alright, so a few times in the last week, i mentioned i am working on a little project and was planning on telling you about it on friday. well, i can’t wait to tell you anymore!
there is one condition – and that is that YOU must keep it a secret (via means of blogging and email) until July 2, and then that is where i’ll need your help.
deal? … okay.
i am writing a book. not “oh, i want to write a book” but in the sense that things are already written, interviews are being scheduled and conducted with people, some art direction is complete, i am in some very early discussions with a couple of publishers, and there’s even a website that will be launching on july 2.
the book is (currently) titled mad church disease, and discusses the ministry burnout epidemic that is killing church staff, volunteers and their families left and right.
(why is it called mad church disease? read here.)
it will also have insights from pastors (and not just “famous” ones), but volunteers, families, and stories of redemption and healing. THIS EPIDEMIC HAS TO BE STOPPED!
as i mentioned earlier, the website will be publicly launched july 2. but what i am really looking forward to, and WHAT I NEED YOUR HELP WITH is this…
a big part of the book is research. there have not been any comprehensive, indepth studies that take the temperature of “ministry burnout” for all three groups: church staff, families/spouses of church staff, and volunteers.
on the mad church disease website, these three surveys will go live and it is my goal to get 5000 respondants to the surveys.
(you can read more about the surveys here.)
what god brought to my attention the other night (here) about getting the “right people” to help drive people to the survey site on july 2 was that although there may be some made up “A LIST” of bloggers and leaders – how BLIND i was for not telling you guys about this project.
why would a pastor of some top 100 listed “well known” church who doesn’t know me get involved (and why should i care if he doesn’t care?) when right in front of me i have YOU…you who have prayed for me, laughed with me, challenged me, encouarged me? YOU are MY “A LIST” people. so i apologize to you for being blinded by my own desires!
this is the deal. i am asking anyone that would like to fight mad church disease, to sign up as what i call a “trailblazer” – pretty much these trailblazers are people who are committing to blitzing their universe (by posting a link to the site/survey on their blog on july 2, emailing their friends, etc.).
to read more about becoming a trailblazer, you can go here to this link and if you want to, sign up.
on sunday, i will send everyone who’s signed up some graphics, text, and links to use (as much or as little of) so you can help direct people to take the surveys. it would me SO much to me if I had your help!
i know that’s a lot of information, and i do ask you wait until monday, july 2 to post anything or write anything but if you have questions or comments, i’d love to discuss them with you so feel free to comment below on this post.
and for your quick reference:
Trailblazer Page (it’s hidden)
phew! now that it’s off my chest, i really look forward to your feedback.
Comments
32 responses to “i am really bad at keeping secrets”
*shock and awe* ;)
this situation recently happened to my dad and has affected my family greatly. i’m so happy someone has decided to come out into the open about this hush-hush hidden topic. i would love for me, my dad, or my family (or all of us) to be interviewed. i will be talking to my family about this soon as i get more details.
Drew,
I am so sorry to hear about that. I see you have signed up to be a Trailblazer (thank you!) and will be contacting you in a couple of days. Thanks for your willingness to share your story.
Anne
“…when right in front of me i have YOU…you who have prayed for me, laughed with me, challenged me, encouarged me? YOU are MY “A LIST” people.”
Good for you, Anne. Incredible realization. *smile*
You will have a bunch of my prayer team friends supporting you on this endeavor, as soon as you give the word to tell them . . .
What this little Hillwilliam in Tennessee can do to help – you’ve got me. Born and raised in traditional United Methodist and transitioning to a Southern Baptist church with a revolving exit door makes this a subject I am very interested in and wanting to help. I see what our pastor has to go through, what all pastors are going through, and it makes my hear ache.
I am with you, Mrs. Jackson!
Bill – thanks, I can only chalk it up to actualy shutting up and listening to God for a bit…
Melinda-
Ha. I love your comment and thank you for all of the prayers you have sent my way recently!
