May 21, 2025
FRISCO, Texas — Being fully present and committed to their roles is a key antidote to burnout, according to speakers at The Summit, Powered by GuideStone. This was one of several topics covered during the annual two-day conference held last week in North Texas.
More than 200 church and ministry business leaders representing more than 100 churches and ministries attended the two-day conference, hearing from law, human resources, accounting, finance, and leadership experts.
“The antidote to exhaustion isn’t rest,” author and consultant Tod Bolsinger said. “It’s wholeheartedness. Half here will kill you after a while.”
Author Ryan Leak challenged leaders to embrace risk.
“There is no version of leadership that isn’t risky,” Leak said. “The question isn’t whether it’s risky — it’s whether it’s worth it.”
GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck drew from Psalm 78:70–72 to point to the challenges leaders face and the necessity to be effective and caring leaders.
“Leadership in the Kingdom is a mystery,” Dilbeck said. “God chose David. He brought David. He raised him up. Leaders are servants, stewards, and shepherds. It’s not about owning the flock — it’s about guiding God’s inheritance.”
Legal and accounting issues took center stage in addition to leadership encouragement. Texas-based attorney and CPA team Frank and Elaine Sommerville addressed attendees in both keynote and breakout sessions.
“What if we treated our staff not just as employees, but as disciples,” Frank Sommerville told attendees during a human resources law and regulations session. “It would change the culture of our church.”
Elaine Sommerville warned attendees about the risks associated with private benefits and inurement for church workers.
“The church is not a tool to enrich insiders,” she said. “Private benefit and inurement are automatic revocation issues. You can’t ignore them. Rest assured — the IRS doesn’t care if your pastor’s book is good theology. If it benefits them personally, that’s inurement unless it’s properly structured.”
In the closing keynote session, author and speaker Jason Young encouraged attendees not to burn out but to “burn bright.”
“Rest isn’t a reward,” Young said. “It’s a discipline. If you’re going to help people be healthy, you have to be healthy yourself. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a signal you’ve been running on fumes too long without replenishing your soul.
“Boundaries don’t block your calling — they protect it.”
Next year’s Summit is set for April 19–21, 2026, and will again be held in Frisco, Texas, north of Dallas.
