Guidelines For Balancing Nurture and Ministry Floyd L. Marshall Coordinator, Prison Ministries Washington Conference

Seventh-day Adventist Prison Ministries Volunteers play a vital role in offender management in prisons and jails.

Matthew 25:36 “I was in prison and you came to visit me”.

As we seek to lead these offenders into a relationship we Christ we are also serving as role models to them.

Recently, TV Judge Greg Mathis stated that “more than one in every 100 Americans are in prison or jail”.

This certainly tells us of the magnitude of our responsibility as Prison Ministries Volunteers. It can therefore be overwhelming.

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

Effective stress management must therefore be a priority not only for Prison Ministry Volunteers but for all involved in Personal Ministries.

STRESS What is stress? “Stress is the body's automatic way of reacting to the changes, challenges and demands placed on us as part of being alive”.

Stress As long as we are alive, there will be challenges, changes and demands. There will be stress.

Eustress Not all stress is bad. There is the good stress which is called “eustress”. This is healthy stress. It helps us to feel emotionally and physically well. This helps us to achieve and grow.

Eustress Gives you the push you need Gives you the push you need Increases your self-confidence Increases your self-confidence Gives you a sense of purpose Gives you a sense of purpose

Distress Unhealthy Stress is called distress.

Stressors Where does stress come from? - Stressors “Stressors can be broadly defined as the external demands of life or the internal attitudes and thoughts that require us to adapt”.

Stressors Stressors can be events, circumstances, places, people, feelings or attitudes.

Stressors We are all subject to stressors; the amount of stress we experience depends on how we react to them.

Stressors Stressors do not cause stress. It is our reaction to them that cause stress.

Stress and disease Prolonged stress can affect health. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of all illnesses are directly or indirectly caused by stress.

Stress and disease Hypertension Hypertension Coronary heart disease Coronary heart disease Migraine headaches Migraine headaches Tension headaches Tension headaches Depression Depression Ulcers Ulcers

Managing Stress Albert Ellis (Psychologist), discovered that emotionally distress people have ‘irrational thoughts” Their thinking is not accurate or reasonable.

Ellis’ Rational Emotive Therapy A = Activating Events A = Activating Events B = Beliefs, thoughts, attitudes B = Beliefs, thoughts, attitudes C = Consequences, behaviors C = Consequences, behaviors

Rational Emotive Therapy Examine your beliefs about A (Event) Examine your beliefs about A (Event) Put your beliefs on trial. Are they reasonable or not? Are they rational? Put your beliefs on trial. Are they reasonable or not? Are they rational? Replace irrational and unhealthy beliefs with rational and healthy beliefs. Replace irrational and unhealthy beliefs with rational and healthy beliefs.

Rational Emotive Therapy When irrational beliefs (B) are replaced with rational beliefs the consequences or behaviors (C) will be positive and productive.

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

Managing Stress Balance work with play Balance work with play Manage your time. Do important things first and realize that you cannot do everything at one time. Manage your time. Do important things first and realize that you cannot do everything at one time. Learn to relax Learn to relax

Managing Stress Investigate your attitudes and beliefs Investigate your attitudes and beliefs Get enough rest Get enough rest Eat a balance diet, nourish your body with the nutrients it needs to combat stress. Eat a balance diet, nourish your body with the nutrients it needs to combat stress.

Manage Stress Think Positively, engage in positive self- talk. Think Positively, engage in positive self- talk. Have a sense of humor. Laughing relaxes our facial muscles, shoulders, and arms. Have a sense of humor. Laughing relaxes our facial muscles, shoulders, and arms.

Stress is a fact of life, but it need not be a way of life. By using the methods listed above you will be able to cope with stress and begin to use your stress for positive purposes.

Let us remember that God wants us to enjoy good health. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1: 2 (NIV)