BARRY WHITWORTH: Hello, BRN Family! It’s good to be with you today!
The Baptist Resource Network hosts a First Steps Gathering twice a year to introduce newly affiliated church leaders and pastors new to the area to the benefits of partnering with the BRN. At this gathering, they learn about pastoral wellness, church resources, the BRN’s mission strategy, cooperative missions, missions housing, and so much more! This time together has proven to be relationally vital, informative, and encouraging to those who attend.
We know we must do all we can to resource and service churches to be as healthy and strong as possible as they engage their community. We also want to help the pastors be as healthy as they can be to lead their congregations and engage their communities with the gospel.
To that end, I would like to introduce you to Bryan Stine, vice president of program development at Full Strength Network. Please listen as he shares about how Full Strength Network helps pastors lead at full strength.
BRYAN STINE: Hello, friends of Baptist Resource Network, my name is Bryan Stine, and I have the privilege of serving as the vice president of program development at Full Strength Network. I just wanted to take a couple of minutes and encourage you and remind you of the exhortation that the Apostle Paul gave to the leaders of the Ephesian Church in Acts 20.
There, he commands them to be on guard for themselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers to shepherd the Church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. To be on guard for yourself is to take care of yourself in a God-honoring way so that you can live and lead at full strength.
When you’re healthy, your church has an opportunity to be healthy as well, but it all starts with you. How are you doing, Pastor? Our mission at Full Strength Network is to equip you with well-being resources so that you can take a proactive approach to being on guard for yourself. Many of you have taken advantage of the coaching and counseling through Full Strength Network. And we are delighted to connect you with quality Christian coaches and therapists, who love working with pastors to meet your unique needs.
If I may, I’d love to highlight a few other well-being resources that maybe you haven’t had a chance to take advantage of quite yet. On your mobile device, you have an opportunity to download an app through the app store called Ministry Pulse. It prompts you to rate your well-being and gives you an opportunity to journal about your day and your week. You can also see insightful trends into your well-being over time, and it can help you uncover any potential unhealthy patterns that might be a problem.
Another resource nobody likes to talk about is money. Personal finances can sometimes be a root cause of a larger issue going on in your life. In fact, we get more requests for marriage counseling than almost any other type of counseling request. But when we peel back that onion, oftentimes, we find that the marriage issues can be a direct relation or correlation to personal financial issues. So we have a financial referral opportunity where we can connect you to a financial coach at no charge to you. Whether you need short-term help or a long-term comprehensive financial plan, we can connect you to someone who can provide professional and confidential financial help.
Last: when was the last time that you took a break and spent some time away? Our respite list provides over 100 locations across the United States that are friendly towards pastors. And they love to host you, your spouse, and your family. If you just need to take a break, we encourage you to check that list out and make plans for a time of respite and renewal.
Baptist Resource Network, we love you, we are praying for you, and we are here for you.
