Mark Dance is joining GuideStone Financial Resources as the new director of pastoral wellness.
He previously served as a senior pastor for 28 years in churches in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee, joined Lifeway Christian Resources in 2014 and is the co-founder of Care4Pastors. Most recently, he has served as director of pastoral development for Oklahoma Baptists.
Caring for pastors
GuideStone President-Elect Hance Dilbeck noted, “I felt … a responsibility to care for pastors, not just in their financial and health lives, but for the whole pastor and pastor’s family.”
Throughout the pandemic, GuideStone has noted, along with many health providers, that mental health claims have increased, which often have corresponding increased costs in the health care plan overall.
“Pastors are having a hard time finishing well,” Dilbeck said. “As we’ve talked through ways to help pastors find the care they need so they can be the husbands and shepherds they’re called to be, this vision around complete wellness—spiritual, physical, financial, mental, health—has more fully taken shape. We believe that we can continue to do the things GuideStone does well, the financial and health wellness focus, and influence these other aspects of wellness.”
Building on 100 year legacy
In this new role, Dance will partner with pastor wellness programs sponsored by other Southern Baptist entities.
“Pastors have been a priority to GuideStone for over 100 years, and I am thrilled to build on that legacy with Dr. Dilbeck and his team,” Dance said. “Pastors are still leading through a historically challenging season, so our GuideStone team desires to lock arms with other ministries to help pastors and other ministry leaders fulfill their calling. I have never been more excited about a ministry opportunity than I am today.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Roy Hayhurst and first published by GuideStone Financial Resources.
