Caring for Ourselves to Care for Others: Making Space for Physical Health to Sustain a Life of Ministry

Mitch and Lara Price co-pastor Life Church Vineyard in Pleasantville, OH. They have been participating in the Vineyard USA Physical and Recreational Health Cohort since June of 2024, alongside 12 others. 

Mitch says the cohort fulfilled his desire for a sustainable, holistic approach to health that goes beyond quick fixes and supports long-term care for his body. “Physical health is often the last thing to get attention when our schedules are full. And they always are because in ministry, our lives are so geared towards putting out fires, and other things are always screaming louder. For me, the first thing that always gets cut is my physical well-being, and it’s not obvious that you gain a pound here or there or that you’re not feeling your best. I’ve run a marathon and lost weight, but as soon as it was over, I quickly got out of the habit when life got busy again.” 

Mitch has found the cohort structure to be incredibly valuable and said that it is well-crafted. “It’s a gathering of like-minded ministry people with a common goal of physical and recreational health. I just felt like I couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do it on my own. I needed resources, structure, encouragement, and support. Very quickly, I realized that’s exactly what I was getting: people who are doing this for the long haul. I’ve lost weight, but more importantly, I feel more fit and healthy. Our nutrition coach has taught me what food does to my body and how I can use it to fuel it or wreck it. It takes intentionality and planning.”

Mitch and Lara share a favorite component of the cohort curriculum: crafting a rule of life. “Crafting the rule of life means you carve out a schedule and make space for what’s important to you. Sunday morning is always coming, and certain things have to be done, so when push comes to shove and you’re running out of hours in a day, it’s easy to spend time on sermon prep rather than an hour and a half at the gym. So you schedule exercise like you’d schedule any other meeting, and you make it happen, implementing habits into a way of life that will be here forever, rather than ‘here today, gone tomorrow.’ The intentionality is important. ”

Lara says that she joined the cohort mainly as a support for Mitch, but has found it beneficial for her health and wellness. “I didn’t have an exercise routine, but I’m generally really active and an intuitive eater. But as I age, my body is changing, and I can benefit from strength training and toning. I’m also the primary cook, so it’s helpful for me to know how to support Mitch in his journey. It was good to go through this together.”

While the cohort participants meet regularly with a health and fitness coach who develops a personalized plan for each person, there is also a therapeutic element to the program. “It’s really trying to help you look at your whole life, not just fitness and nutrition, but how you deal with stress and relational conflicts, and how you interact with rest and sabbath. In terms of ministry, I think it’s foundational for anyone. Every part of your life needs to be well thought out, not just for personal health but also for ministry health.” 

Lara says, “We can only give what we have to give, so if we’re not taking care of ourselves, we can’t care for others. We need to prioritize our own well-being in order to give our best to others and ensure longevity in ministry. But it also helps me remember that I’m a human being, not a human doing, and I can operate out of a place of stability and balance. Ministry can be very hard and demanding and I think it’s important to invest in yourself as you’re pouring out relational energy.” 

Vineyard USA’s Integrated Physical & Recreation Health cohort is a nine-month program combining monthly cohort gatherings, bi-monthly personalized fitness and nutrition coaching, and monthly pastoral mentoring small groups to pursue a holistic approach to a pastors’ health and well-being. Mitch says, “There are quite a few meetings but I never felt overwhelmed by it. I always felt each one was very helpful.” Lara believes that the length of the program helped to develop relationships and really cement the habits. “There’s ongoing accountability, help, and resources alongside other pastors who have similar health goals. It’s great to build these relationships with other Vineyard pastors.”

Upcoming Pastoral Health Cohorts