Toxic shame is a feeling that you’re worthless. It happens when other people treat you poorly and you turn that treatment into a belief about yourself. When you feel toxic shame, you see yourself as useless or, at best, not as good as others.

The purpose of Rubber Meets the Road Pastoral Conversations is to discuss the joys, sorrows and tribulations of pastors serving their Call to the ministry while they live in the shadow of the Cross. The focus of this pastoral conversation is to discuss the meaning of the Office of the Keys from the perspective of serving in mission field in multiple locations and the challenges that come with that ministry.

This month’s conversation is with Pastor David Gunderson. Pastor Gunderson is a retired pastor living in the Kansas City area. Pastor Gunderson works as a marriage and family counselor with Lutheran Family Services. Pastor Gunderson has served congregations in South Dakota and also served for 27 years as a chaplain in the South Dakota National Guard. In 2010 Pastor Gunderson was deployed for active duty with the Guard to Kabul Afghanistan for a year.

When you have bipolar behavior related to bipolar disorder, everyday life can feel like living on a rollercoaster over which you have zero control. That’s especially true if you’re facing both the challenges of bipolar disorder and being in ministry living in the shadow of the cross. However, there is hope to be found when you work with a Counselor whose basis is in Christianity, part of the body of Christ, who can help you develop better coping strategies and deepen your dependence on God. But there are additional challenges a person may face when serving our Lord in the ministry, such as fearing the reaction of others or feeling that you shouldn’t need counseling and are somehow failing God. In this podcast, we’ll be busting some myths about mental illness and ministry and looking at how you can find hope and healing when you open yourself up to the help available from solid Christian counselors.