Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic
Anne Jackson
Zondervan, 2009, 190 pp., $16.99
madchurchdisease.com
If you’re not suffering from mad church disease, the burnout epidemic chasing many of today’s pastors and church leaders from God’s house, chances are it’s affecting someone you know. Author Anne Jackson contracted the virus after growing up a PK, taking a few all-consuming ministry jobs and incurring deep hurt from church leaders she trusted.
Drawing from that well of experience, plus revealing interviews with leading pastors, the 30-something expounds on the internal and external risk factors of burnout, provides handy checklists of burnout symptoms and reveals recovery principles to guide readers into much-needed rest. Especially valuable are discussions of depression, boundary-setting and physical health.
Though at times spiritually simplistic, the book’s relatable anecdotes (workaholic Jackson used to check her Blackberry from the shower), as well as crucial diagnostics, administer a healing dose of self-awareness and hope to volunteers, seasoned pastors and everyone in between.
