Addressing church burnout

Arise Canada, a new non-profit in Hamilton, Ontario that began in the Fall of 2023, is testing a unique approach to congregant care. Two churches are engaged in the 12-week pilot program while Hildy Sloots, the founder, introduces the program to other churches. The response from church leaders and congregants so far has been overwhelmingly positive. “This is oxygen to my lungs,” one church leader declared, as it means congregants can be cared for in ways he can’t carry out on his own.

Sloots has seen firsthand the ways churches fail to support their congregants. When she struggled with health issues, became a foster parent, and began a start-up called Safe Families Hamilton-Halton, she met people who wanted to help but were struggling themselves. Church leaders were burnt out and congregants didn’t know who to reach out to. People looked outside of their church for care instead of looking to their own church family. She saw people without connection, not knowing where to find a friend or a spiritual mentor. As Sloots sat down with church leaders and parishioners to discuss this disconnect in the church, she learned more about the struggles of individual churches.

This is where the idea for Arise Canada began to form. In Ephesians 4 we are given a command to “equip [God’s] people for works of the Spirit, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” This is our calling as a church. Arise is meant to support, complement and strengthen this calling.

How it works

Arise Canada has a system, not a formula, to help churches thrive in supporting their congregants. First, Arise Canada has a consultation with the leaders of the church, where they consider the church’s culture of care. The goal is to strengthen the church in what they are already doing. Church leaders then discern one to two advocates (members of the church), and a Director of Advocates from Arise guides them in their role. The advocates become the representatives of care and the liaison for church leaders. They are trained on compassion, theologically helping brothers and sisters in Christ and practical steps that will help their congregation.

When the advocates learn about a situation that someone may be going through or a way that someone needs support, they first go to the church leaders. Ultimately, it is the role of the leaders of a church to care for their flock. Upon reaching out to leadership, the advocate then reaches out to the member of the church to ask how the church can best support them. A plan of support is made. The advocate then reaches out to other congregants to take on the necessary support and care. The advocate’s role is to continue to check in, provide resources and update the leadership of the church. The care is meant to be sustainable and long-term. Important dates are kept note of and connection is maintained. In this way the church, as a community, can practically show the love of Christ.

On March 1-2, Arise Canada held a conference at Hope Bible Church in Oakville, Ontario with Jason Johnson and Jamie Finn as speakers. Arise wants to help churches make use of the tools already in place to support each individual fully.

“We’re not all called to do the same thing,” Johnson said in Oakville, “but we are all capable of doing something.”