burnout preventing contact The Ministry Magazine of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary | Summer ’15 | Vol. 43 No. 2 | Preventing Burnout contact Editor’s Note: Welcome to our inaugural The Ministry Magazine of e-version of Contact, Gordon-Conwell’s ministry Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary magazine. Throughout the year, you will continue Summer ’15 | Vol. 43 No. 2 | Preventing Burnout to receive print editions, and have access to an additional online-only version. This will enable us Director of Communications and Marketing to provide you with more features, articles by Mr. Michael L. Colaneri Reflections from the President faculty and information about the seminary. We welcome your input as we seek to keep you informed Senior Communications Advisor Contact about God’s work through GCTS, our faculty, staff, and Editor of My soul is weary with sorrow; Mrs. Anne B. Doll students and alumni. Please tell us what you think at oday’s drop-out rate among pastors and missionaries is alarmingly [email protected]. strengthen me according to your word. Communications Specialist / Project Manager high. It is sad to think that if the current trend continues, 50 percent Mrs. Jennifer A. Drummond psalm 119:28 of students now in seminaries will drop out of the vocation to which Manager of Creative Services T Ms. Nicole S. Rim they believe God has called them. Inquiries regarding Contact may be addressed to: Editor, Contact The factors leading to this troubling reality are usually centered in three Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary 130 Essex Street, S. Hamilton, MA 01982 main areas: moral failure (frequently related to money, sex or power); [email protected] www.gordonconwell.edu inability to deal with conflicts that emerge in ministry; or emotional and 978.468.7111 spiritual burnout. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national or contents ethnic origin, age, handicap or veteran status. At Gordon-Conwell, we are seeking to address each of these potential stumbling blocks as we prepare men and women for the vast array of features news ministries to which God is calling them—pastoral, missions, counseling, teaching, para-church and the market place. In this issue we probe emotional 4 on the front lines: Helping Child Soldiers 18 what's new? and spiritual burnout, with a recognition that there are practical steps we all Recover from the Traumas of War board of trustees co-founder and By Anne B. Doll Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger, trustee emeritus can take to remain faithful to God’s calling. 28 President Dr. William F. Graham Rev. Dr. John A. Huffman, Pastoral Burnout: A More Common Jr., Chairman president and 8 Rev. Dr. Claude R. Alexan- trustee emeritus God has created us whole beings in which the physical, emotional, relational Problem than You Might Think reach der, Jr., Vice Chairman Dr. Robert E. Cooley By Ken Swetland Dr. Shirley A. Redd, and spiritual dimensions are deeply intertwined. To care for ourselves Secretary president emeritus 24 beyond our doors: Adam Stephens Mr. Ivan C. Hinrichs, Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. spiritually without recourse to physical or emotional care is to fail God and articles Treasurer president’s cabinet to fail ourselves. Conversely, to care for ourselves physically or relationally 25 advancement news: With Sincere Gratitude Mr. Joel B. Aarsvold Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger, without the spiritual and emotional care is also to fail our Lord and his calling 14 A Pastor's Perspective on Clergy Burnout By Kurt W. Drescher Mrs. Linda S. Anderson President By Anne B. Doll Dr. Diana Curren Bennett Mr. Kurt W. Drescher, Rev. Dr. Garth T. Bolinder Vice President of in our lives. Preventing burnout calls us to a life of discipline, including Mr. R. Bruce Bradley Advancement those spiritual disciplines that continually enable intimacy with Christ. Rev. Dr. Richard P. Camp Dr. Mark Harden, alumni Dr. Stan D. Gaede Dean of the Boston Campus Mrs. Joyce Godwin Dr. Timothy Laniak, Mrs. Sharon Fast Gustafson Dean of the Charlotte May God grant to us both the wisdom and strength to live balanced lives 28 alumni update Rev. Dr. Michael B. Haynes Campus Mr. Herbert P. Hess Dr. Richard Lints, with the Triune God at the center of every dimension. May we follow our Mr. Caleb Loring, III Vice President for 29 alumni profile: Carmen Imes Mrs. Joanna Mockler Academic Affairs Lord’s example, who as a young man, “Grew in wisdom and stature, and in Dr. Charles W. Pollard Dr. Alvin Padilla, Mr. Fred L. Potter Dean of Hispanic Ministries favor with God and man” (Lk. 2:52). 