Mattchews-
I don’t know what a Hillwilliam is, but I know you rock! :) Thank you so much for always being there!
Hey again! I’m so excited about what you’re doing and I will sign up to help you out! How cool will it be to have a published book??? (sorry for being “shallow”, but I think it would be awesome to be published!) I’m looking forward to the impact this will have on so many.
Jenn-
Thanks again! :) It would be cool to have a published book, I won’t lie – that would be a dream come true. My deepest, deepest desire (even if it means I publish it myself) is just that somehow God will truly speak through whatever I write and that those who are hurt will be restored, and given hope…and that we can take a good, honest look at ourselves and see what’s killing us…
I’m in; whatever I can do to help…
I feel strongly about this subject; ever since I heard a ministry leader tell the congregation that “sometimes we have to sacrifice family on the altar of ministry…”
If I knew how to read, I would be REALLY excited about this.
Congrats. Who’s publishing? I’ll take a case of books for my Bookstore in Miami. Who do I have to kill to get a comp to review?
Todd-
I will make a book on CD just for you. Or podcast. And have Charlton Heston read it.
Jeff-
I have not contracted with any publisher yet, but have started some early stage stuff with a couple, prayerfully considering stuff (as they are too I am sure).
If Charlton is unavailable, Sean Connery or Mike Tyson would be good alternates.
Hey Anne,
I’m kinda new here, but I think that this is awesome. As I was reading about this I was moved to tears because my father-in-law retired from the ministry a few years early because he was hurt by some people at two different churches and didn’t have the strength to keep up the fight. Since then he’s tried to keep active for the Church but that old spark is dimmer. This same situation effected me and my wife (she loves her daddy) and we are still bitter.
I hope that many people are blessed by your book.
Sweet, I signed up to help spread the word! I’m already making a mental list of who would be good sources of info for you, it’s getting longer and longer by the minute!
This sounds awesome! I have been reading your blog for several months, but have never taken the time to post. I serve as the Children’s pastor in a church plant in a rural community south of Houston. Before I took this position I had to take a year “off” of ministry. I resigned my position and did something absolutely totally out of the church. I was so burned out, abused, etc. that I did not want to jump back in when God called. Graciously, He loves me enough to have renewed and restored my passion for local church ministry. I will gather together my contacts from far and wide to help your efforts. This book will truly bless, benefit, and uplift the Body. I am thankful for your courage and obedience.
WOW!!! I’m so excited for you Anne! This topic is so in need of being addressed…and I look forward to expoloring your thoughts and sharing some with you on this stuff. :)
You rock yo!
kb
Hey Anne – amazing!
What a week – first your anniversary and now this blockbusting news! Already you have scored a massive achievement just by getting to this stage. Praying for your journey, and that this manuscript would get in to the right hands so that it can be published and get in to thousands more of the right hands.
I’m part of a really high stress church, but that’s life as a Christian in the Middle East – it’s not to do with the same pressures that churches in the USA face. Having said that, the effects are the same – I suffered some burn out three months ago, but God allowed it to be flagged up in time and I’m doing much better now, but it’s been a hell of a year, and that is not a phrase I use lightly. Looking forward to getting back to England for a break in two weeks and a family reunion – missed my daughter’s birthday today.
Anne,
I’m excited about the book! It is much needed.
Go go go Anne!
nice. i look forward to getting a copy. free and signed? just kidding. about the free and signed part. later from new orleans, via canada.
WHAT THE
i didn’t mean to halt the conversating and congratulating
I’m in. How awesome. Looking forward to a great read!
i’ve been on staff at a couple of churches. i used to have a roommate in college who called church “nothing but a fashion show”. i didn’t get it until i got “behind the scenes.” i was miserable. can’t stand phony.
I am so glad you are writing about this. This “disease” affects so many people (my family included), and so often many people pretend that it doesn’t exist. Thanks for hitting the real topics.
Excited for you Anne. Glad to be one of the Trailblazers!
Im giving you some linkage on my site. We all need some input on this!
If A is success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.