Posted on July 23, 2009 - by rfrank

90 Second Book Review: Mad Church Disease

A few weeks ago I picked up a copy of Mad Church Disease after seeing that Kenny Conley mentioned it on his blog (thanks). I packed it in my backpack and brought it with me on vacation this week. I wish I would have read it earlier – it earns a 10.

Mad Church Disease (click here to get it for yourself) was written by Anne Jackson (who I am now following on Twitter). She grew up as a PK and saw firsthand how the ministry can lead to burnout. She reminds me a lot of myself as a kid, well except the fact that she was a girl. She not only saw her dad experience burnout, but she experienced it for herself.

This book will help you identify what burnout looks like, why it’s so prevelant in the church, and what to do to make sure it doesn’t hit you. The single biggest thing that I took from the book is a better understanding of John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus said that the thief (Satan) comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy. That is his main objective in your life and in the life of every Christian. He wants to take you down! He’ll use burnout to make that happen. BUT (and this is a big but!) Jesus came to bring life and bring it to the full!

I highly recommend this book. You’ll be hearing about it in K! Magazine I’m sure. I’m going to buy it for my KidzMatter team and the church staff. I hope to work through it together as a team. Go get it.