By Andy Hale
Every generation has challenges. You cannot compare our current experience to past generations as if we can determine who had it more difficult. Our lived experience is enough of a metric unto itself, and the current climate of our culture, politics, and religious discourse is fraught with tension, hatred, bigotry, indignation, urgency, and apathy.
The current climate produces anxiety. Anxiety expresses itself in a lot of different ways, such as fear, depression, anger, loneliness, and a myriad of physiological responses. All of this affects us individually and collectively as a church.
“I want you to challenge yourself but to make it work for you and the demands of your life, including any physical or emotional constraints that you have. Just try to do something for your own benefit today,” said Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes.
Walker-Barnes, a clinical psychologist and the professor of practical theology and pastoral care at Columbia Theological Seminary, sat down with us to discuss her new book, Sacred Self-Care.
Listen to this week’s podcast here.
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This podcast is presented by:
- Baylor’s Garland School of Social Work: Social workers can be found addressing the full scope of the human experience in churches, schools, prisons, government agencies, senior living centers, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies.
- Baptist Seminary of Kentucky: BSK equips leaders through their Homegrown Initiative, offering ministry leaders training and growth that fits into their busy schedules.
- A Model Ministry: A Model Ministry is a registered non-profit organization specializing in safety education, policy writing, and risk assessment to mitigate child sexual abuse in ministry organizations.
- The Gardner-Webb School of Divinity: The Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity aims to equip, nurture, encourage, and support men and women for their very best service in the Kingdom of God.
- The NRSV, Update Edition from Zondervan: Explore the depth and beauty of Scripture with the NRSV, Updated Edition. With revisions based on new textual evidence, historical insights, and linguistic precision, this updated edition of the NRSV delivers a translation of Scripture based on meticulous care for accuracy and readability.
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Andy Hale is the creator and host of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Podcast. Hale is the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina. He’s also served as CBF’s Church Start Specialist, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Clayton, and the senior pastor of University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge. Follow on Twitter @haleandy.