Mission & burnout

Author Ann-Louise Graham looks at how we can stay in ministry without going under

With headlines reminding us that, in the West at least, we’re living in a post-Christian culture, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s also a huge amount being written on ministry and burnout. A quick online search will show, literally, hundreds of books written on the subject. So, what in the world does mission look like in the 21st century? 

Christian mission is arguably how we fulfil God’s purposes in this world, as was demonstrated by Jesus. It’s been suggested that one way to think about that is from the standpoint of the Fall of humankind and the tragic rupture in our relationships with God, with each other, with ourselves and our environment. Scripture – of course – is all about God’s redemptive work in all those relationships. But how do we find our place in that redemptive work without becoming totally overwhelmed and collapsing under the weight of such an immense task?