February 17, 1999
Turner: Stress of success
can force pastors 'over the edge'
___By Stella Anderson
___Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine
___LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)--Dec. 1, 1995, is a day Len Turner will never forget. It was the day his world came tumbling down around him.
___As pastor of a leading Southern Baptist church in south Georgia, the 48-year-old pastor seemed to be on top of the world.
___Under his leadership, the congregation was seeing hundreds of lost people saved, membership had quadrupled and they were breaking every record in baptisms and giving.
___ Turner's ministry success was one many pastors only dream of.
___But on that winter day three years ago, without warning, Turner gave it all up and walked out the church doors. His abrupt actions shocked his church, family and fellow pastors and quickly resulted in unfounded rumors of scandal and misconduct.
___ Eventually the truth of his departure revealed that the pastor who seemed to have it all on the outside was falling apart on the inside, a consequence of ministry burnout, exhaustion and stress.
___Turner shared his walk through crisis and God's ultimate direction for his life with more than 110 Arkansas Baptist pastors, staff and family members, many of whom have walked in similar shoes.
___ The "Strength Under Stress" conference at Parkway Place Baptist Church in Little Rock was sponsored by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and LifeWay Christian Resources' LeaderCare program.
___During this first-time meeting, Turner and state convention Executive Director Emil Turner reminded conference participants that hope is the central factor in stress and potential burnout in ministry, the theme of the one-day meeting.
___ Brooks Faulkner and Tommy Yessick of LeaderCare offered tips and suggestions for confronting and preventing burnout and stress.
___During his testimony, Len Turner explained the days following his exit from the ministry were ones he would never have fathomed in his wildest dreams.
___He shared that his family and friends persuaded him to admit himself into a Christian health facility.
___His hospitalization resulted in a diagnosis of severe stress, burnout, excessive compulsive disorder and deep personal insecurities.
___Doctors told him he would need long-term counseling and medical help and could not preach or work for at least a year.
___"My doctors said God must really have loved me a lot, because they didn't know how I had made it this far," Turner noted. "They told me I was really sick and that the ball was in my court and only I could decide to let God help me."
___Turner took his doctors' advice and looked to the only One who could offer him hope.
___"I turned it all over to God and asked him to forgive me that it took this to get my attention. I wanted a thorough and complete healing," he shared. "I thought it was all over and finished but God said no. He worked a miracle of nurturing and healing."
___Speaking from his past experiences, Turner reminded the audience God never stops loving and providing for his own.
___ "I'd preached it for years, but didn't know it personally."
___Noting ministers must also learn the real value of family and friends, he emphasized it also is important to remember "when God calls you, he never withdraws that call. If God calls you, you don't have anything to prove but only be approved by the One who made that call."
___Turner warned the audience not to let personal pride, like his, get in the way of admitting problems.
___ He urged them to seek God's guidance and ask for help from fellow ministers during hard times.
___"Don't go over the edge or even to the edge but to God and godly men who can help," he urged.
___ "Jesus paid the price to take us out of it. He's greater than all problems. Take it to him and he will bring ones to encourage and help you."
___Faulkner told the group "forced termination" continues to be a real problem, only a small percentage of which has been a result of immorality.
___Noting getting one's way is not always the answer, he encouraged ministers to discover alternatives to bailing out.
___Faulkner also offered a prescription to avoid termination. He said the medication includes laughter, friendships, childlikeness, recreation and spending time with God.
___ "Like Jesus, we must constantly go away to get perspective and guidance," he said.
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