Mental health, in all its various forms, can be a scary, difficult issue to tackle. It can feel shameful and embarrassing to admit that we need help, let alone discuss with another person. It’s not uncommon for church servants to feel as though they must “have it all together” for the sake of the congregation, while struggling with the unique difficulties of ministry. This makes discussing mental health issues and seeking care even harder.
Everybody was a beginner when it came to managing church life in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, in what experts are calling the post-pandemic phase of the virus, church leaders have learned some lessons. We asked church leaders across the PCA to share their insights and have compiled their responses in three quick take-aways.
“It’s surprising that a person in the spotlight can be invisible. That’s how I felt as a pastor’s wife, under constant scrutiny, but unknown. After being married to my husband and serving alongside him for almost 20 years, this past year felt like I had finally hit a stone wall. I could no longer cope with the stress and disappointments of ministry on my own.”