When Tommy Yessick seeks to explain "overload syndrome," he asks persons to imagine their lives as a rubber band stretched to the limit.   One more tug - one more activity added to one’s schedule - and the rubber band will pop.   Overload syndrome. When Tommy Yessick seeks to explain "overload syndrome," he asks persons to imagine their lives as a rubber band stretched to the limit.   One more tug - one more activity added to one’s schedule - and the rubber band will pop.   Overload syndrome.   "We in America tend to not realize that we can be stretched until we can’t go anymore, so, we add one more thing," said Yessick, minister wellness specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "That’s what leads to our mounting stress."   Persons must begin to consider their activities, Yessick insisted. "Think of all the things you do at church, for your kids, for your family, for the community. Now, think of all the things you think you should be doing."   Persons then should consider their attitudes toward their daily activities, Yessick continued. "What type of attitude do you have as you approach all of your … [Read more...]

Being a caregiver himself, Barney Self knows the causes and the symptoms of a malady he refers to as "compassion fatigue."   Generally, it is caused when one has become so involved in providing care to others that they become emotionally and spiritually exhausted, he said. Being a caregiver himself, Barney Self knows the causes and the symptoms of a malady he refers to as "compassion fatigue."   Generally, it is caused when one has become so involved in providing care to others that they become emotionally and spiritually exhausted, he said.   "A caregiver is always at risk of compassion fatigue," noted Self, a licensed family and marriage therapist and LeaderCare counselor for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   "For everybody who does caregiving, there is a threat of burning out. Our only protection is our willingness to be honest with ourselves about what our level of health is."   Self said one way he handles potential burnout is by refusing to counsel people on Fridays or weekends - unless it is a dire emergency. He said he also avoids movies. "I can’t get all wrapped up in the emotions of movies," he noted. "I have to save my … [Read more...]

Combatting and overloading: For ministers and others alike, life can be stressful - but there are means of offsetting the harmful effects   Editor’s Note: These articles on ministerial burnout, stress and means of combatting overload in one’s life are by Terri Lackey from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   When Barney Self gets a call in the middle of the night, his heart does not thump out of his chest. He figures it is a distressed pastor, and he knows he must remain calm. Combatting and overloading: For ministers and others alike, life can be stressful - but there are means of offsetting the harmful effects   Editor’s Note: These articles on ministerial burnout, stress and means of combatting overload in one’s life are by Terri Lackey from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.   When Barney Self gets a call in the middle of the night, his heart does not thump out of his chest. He figures it is a distressed pastor, and he knows he must remain calm.   "When a person actually picks up the phone and calls the 1-888 help line number, he or she has exhausted all the other resources out there," said Self, a … [Read more...]

For the week of August 29, 2002 Time of prayer As the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, leaders of New Hope New York are asking pastors to consider leading their congregations in a special time of prayer for the needs that remain in the city. The effort is being coordinated through PrayNewYork.com, a Web site allowing individuals to sign on as prayer partners for the city, its people and outreach efforts that will take place during the next few years. New Hope New York is the name of the Southern Baptist Strategic Focus Cities effort in New York, which is developing strategies for prayer, church planting, church strengthening, pastoral leadership development and collegiate ministry efforts that will take place primarily in 2004 and 2005. Prayer guides are available free for churches to use in their Sept. 11 emphasis. For details, call (212) 580-0655 or download the prayer guide at www.praynewyork.com Web site. Other resources for Sept. 11 services are available at www.namb.net/911. Missouri executive David Clippard, 53, was scheduled to be presented Aug. 27 as the unanimous recommendation for the new executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Clippard currently is serving … [Read more...]

When asked to describe welfare, terms like slums, poverty and hunger often come to mind. In turn, many people know little about the welfare reform of 1996.   Indeed, often, those who need welfare most are unsure how to obtain it.   "The main reason the subject of welfare is so difficult for many in our society is the sheer lack of information and knowledge," said Rolland Slade, a national missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in the area of welfare back to work evangelism ministries. When asked to describe welfare, terms like slums, poverty and hunger often come to mind. In turn, many people know little about the welfare reform of 1996.   Indeed, often, those who need welfare most are unsure how to obtain it.   "The main reason the subject of welfare is so difficult for many in our society is the sheer lack of information and knowledge," said Rolland Slade, a national missionary for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in the area of welfare back to work evangelism ministries.   The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is a reform plan that requires work in exchange for … [Read more...]

