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Jen Bradbury
Oct 18 · 5 min read

A New Metric

During a recent organizational assessment I did through Arbor Research Group, I asked one of the ministry’s leaders how critical it was for his staff to recruit and equip adult leaders. In response, he said, “When they get their job description,...

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#burnout #Leaders #church #maternity leave #youth pastor #Arbor Research Group #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Apr 21 · 5 min read

Review: The Gift of Hard Things by Mark Yaconelli

Filed in Book Review

The Yaconelli name is a familiar one to those in youth ministry. Mike Yaconelli was one of the founders of Youth Specialties and a legend in the youth ministry world. His son, Mark, is also a recognized figure in the youth ministry world.

One of...

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#story #burnout #joy #marriage #parenting #books

Jen Bradbury
Jun 30 · 5 min read

Rest

Today, I'm linking up with Kate Motaung's Five Minute Friday. The rules: Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

This week's prompt: Rest.

Five Minute Friday 4 300x300

I woke up with a migraine yesterday, the worst I've had in a long...

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#burnout #youth ministry #Missions #writing #student leadership #books #Arbor Research Group #babies #parenting #enough

Jen Bradbury
Mar 16 · 5 min read

8 strategies for coping with burnout while at home

Recently, we talked about 11 signs you might be burning out.

Unfortunately, as you know, it's not enough to simply recognize you're burning out. Instead, you have to proactively deal with burnout both while you're at work and when you're at home....

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#burnout #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 09 · 5 min read

9 ways of coping with burnout while you're at work

Last week, we talked about 11 signs you might be burning out.

Unfortunately, it's not enough to simply recognize you're burning out. Instead, you have to proactively deal with burnout. Next week, we'll explore strategies for coping with burnout...

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#burnout #youth ministry management #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 02 · 5 min read

11 Signs You're Burning Out

There are a few times a year when I hit a ministry slump: January / February and then again in August.

In both cases, exhaustion contributes to my slump. I enter January exhausted from the holidays only to then go full-throttle into two of my...

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#burnout #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Feb 01 · 5 min read

What's saving my life right now (2016 edition)

Last night, I mentioned to my husband in passing, "Tomorrow's the first day in weeks I feel like I have some breathing room in my schedule." 

For me, January is always a sprint - one of the busiest months of my ministry year. To make matters...

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#parenting #babies #breastfeeding #burnout #Huntington #research #Arbor Research Group #refugee #Jesus gap #Jesus

Jen Bradbury
Dec 03 · 5 min read

4 Reasons to Take Sunday Off

In a recent meeting, my senior pastor reminded our staff that the church is supposed to be countercultural. One way we can be countercultural is by helping people slow down and linger.

One way to do that, in turn, especially in a youth ministry...

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#Sabbath #burnout #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Aug 20 · 5 min read

How to prepare for the fall

I snapped at my boss yesterday.

I realized it a few hours later and sent him an apology in which I also said, “I’m operating out of a place of depletion and stress right now.”

That’s not an excuse. It’s more a confession of my current reality.

At...

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#Sabbath #burnout #grief #youth ministry

Jen Bradbury
Mar 12 · 5 min read

It's not a badge of honor

My first year in ministry, I lost track of how often I heard someone say, “I can’t believe you don’t burnout.”

At the time, I wore these words as a badge of honor. I heard in them affirmation for all I was doing and for the fullness of our...

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#burnout #youth ministry

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Latest Posts

  • A New Metric
  • Review: The Gift of Hard Things by Mark Yaconelli
  • Rest
  • 8 strategies for coping with burnout while at home
  • 9 ways of coping with burnout while you're at work
  • 11 Signs You're Burning Out
  • What's saving my life right now (2016 edition)
  • 4 Reasons to Take Sunday Off
  • How to prepare for the fall
  • It's not a badge of honor

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