Guidelines For Balancing Guidelines For Balancing Nurture and MinistryNurture and Ministry

Floyd L. MarshallFloyd L. Marshall

Coordinator, Prison Coordinator, Prison MinistriesMinistries

Washington Washington ConferenceConference

Seventh-day Adventist Prison Ministries Seventh-day Adventist Prison Ministries

Volunteers play a vital role in offender Volunteers play a vital role in offender

management in prisons and jails.management in prisons and jails.

Matthew 25:36 “I was in prison and you Matthew 25:36 “I was in prison and you

came to visit me”.came to visit me”.

As we seek to lead these offenders into a As we seek to lead these offenders into a

relationship we Christ we are also serving as relationship we Christ we are also serving as

role models to them.role models to them.

Recently, TV Judge Greg Mathis stated that Recently, TV Judge Greg Mathis stated that

““more than one in every 100 Americans aremore than one in every 100 Americans are

in prison or jail”.in prison or jail”.

This certainly tells us of the This certainly tells us of the

magnitude of our responsibility magnitude of our responsibility as as

Prison Ministries Volunteers.Prison Ministries Volunteers.

It can therefore be It can therefore be overwhelming.overwhelming.

In our effort to be obedient to the In our effort to be obedient to the commission found in Matthew 25: 36 commission found in Matthew 25: 36 we must strive to seek that balance we must strive to seek that balance between nurture and ministry. between nurture and ministry.

Effective stress management must Effective stress management must thereforetherefore

be a priority not only for Prison be a priority not only for Prison Ministry Ministry

Volunteers but for all involved in Volunteers but for all involved in Personal Personal

Ministries.Ministries.

STRESSSTRESS

What is stress?What is stress?

““Stress is the body's automatic way of Stress is the body's automatic way of

reacting to the changes, challenges reacting to the changes, challenges

and demands placed on us as part of and demands placed on us as part of

being alive”.being alive”.

StressStress

As long as we are alive, there will beAs long as we are alive, there will be

challenges, changes and demands. challenges, changes and demands. There There

will be stress.will be stress.

EustressEustress

Not all stress is bad. There is the good Not all stress is bad. There is the good

stress which is called “eustress”. This isstress which is called “eustress”. This is

healthy stress. It helps us to feel healthy stress. It helps us to feel

emotionally and physically well. This emotionally and physically well. This

helps us to achieve and grow .helps us to achieve and grow .

EustressEustress

• Gives you the push you needGives you the push you need

• Increases your self-confidenceIncreases your self-confidence

• Gives you a sense of purposeGives you a sense of purpose

DistressDistress

UnhealthyUnhealthy StressStress is called distress.is called distress.

StressorsStressors

Where does stress come from? -Where does stress come from? -

StressorsStressors

““Stressors can be broadly defined as the Stressors can be broadly defined as the

external demands of life or the internal external demands of life or the internal

attitudes and thoughts that require us to attitudes and thoughts that require us to

adapt”. adapt”.

StressorsStressors

Stressors can be events, Stressors can be events, circumstances, circumstances,

places, people, feelings or attitudes. places, people, feelings or attitudes.

StressorsStressors

We are all subject to stressors; the We are all subject to stressors; the amount amount

of stress we experience depends on of stress we experience depends on how wehow we

react to them. react to them.

StressorsStressors

Stressors do not cause stress. It is our Stressors do not cause stress. It is our

reaction to them that cause stress.reaction to them that cause stress.

Stress and diseaseStress and disease

Prolonged stress can affect health. The Prolonged stress can affect health. The

World Health Organization estimates World Health Organization estimates that that

80% of all illnesses are directly or 80% of all illnesses are directly or indirectly indirectly

caused by stress. caused by stress.

Stress and diseaseStress and disease

• HypertensionHypertension

• Coronary heart diseaseCoronary heart disease

• Migraine headachesMigraine headaches

• Tension headachesTension headaches

• DepressionDepression

• UlcersUlcers

Managing StressManaging Stress

Albert Ellis (Psychologist), discovered Albert Ellis (Psychologist), discovered that that

emotionally distress people have emotionally distress people have ‘irrational ‘irrational

thoughts”thoughts”

Their thinking is not accurate or Their thinking is not accurate or reasonable.reasonable.

Ellis’ Rational Emotive Ellis’ Rational Emotive TherapyTherapy

• A = Activating EventsA = Activating Events

• B = Beliefs, thoughts, attitudesB = Beliefs, thoughts, attitudes

• C = Consequences, behaviorsC = Consequences, behaviors

Rational Emotive TherapyRational Emotive Therapy

• Examine your beliefs about A (Event)Examine your beliefs about A (Event)

• Put your beliefs on trial. Are they Put your beliefs on trial. Are they reasonable or not? Are they rational?reasonable or not? Are they rational?

• Replace irrational and unhealthy beliefs Replace irrational and unhealthy beliefs with rational and healthy beliefs.with rational and healthy beliefs.

Rational Emotive TherapyRational Emotive Therapy

When irrational beliefs (B) are replaced When irrational beliefs (B) are replaced with with

rational beliefs the consequences orrational beliefs the consequences or

behaviors (C) will be positive andbehaviors (C) will be positive and

productive.productive.

Managing StressManaging Stress

• Exercise regularly. When we are in Exercise regularly. When we are in good physical condition, we have a good physical condition, we have a greater capacity to resist stress and greater capacity to resist stress and strain. strain.

Managing StressManaging Stress

• Balance work with playBalance work with play

• Manage your time. Do important Manage your time. Do important things first and realize that you things first and realize that you cannot do everything at one time.cannot do everything at one time.

• Learn to relaxLearn to relax

Managing StressManaging Stress

• Investigate your attitudes and beliefsInvestigate your attitudes and beliefs

• Get enough restGet enough rest

• Eat a balance diet, nourish your body Eat a balance diet, nourish your body with the nutrients it needs to combat with the nutrients it needs to combat stress.stress.

Manage StressManage Stress

• Think Positively , engage in positive Think Positively , engage in positive self-talk.self-talk.

• Have a sense of humor. Laughing Have a sense of humor. Laughing relaxes our facial muscles, shoulders, relaxes our facial muscles, shoulders, and arms.and arms.

Stress is a fact of life, but it need not be Stress is a fact of life, but it need not be a a

way of life. By using the methods listed way of life. By using the methods listed

above you will be able to cope with above you will be able to cope with stress stress

and begin to use your stress for positive and begin to use your stress for positive

purposes.purposes.

Let us remember that God wants us toLet us remember that God wants us to

enjoy good health.enjoy good health.

““Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy

good health and that all may go well with good health and that all may go well with

you, even as your soul is getting along you, even as your soul is getting along well.well.

3 John 1: 2 (NIV) 3 John 1: 2 (NIV)