Episode 87 - Erik's Journey To Personal Pastoral Health

Episode 87 with Erik Anderson is a fast moving account of his journey to pastoral/personal health in ministry. Erik, Jessa, and their beautiful daughter Nosipho do life together in St. Paul, MN. From the Midwest, they spent six years in youth ministry in California before returning to the landlocked middle of the country.

Erik is the Senior High Youth Pastor at Crossroads Church in Woodbury, MN.

If you really want to peek in on #theandersonwayoflife, you can find their blog here! They are a riot! Jessa is a fantastic photographer and you can see some of her work here.

Erik and Jessa are ministry people. They pretty much live for Jesus/Family/Ministry/Kingdom/Love, and we're not sure they always know which sphere they're in!

At the end of the podcast, Erik shares the four ways that he is currently trying to stay healthy in ministry - with you:

1. Get some sleep! We all need it, and we all know it. Erik says to just do it. We certainly cannot function well when we are in constant sleep deficit.
2. Don't rush. Slow down. Don't cram your schedule full of things just to make you feel important. Plan your day with margin. Enjoy life. Breathe. Stand in the sunshine.
3. Do what you love! Doing what you love replenishes and refreshes you. It feeds your soul. Spend some time refueling yourself by doing what YOU love to do, then you will have some abundance to share with others.
4. Get counseling and spiritual coaching. When do you need it? Uh, you need it now! Don't wait until you run out of gas to start looking for a gas station. Everyone needs direction, coaching, advice, encouragement, and help. It's not if you will need it, it's when you will need it. Get it before you actually need it, and maybe you won't actually need it! Get it? :)

Relish episode 87 - it's fun, encouraging, and coming into your life at just the right time!

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If you enjoy this episode, you'll absolutely love Episode 66 - How One Pastor Survived Burnout In His Urban 200church!