About the Book
Don has done the difficult, personal work of recovery and has created a sustainable rhythm to avoid repeating burnout in his own life. He has also done the hard work of research and professional growth to become a leading voice in his culture and times. Don has years of rich experience in leading other clergy into healthier, sustainable rhythms. Like all great pastors, Don has synthesized complex scholarship, life and ministry leadership experience, and Biblical and theological principles to create a contextualized, practical resource accessible to all. This resource is especially timely given the impact of ministry stress during the global pandemic and whatever the new normal looks like for clergy. Don artfully dispels some of the common myths of ministry burnout and provides invaluable insights and practical advice that can keep pastors from being blindsided and impaired.. - Dr Chris Adams - Flourishing in Ministry project.
"Don Easton's book, Burnout and Beyond, is personal, timely and refreshing... much needed for the men and women in ministry today. He provides ways to identify the signs of burnout, strategies for coping and building resilience, and hope for coming out stronger on the other side. I'd recommend that every Christian leader, whether currently on the path to burnout or not, read this book. It will help them maintain health, replenish their energy when needed, and reduce the stigma around burnout so they and others are attuned to the signs and can help guide others on the path to healing and replenishment."
Dr. Robert E. Logan
"Comprehensive and easy-to-read, Easton's 'Burnout and Beyond' weaves together personal story with a wealth of factual information and practical steps. The great strengths of the book lie in Don's honesty and realism and his consistent grounding in Christian faith. Every phase of dealing with burnout is addressed here: prevention, assessment, immediate and medium-term responses, recovery and rebuilding. Particularly helpful is his section on creating gauges to track signs relevant to the onset and recovery from burnout. 'Burnout and Beyond' will be tremendously useful for all Christian leaders and for their spouses and friends. Even if you don't think you require this right now, I highly recommend it for vital awareness of an issue that urgently needs to be better understood."
Dr Rick Lewis
Author of Mentoring Matters, Chair of Australian Christian Mentoring Network, Founder of Anamcara Consulting
About the Author :
Dr Don Easton's passion is to lift the buoyancy and resilience of Christian leaders to enhance our communities' well-being, sustainability, and safety.Forty-Five years of ministry experience includes church planting and ordained ministry in traditional and pentecostal churches. His roles as Senior Minister and ten years on the national executive position him to understand the complexities and pressures of ministry.Burnout in 2014 and recovery outfit him to build resilience and aid revitalisation. He is the author of Burnout and Beyond.His life experience and formal education have equipped him as a Well-being Mentor, Professional Supervisor and Consultant.Don is the founder of VerveLead, which equips and develops quality mentors. Chris Adams Rev. Chris Adams, PhD, is a third-generation pastor's kid, ordained minister, clinical psychologist, and certified wellbeing and leadership coach. He has served in pastoral care and counseling roles in a large congregation and a large Christian university. He specializes in the wellbeing of ministerial students, clergy, and their families. Chris currently serves as Professor, Chaplain, and Executive Director of the Mental Health and the Church initiative at Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology, Biola University. Chris teaches pastoral care and counseling, Christian leadership formation, and psychology and Christianity integration courses for Rosemead and several seminaries. Chris is a consultant to numerous denominations and seminaries in the areas of clergy candidate formative evaluation, clergy health and flourishing, and pastoral leadership formation. He is the lead researcher for the Flourishing in Ministry project, and is currently participating as a consultant and researcher with the Duke Clergy Health Initiative. Chris is a frequent lecturer at seminaries, retreats, and conferences. He is married to Lori, a cardiac nurse, and they have two children - Lexi (12) and Cole (8). Chris enjoys spending time with his family, tennis, soccer, scuba diving, and music (especially jazz).
Review :
"Don has written with honesty, courage and humility, addressing the issue of
emotional depletion and burnout at a time when pastors are being affected in
unprecedented numbers.
It has been a privilege to support Don as a mentor for about 8 years, and to
rejoice at his recaptured health, vitality and passion to help other pastors.
The gauges he presents are particularly helpful for anyone seeking to recover
from emotional depletion.
I highly recommend this excellent book."
Dr. Keith Farmer
Mentor, Principal Emeritus, Australian College of Ministries. Doctor of Ministry, Fuller.
"Don Easton's book, Burnout and Beyond, is personal, timely and
refreshing... much needed for the men and women in ministry today. He
provides ways to identify the signs of burnout, strategies for coping and
building resilience, and hope for coming out stronger on the other side.
I'd recommend that every Christian leader, whether currently on the path to
burnout or not, read this book. It will help them maintain health, replenish
their energy when needed, and reduce the stigma around burnout so they and
others are attuned to the signs and can help guide others on the path to
healing and replenishment."
Dr. Robert E. Logan
Author of An Undivided Heart and The Leadership Difference
"Comprehensive and easy-to-read, Easton's 'Burnout & Beyond' weaves
together personal story with a wealth of factual information and practical
steps. The great strengths of the book lie in Don's honesty and realism and
his consistent grounding in Christian faith. Every phase of dealing with
burnout is addressed here: prevention, assessment, immediate and mediumterm
responses, recovery and rebuilding. Particularly helpful is his section on
creating gauges to track signs relevant to the onset and recovery from
burnout. 'Burnout and Beyond' will be tremendously useful for all Christian
leaders and for their spouses and friends. Even if you don't think you require
this right now, I highly recommend it for vital awareness of an issue that
urgently needs to be better understood."
Dr Rick Lewis
Author of Mentoring Matters, Chair of Australian Christian Mentoring Network,
Founder of Anamcara Consulting
"My friend Don has faithfully served as senior minister with C3 Global for
over 30 years and sharing from his own journey brings a book that will help
so many. Burnout is a significant problem today. Don's book helps us
understand the problem and gives pathways to recover and thrive again. He
gives us good news that we can get through whatever we face."
Ps Dr Phil Pringle AOM
Global President C3 Church
It has been a pleasure working with Don over the past few years. Following
his studies at Fuller, he brought back considerable expertise in mentoring
people to avoid burnout and stay true to mission. We have been so impressed
by his expertise that a wide selection of our senior staff consult regularly with
him as part of keeping their professional, spiritual and family life on track.
This has now continued for a number of years and is a testimony to his
theoretical knowledge, practical knowledge and expertise. All professionals
in ministry will benefit from engaging with Don and his work.
Rees Davis
Executive Principal, King's Christian College
