| dc.description.abstract | Since the fall of man, God in His grace has called specific persons and set them apart
for a specific purpose. This calling can only be realised through the powerful working
of the Spirit of God. However, this calling does not indemnify the called person against
the stressful dispensation, where Satan still has influence and where people are still in a
struggle with their own sin as well as the sin of others. The high stress levels which
some ministers experience because of their calling can result in chronic stress, depression, bum-out and even early death. Research in this study made it clear that
most ministers of the GKSA probably experience high levels of negative stress and
show signs of burnout and depression.
Ministers of the GKSA find themselves in a world where secularism reigns, among
others because humanism, rationalism, individualism, pluralism and even relativism are emphasised and are gaining ground, as a result of the current popularity of the postmodern spiritual trend. The result is that people are inclined to elevate themselves and to question absolute spiritual truths, at the expense of the honest teachings of the
gospels. An empirical study was conducted involving nine ministers of the GKSA in an in-depth study of stress by means of a qualitative research topic. A grounded phenomenological qualitative study method was chosen, since the study concerned people who were not a homogenous group and who could not be quantified. It is their perceptions of the world they are living in which are important here and which can give rise to high stress levels. The results indicate that ministers experience tremendous inner conflict to maintain a focus on God only in their ministry and not to succumb to the temptations and pressure of present-day worldly standards. In addition, they are in a constant conflict with secularism in their congregations, especially with regard to the tendency to compare, measure and manipulate the minister and his congregation according to worldly standards. Based upon the basis theory and the meta-theory, a practice theory was developed by
outlining the contours of a model for pastoral guidance for ministers with high stress levels. On the one hand, factors giving rise to high stress levels among the ministers of the GKSA may be addressed by introspection regarding their relationship with their Creator, their own spiritual growth and the example they set for their congregations. On the other hand, they are also tasked with guiding the congregation in which God placed them to break away from their own sinful worldly nature and to direct them towards God and His promises. The ministers are important instruments in God's divine plan in which all of the chosen will be allowed to share in His salvation, when Christ will return and glorify God. | |
