call you to. Working for God is great, but it's not a substitute for properly stewarding and caring for the health of your body, mind, and emotions. Pastors who feel healthy across their lives are likely to have a more positive outlook on their ministry as well. So, pastors who want to serve their churches well should commit time to their physical health.

Take advantage of resources provided by the Network to be physically healthy:

• Retreats

• Adventure trips

• Prioritize a Sabbatical

• Cabins available at Granite Hills Campground

• Health coaches

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5

When was the last time you asked God to make you wise?

We cannot overlook the need to take care of our own intellectual health and spiritual growth, as well. Intellectual health is just as important as physical and emotional health, and we cannot lead others if we are not continually developing our own knowledge, skills and understanding. When we neglect our intellectual health, we run the risk of becoming stagnant in our ministry. We may become too reliant on our previous experiences and lose sight of new perspectives. All through God's Word we see that we are to desire growth so that we can fulfill the call on our lives.

Intellectual health is also essential for the longevity of our ministry, and learning new skills and ideas can have immeasurable benefits. By investing in our intellectual health, we can better equip ourselves to lead with wisdom, conviction, and authenticity in our churches and communities. So let's commit to a life of continued learning and growth, fulfilling our roles to the best abilities.

Take advantage of resources provided by the Network to be intellectually healthy:

• Zoom book studies

• Leadership development

• ASOM classes

“He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3

“It’s impossible to be spiritually mature, while remaining emotionally immature.” -Pete Scazzaro

How is your soul? Are you experiencing joy in your life?

Are you processing emotions well?

Are you honest about anger, frustration, and disappointments?

Is Psalm 23:3 a reality to you?

Being emotionally healthy is giving God control of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We have His ability to cope with life’s ups and downs. Emotionally healthy ministers are aware of their emotions and have His power to deal with everyday situations and traumatic experiences. Ministers with good emotional health can also understand and manage the emotions of others.

Take advantage of resources provided by the Network to be emotionally healthy:

• Pastoral Care Team

• Zoom meetings aimed at emotional health and healing

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17

70% of pastors do not have a close friend

Ministry can be lonely and difficult. Ministers need someone they can talk with openly, frankly, and candidly. They need someone who they can be real with, someone with whom they can be totally transparent. Finding real friends in our local churches that we minster at can be difficult at times. It is said that "Most people will lose 5 to 7 significant relationships over the course of their lifetime, but pastors lose 5 to 7 significant relationships per year." Maybe you know this to be true in your life. Maintaining social health includes prioritizing a variety of healthy relationships that bring life and healing to a leader. We pray that you regularly connect with other ministry leaders to stay connected and grow as "iron sharpens iron.'

Take advantage of resources provided by the Network to be socially healthy:

• Marriage retreat

• Marriage Zoom

• Minister adventure trips

• Section meet-ups / roundtables

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Pastor, your overall health is dependent on you being connected to, rooted in, and abiding in Christ. As ministers, we all have a high calling. To guard and cultivate that, we have to maintain our spiritual health. Spiritual health is intertwined with a balance of physical, intellectual, emotional, and social health. Staying connected to God and others is paramount to spiritual health.

But just as the greatest athletes in the world still need coaches, don't let your spiritual health slide for fear of judgment. Share your struggles with an accountability partner, change the routine of your devotional time if it's getting stale, enlist the help of coaches or spiritual directors, and make use of dedicated respite times. This area of life fuels your ministry, and if you're running on empty, chances are your ministry is too.

Take advantage of resources provided by the Network to be spiritually healthy:

• Network Conference

• Zoom calls

• Renewal Conference

• Desert Fathers Retreat