Groups Specifically for Christian Leaders

The Need

In 2022, The Barna Group conducted a study that indicated 42% of pastors were considering leaving full-time ministry. The main reasons for this included “the immense stress of the job”, loneliness and isolation, and political divides within their congregations.

If you’re a Christian leader in a local church or other ministry context, no doubt you’ve felt some of the stress and discouragement that so many others have felt. We know it too—many of us at Watershed have served in church leadership roles as well. Too many Christian leaders feel isolated and burnt out. On top of that, trying to manage that stress and pressure has often bubbled up into hidden sin patterns that wreak havoc on both the leader and the church when it comes to light. As pastors and spiritual leaders, we tend to be gifted at caring for the needs of others while we neglect our own needs.

Sometimes we do this under the conviction of our calling or a theology that (rightly!) suggests that this life will be full of troubles. However, we don’t always acknowledge how disconnection, hiding our struggles, and feeling trapped in isolation and shame are not the way of Jesus. Many of us are willing victims of a church culture that has high performance and ethical demands without providing the means of support and grace when leaders need help.

Our Mission

One of the desires of Watershed Initiative is to create supportive frameworks for Christian leaders within local churches and other ministry contexts that work against patterns of isolation and burnout. We have found that process-oriented support groups, facilitated by trained therapists, can be a healing first step for many leaders. These groups pair you with other leaders from other congregations outside your immediate context.

If you are feeling tired, isolated, or over-stressed in your role as leader, we pray that you’ll take the courageous step to attend to that need. You are a loved son or daughter of God, and we believe He wants you to find help and healing as you continue to serve those entrusted to your care.

Details

• A 6-week group for pastors and ministry leaders starting April 17 through May 22, 2024

• Meetings will take place via Zoom on Wednesdays from 1-2 PM CT

• What you’ll experience: The focus of these groups is to process the experiences of stress, isolation, conflict, or other challenges that leaders face. Group members learn to identify their emotional experience, what they need in the moment, and how to ask for it. As the group builds a sense of connection and trust, members experience the grace of being known and accepted in areas they feel weak. They learn to attune more deeply to the experiences of other members and to refrain from simple answers or quick-fix solutions. As group members practice these new skills, they feel more equipped to implement these new patterns in their own life and church structure.

• Groups will have 5-8 participants from different churches/organizations.

• Note: These groups tend to achieve a higher level of safety when leaders are NOT serving in the same church or context. Therefore, unless specifically requested, we won’t put two people from the same church/org in one group.

• Cost is $210. Register by April 7, 2024.

Meet Your Facilitator

Paul McMullen loves to walk with people as they take next steps in their story. He’s found the deep benefits of counseling and purposeful healing relationships as part of his own growth and therapy work. Paul has always been drawn to depth in relationships, and he’s had numerous experiences connecting with people in their pains and challenges in his work as a pastor and coach.

Paul specializes in psychodynamic and emotionally-focused therapy, particularly in a group setting. He’s benefited from working cross-culturally in a variety of settings with people from diverse ethnicities and with diverse beliefs.

Paul began his career in Christian ministry and has a Master of Divinity degree from Harding School of Theology. He’s specialized in both training and coaching and has a coaching certificate from Mission Alive. He launched WellSpring Process Groups in 2021, a group coaching experience for leaders and for anyone hungry for personal development in a supportive group context.

Paul and his wife Julie have been married for 17 years. They are partners in exploring and enjoying their life and family. They have two active and humorous sons, ages 12 and 10. Paul co-hosts a podcast called Created for Connection. In his downtime, Paul loves reading his wife to sleep, coaching his kids in basketball, sipping coffee, and enjoying good conversations with friends.