32 alumni news & notes Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr. Ms. Robin Higle, Mrs. Virginia M. Snoddy Executive Director for The Jacksonville Campus is hosting an Rev. Dr. David D. Swanson Organizational Effectiveness Dr. Joseph W. Viola and Human Resources Inaugural Fall Gala, held at the River Club, Rev. Dr. John H. Womack, Sr. Mr. Jay Trewern, reflections Dr. William C. Wood Vice President for Finance downtown Jacksonville, on September 24th. The and Operations / CFO emeriti members Dennis P. Hollinger, Ph.D. evening will include dinner and an auction with 34 In Memoriam: Elisabeth Elliot Dr. Richard A. Armstrong Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford President & proceeds benefitting the Jacksonville Campus. Mr. Roland S. Hinz Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics 35 opening the word: An Ever-present Help in Trouble Mr. Richard D. Phippen Contact Adam ([email protected]) for more By David Currie Rev. Dr. Paul E. Toms specifics regarding this Jazz-themed event. features features on the front lines HELPING CHILD SOLDIERS RECOVER FROM THE TRAUMAS OF WAR ANNE B. DOLL 4 contact | summer 2015 summer 2015 | contact 5 features features “It’s a very difficult ministry,” he adds. “It’s a desperate is- 13,538 suspected, probable and confirmed cases; 8,697 lab- sue to work with them, because they think what they did oratory-confirmed cases; and 3,952 deaths in that country. URING THE CIVIL WAR THAT RAGED THROUGHOUT was wicked, and that if God is good, he wouldn’t have let it happen.” Franklyn says the Ebola epidemic has ravaged his coun- SIERRA LEONE FROM 1991 TO 2002, ALUMNUS try and affected his entire town. He has lost family mem- D In 2009, prompted by the enormous needs of the children bers, friends and church members to the disease. “When it with whom he was working, Franklyn enrolled at Gor- started, there was no good education or physician. People FRANKLYN JUSU MACAVORAY WITNESSED YOUNG don-Conwell, ultimately earning both an M.A. in Educa- stayed inside; they were afraid of the Ebola.…When they tional Ministries (2011) and an M.A. in Counseling/Mental got sick, they were afraid to talk about it, because when CHILDREN AND ADULTS GUNNED DOWN BEFORE HIS Health Track (2013). He also holds an M.A. in Theology Ebola came to Freetown and people shared openly about from the University of Sierra Leone, and is a pastor. it, everyone was traumatized, not knowing what to do. As VERY EYES. such, they were very much prepared to die. Now they are Since the founding of YRI, counseling has, of necessity, coming out for help.” taken place in a child’s home or at a church. But many His two younger brothers were abducted by Revolution- Responding to that commission, Franklyn founded and now children have no home and/or no family members who Currently there is no cure for Ebola, no effective medi- ary United Front (RUF) rebels and hauled into the bush, directs a ministry, Youth Recovery Initiative (YRI), located will welcome them back. cines, no vaccine. Medications that are used are very ex- there to be drugged, brainwashed and turned into child near Freetown and in his hometown of Bo. He and the pro- pensive. Hospitals have been overwhelmed, lacking suf- soldiers able to kill, maim, rape and gang rape innocent gram’s six staff members have helped 200 young people “Kids originally lived in resettlement camps, but were later ficient staff, laboratories and facilities for detecting and people with impunity. A favorite torture technique was to traumatized by the war. Moreover, a very successful Inter- demobilized and reintegrated into the society,” Franklyn treating the disease. Average mortality rate is 50 percent chop off limbs. national Training of these young people in different spheres explains. “Most parents are fearful to accommodate their among those contracting Ebola. of life, supported by Gordon-Conwell alumnus Dr. Kenneth children because of what was unleashed on them during Franklyn says his father died from the stress of losing ev- G. Arndt (D.Min. ’12), also added value to the ministry’s the war. Girl soldiers who had been raped by their cap- “Ebola is still on the ground, up to now,” Franklyn com- erything when dissidents stormed and plundered his vil- endeavor. Franklyn says they started the ministry because tors face particular stigma when they attempt to return ments. “The government passed a law that if people get lage, killing relatives, neighbors and friends. During the some of the children had lost their parents and their homes to their homes. As a result, many resort to prostitution or Ebola, they can be assured they will get care if they go violent, 11-year war, upwards of 30,000 boys and girls and had no place to go. Nor, in many instances, was it safe reconnect with the rebels who had abused them. for help. But for people living in the country, it is very were forced to become child solders. Most were between for them to return to their own villages. difficult because they are not allowed to move around as the ages of seven and nine.