Five Stressors Workers Face on the Field

And a little hope for those who are stressed out

Do you ever feel over-stressed on the field? Over the years, I’ve talked to countless people who are stressed out trying to do everything and feeling like they’re never doing enough. No matter how many people they visit, it’s never enough. No matter how much they try, there is always more to do.

Here are just five (plus one) things that can cause workers to have undue stress and anxiety on the field.

1. Who Should I Listen To? 

There can often be such a mermaid of voices speaking into your life and ministry, making it hard to know who to listen to. Five or six different people giving direction from different world views can cause low-grade but constant stress. The field, the team leader, the home office, your home church, your local church, supporters, mentors, coaches. Everyone has a stake in what you are doing, but who should you listen to?

2. Measuring Success

Success usually has one measurement on the field; numbers. How many groups have you started this year? How many people are you discipling? How many generations have your groups multiplied into? We count groups that have formed and how many generations they’ve reproduced on the field. Churches in the West count bodies on seats and weekly offerings to see “how things are going.” There is no way of getting around it. Counting numbers is in our DNA. But this kind of success-measuring in hard places will lead to you being stressed out all the time.

3. Security Issues

The stress of living in a place where you have to worry about being called into the police, or the fear of being “found out,” the fear of being kicked out or not let back into your adopted country all builds up. These low-key micro-stresses can silently build up over long periods of time and do damage to our mental health, physical body, and joy.

4. Messy Discipleship

Discipleship is often described as a straightforward progression, but the reality is it’s incredibly messy. There are too many variables to get the results you want by following a particular method or strategy. And yet, our methods and strategies are peddled as if they are silver bullets. When things don’t go as planned (and they never do), it can cause anxiety and stress to build up, leading to discouragement and burnout.

5. New Gimmicks

The promises of new strategies are always coming and are hard to keep up with. BAM. DMM. CPM. ZUME. CP tracking. Hooks. Stories. Insider movement. Contextualization. Teams. Local leadership. Working with the church. Litterateur. Wide sowing. Social media. Short-term teams. Trainings. Tools. Prayer Mapping. Signs and wonders. Deliverance ministries. Houses of prayer. People of Peace. Kingdom Circles. The Latin Americans. The Chinese. The Algerians. The Global South. Every year it’s something new. Every year there is a new gimmick that we are told is the key to seeing results. Inevitably they never produce the results promised. We then find ourselves asking, “What did I do wrong?” Or, “How could I have done more or better?” There is no silver bullet, and trying to find “the thing” that will work will lead to an over-dependence on your efforts and how well you are implementing new strategies. This can only lead to frustration and tension in your ministry.

6. I’m Not Good At Everything

Sometimes it feels like we are asked to do and be good at everything. Train new workers. Disciple locals who have no background in Christianity. Teach local MBBs and CBBs. Be a great leader. Be a great developer of people. Be a great public speaker. Start a media project. Write profound and exciting newsletters and blogs. Start a transformational business. Start and lead an NGO. Raise your own financial support. Most workers who come out to the field who are not super entrepreneurs will feel the immense pressure to do and be amazing at things they are just not built for.

Some Good News

 I could have added way more, but this article is already getting too long.

The good news is that by identifying what is causing your stress and anxiety, you can work to mitigate it.

Here are a few things that might help you find some rest and peace.

Say No

Remember, it’s ok to say no. Saying a lot of nos will give you the opportunity to say a few strong yeses. Even our Lord Jesus said no to really good opportunities (Mark 1:35-38). He left whole groups of people who wanted healing and went away to pray (Luke 5:15-16).

Don’t Worry About Results 

Christ said he would build his church, so don’t try to take on a role he never gave you. You are called to be obedient to God’s calling on your life, not to results. God is in control, not you. Let that beautiful truth bring rest to your heart and mind.

Don’t Chase Fads 

There are no silver bullets, so don’t buy into new fads, gimmicks, and trends as if they are. Never trust in a method, vision, or strategy; trust that God will use you in ways you cannot understand and maybe will never see.

Be Ok With Slow 

Being ok with slow and messy are superpowers that anyone can achieve. Jesus never mentioned anything about fast and was never interested in it. Jesus was ok with slow and sloppy, and we should be too.

Remember the Gospel 

Remember that the Gospel is the Good News of what Christ has done, not what you are doing. Rest in the Gospel. Rest in the completed works of Christ, that he is in control, and that he will not fail no matter what your ministry looks like.