'Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38- NIV)
You've survived the January blues, yay! But it's now the end of February and you're probably thinking, 'Oh, this year's rushing ahead of me, what did I do last month - and will I be able to accomplish everything that I need to do this year!'.
Fret not, everyone's feeling the same way and trying to catch up with schedules, year planners, appointments, and strategies for this year. You can only do what you can each day and leave the rest for the next day.
In this e-news edition, we share tips on how to avoid burnout and consider how to care for one another well as volunteers, some encouraging God -stories, important dates for your diary, and some prayer requests.
Ever suffered from burnout?
Burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, and it's different from stress.
We have all experienced stress at one point or another, but it’s also important to recognise the signs of burnout and seek support when you need it. In our Besoms, whilst we are committed and eager to serve those in need we are mainly all volunteers/time-givers and it is important to give due regard to our mental health and each other in our team as a priority before the pressures of need pile on and become overwhelming with the resources you have. It would be well worth considering as Trustees and Besom Leads how to create mentally healthier practices in your teams to care well for one another and your volunteers/time-givers. None of us are immune!
Burnout is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, and it's different from stress.
We have all experienced stress at one point or another, but it’s also important to recognise the signs of burnout and seek support when you need it. In our Besoms, whilst we are committed and eager to serve those in need we are mainly all volunteers/time-givers and it is important to give due regard to our mental health and each other in our team as a priority before the pressures of need pile on and become overwhelming with the resources you have. It would be well worth considering as Trustees and Besom Leads how to create mentally healthier practices in your teams to care well for one another and your volunteers/time-givers. None of us are immune!
Besom with its primary focus on the giver, not the need/recipients, is a wonderful way for God to teach us how to be different and model listening to what God asks of each of us to give (time/money/skills/things) and only doing that!
Signs of burnout include; fatigue, decision-making delays, insomnia, headaches, pain, demotivation, overwhelm, loss of interest, anxiety, low productivity, isolation, irritability, and reliance on substances.
The causes of burnout vary from money worries to relationships, work, and job security. You can manage burnout by noticing the signs, seeking support, and resting.
Mental Health UK is a wonderful resource and place to start: please take some time to learn more about burnout causes and management at https://mentalhealth-uk.org/burnout/.
Don't forget above all, you can bring to the Lord everything in prayer, meet for socials with your family and friends, block out time to switch off from Besom and evaluate what to let go of. and not take on more than God is asking you to, or you can handle.
God-stories from across
the Besom Network
If you've not yet visited our YouTube channel to hear of the many testimonies that Besom-ers have shared over the past year, we'd encourage you to do so.
We'd also encourage you to e-mail in stories of encouragement that you encounter along the way with recipients, time-givers, and answers to prayer.
Here are some 'short stories' of encouragement/Besom God-stories received from across the Network.
Besom Camberley- Karen (Besom Lead)
Besom Histon- Martin (Besom Lead)
Besom Taunton - Ashley (Time-giver - PAT testing)
Besom Sheffield- Brian (Longest-serving Time-giver)
Besom York- Eliza (Bundles of Joy Time-giver)
If you know anyone who loves Besom and may be thinking of getting involved, please share these stories and point them to our website for more information, thank you.
Churches Together- Epsom Event
Julia Brand, Besom Lead - Ashtead with her team Chris and Linda, invited Annie Emmins (Besom Esher & Trustee -The Besom Network) to join them as they attended the Churches Together meeting in Epsom where Julia was invited to speak about Besom and the potential of taking on a Besom of their own as Ashtead reduce the size of their catchment area due to the balancing the volume of need and givers.
The presentation and story-sharing were really well received by the church reps attending. Please pray they will communicate well with the leaders of their churches and other key individuals, so that the seeds sown at the meeting will root and there will be quick decisions made to pick up the Besom torch in Epsom by all the churches together.
Dates for your diary
Besom 'Southerners' get-together event
Thursday 3rd of April
10.00 AM - 2:00 AM
Wessex Christian Fellowship
Wessex Close
Basingstoke
RG21 3HP
Registration and coffee - 9:30 AM
A wonderful opportunity to meet together once more in person, ably hosted by The Besom in Basingstoke. Bring your teams and your time-givers:
- get to know each other better
- share your experiences, difficulties and top tips!
- provide encouragement and prayer.
All are very welcome! Lunch will be provided.
Besom Family Prayer Meeting on Zoom
Thursday 1st February | 7:30 PM
Please join us on Zoom from wherever you are to share encouragement and pray together
Log-in ID: 736 354 4303
No passcode required
Webinar - Five steps to starting a Besom
Last Thursday of every month | 7:30 PM
Log-in ID: 736 354 4303
No passcode required