While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers.   These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level.   The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state. While many poverty-stricken people of Louisiana struggle to survive, Louisiana Baptists are doing their part to help at least some of those in need by providing hope and care centers.   These ministry centers operate to meet clothing, food and other needs that arise for those living at or below the poverty level.   The centers operate out of storefronts in many locations around the state.   Other services some of the centers offer include English as a Second Language training, reading and writing programs, pregnancy counseling and tutoring of school children.   Louisiana Baptist Convention Director of Mission Ministries John Hebert said the hope and care centers "were created in response to a need.   "We had more impoverished people in the state per … [Read more...]

As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion.   However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean.   "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. As it has with other segments of society, the Internet now may be changing the face of organized religion.   However, what is not so certain is what the changes are - and what they will mean.   "Only God knows what the future will be like for religion on the Internet, ..." said Scott Thumma, a staff person with the Hartford Institute for Religion Research.   "And there are times that I think even God is a bit baffled by it," he quipped in a spring address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.   Joking aside, Thumma suggested the Internet could impact the dynamics of local congregations, even a church’s identity.   However, the Internet phenomenon still is in its early stages as far as religion is concerned - and it will be several years before observers will be able to gauge … [Read more...]

There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality.   Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer.   And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems. There is no denying that the Internet has opened a wide world of information for users - including when it comes to religion and spirituality.   Unfortunately, of course, there is no denying that sex currently rules online, with millions of pornographic sites available to the undisciplined surfer.   And just as unfortunate, there is no denying that the very nature of the Internet creates problems.   After all, anyone can post anything at all, which means it is left to the visitor to determine if the information made available is reliable or not.   In addition, the very manner of searching about a particular topic can be troublesome. For example, searching for "Christianity" may return a few millions sites - but how many are pro-Christian and how many are … [Read more...]

Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two) Re: Teen sexual activity report (Baptist Message, April 15, 2002, Page Two)   The questions being asked of teenagers in these surveys are worded in such a way that we get false results. "Are you having sex?" To the average teenager, that means sexual intercourse. They (like a former president) don’t consider anything else sex.   As a pregnancy resource counselor, I deal with hundreds of clients a month, many of them teenagers, and they think that abstinence is "how far can I go without intercourse?"   We need to ask the right questions to get the whole picture.   April Bolgiano Leesville … [Read more...]

For the week of August 29, 2002 Potpourri • SHREVEPORT - Pinecroft church: True Heart in concert; Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m.; Gary Melanson, minister of music; Marty J. Wright, pastor.   • BOGALUSA - Superior Avenue church: "Miracle Mondays," at 6 p.m.; guest speakers are as follows: Sept. 9- Chuck Kelley; Sept. 16- R. Alan Jackson; Sept. 23- Leo Day; Sept. 30- Waylon Bailey; J. T. Wright, Jr., pastor.   • FOREST HILL - Calvary church: Mark Lanier in concert; Sept. 1, 6 p.m.; Mike Evans, minister of music; Joel McMickin, pastor.   • DRY CREEK - Dry Creek camp: "See You at the Pole" rally; Sept. 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m.; bring picnic lunch; recreation activities available during picnic; for information, call (337) 328-7531; Curt Iles, camp manager.   • RAYVILLE - Eastside church: "Chalk Art for Christ" presentation; Aug. 31, 7 p.m.; Kyle Coates, pastor.   • HARRISONBURG - First church: "Kingdom Family" rally; Sept. 7, 7 p.m.; J.J. Jasper, from American Family Radio, to speak; Ralph Webber, pastor. Revivals • CAMERON - Johnson Bayou church: Sept. 8, 10:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sept. 9-11, 7 p.m.; Jack Daniels, evangelist; Greg Trahan, music; Les Fogleman, pastor.   • … [Read more...]