Ever feel like you’re reaching breaking point?  Then you need to be part of

WHY DO WE CHOOSE TO BE STRESSED?

Many mission workers slowly lose the capacity to perform well over time.  The reasons for this are many but can include:

• the cumulative effects of living in a foreign culture
• long-term workplace stress
• toxic relationships with colleagues
• sense of isolation and lack of support
• the physical demands of living in a different climate
• spiritual stagnation resulting from years of giving out while not receiving.

These issues, like the proverbial frog in a pan of boiling water, can sneak up on us unawares and drain our vitality, our joy and our ability to serve God.  We soldier on, not realising there’s a problem until one day we wake up and realise we just can’t go on any more.  The result can be physical illness, long-term fatigue or burnout.

Sadly, Syzygy meets with too many people in this situation.  If these issues remain untreated, they can even lead to psychological damage and loss of faith.  The resulting attrition is toxic to individual servants of God and prejudicial to effective mission.  We aim to prevent this happening.

Syzygy exists to help mission workers maintain themselves in peak condition to serve, and as part of this we have developed a one-day workshop designed to be delivered in-field to mission workers as a routine checkup.  Why do we choose to be stressed? will look at core issues like our identity in Christ, and help us to understand what makes us tick.  We will examine our motivations – which may in fact not be the ones we think they are!  Equipped with a better understanding of ourselves, we will then consider the steps we can take to help us cope with stress more effectively, learn how to take care of ourselves better and make suitable changes to our lifestyle so that we become more resilient and able to continue serving effectively.

We hope to make this workshop available in a variety of countries over the coming years.  If you would like to host one, please get in touch with us by emailing training@syzygy.org.uk.  The workshop is also suitable for delivery in the UK as part of home assignment retreats or briefings for new mission workers.