About the conference itself....

The goal of the conference is twofold, one is to restore those who have left the ministry or are considering leaving the ministry. The second is to provide the tools to help ministers avoid becoming “stressed out” and “burned out.”

The approach is varied. There are lectures, group time, couple counseling and free time.

The lectures are designed to teach the participants how to best deal with the real source of distress in our lives, relationships – with self, God, spouse, family and church. Most ministers have never been taught how to handle their emotions in a healthy way. Most ministers do not really understand why churches do what they do – or how to handle various issues when they arise.

The group time is designed to encourage and allow one to experiment with relating to self and others in a new and better way.
Couples counseling allows couples to express their concerns, questions and issues that they may not wish to disclose in a group setting, for whatever reason and to get some real help.

Free time is provided each afternoon for individuals and couples to process the lecture information, to relax, to have “couple time” and/or commune with God. Most of the time, the conferences are held at the church’s retreat center in Danbury, TX. The setting is a wooded area with several fishing lakes surrounding the lodge.

Participants over the past 19 years have come from some six different countries, about twenty different denominations and total about 800 couples. The vast majority have stated that the conference was a positive life/marriage/ministry changing experience for them. This includes seminary deans, seminary professors, missionaries and ministers of all kinds (pastors, music ministers, youth ministers, church planters, counseling ministers, etc.). The April 2008 conference will be our 85th Stress In The Ministry conference.