Preventing Ministry Failure: A ShepherdCare Guide for Pastors, Ministers and Other Caregivers, By Michael Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffmann alt

Preventing Ministry Failure

A ShepherdCare Guide for Pastors, Ministers and Other Caregivers

by Michael Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffmann

Preventing Ministry Failure
Ebook
  • Length: 265 pages
  • Published: January 16, 2014
  • Imprint: IVP
  • ISBN: 9780830896868
Other Formats:

Great ministers don't just happen.Great falls from ministry don't just happen either. A complex mix of factors both internal and external test the limits of your ability to minister wholeheartedly over the long haul.Senior pastor Brad Hoffmann andlicensed professional counselor Michael Todd Wilson work with pastors removed from their place of service. The common experiences of these pastors revealed patterns that consistently contributed to burnout, ineffectiveness and moral failure. If suchpatterns can be predicted, the authors reasoned, can they be prevented?Preventing Ministry Failure is a personal guidebook for pastors and other caregivers to prepare them to withstand common pressures and to flourish in the ministry God has called them to. Work through the exercises and reflections individually or in conversation with your peers, and you'll find yourself better equipped for the challenges of vocational ministry, and more conscious of the presence of God leading you on and restoring your soul.

"Thirty years ago the moral failure of my second senior pastor forced me to start working with adultery in ministry. I wish I had had this material then. After years of everyone telling us pastors that we need to be in a small group where we can be open and vulnerable, Michael Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffmann finally provide for us a guide that not only tells us but shows us how to do that. I know of nothing else like it for those of us in vocational Christian ministry, and I can't wait to use it in my own group."Dave Carder, author of Torn Asunder: Recovering from Extramarital Affairs
"In a day where senior pastors and ministers alike are reading, collecting and gathering materials from books, CDs and seminars for the benefit of someone else, Brad Hoffmann and Michael Todd Wilson have written an excellent self-help book for theminister himself. These seven reasons why ministers struggle, quit, resign or are forced out of ministry have been identified and analyzed, and a course of action recommended for the health and happiness of the minister's home and family.The book moves beyond the theory to the practical. Trust me, these two have been there, done that and bought the shirt."Ken Whitten, Senior Pastor, Idlewild Baptist Church, Lutz, Florida
"The Bible clearly tells us that in this world we will have trouble, and those in ministry are not exempt from it. We all experience trials and temptations, and are faced with difficult choices related to our human struggles. Michael Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffmann understand this and have done an excellent job sharing a biblical perspective on avoiding the all-too-common pitfalls of ministry that can lead to destruction. The wisdom and insight found in this book has helped me become a more effective leader and minister."Alan Chambers, President, Exodus International
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CONTENTS

Introduction: Why Practicing Shepherdcare Is So Important
Foundation Stone 1: Intimacy: Connecting to the Heart of Successful Pastoring
Foundation Stone 2: Calling: Having the Power for Effectiveness in Ministry
Foundation Stone 3:Stress Management: Avoiding Ineffectiveness in Ministry
Foundation Stone 4: Boundaries: Protecting What Matters Most
Foundation Stone 5: Re-Creation: Necessary Fuel for Effective Long-Term Ministry
Foundation Stone 6: People Skills: Managing Your Church's Most Valuable Resource
Foundation Stone 7: Leadership Skills

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Michael Todd Wilson

Michael Todd Wilson is a licensed professional counselor and board-certified coach with Intentional Hearts, offering specialized coaching to Christian men in the recovery and pursuit of sexual integrity. He is also director of ShepherdCare, equipping Christian leaders for health and long-term effectiveness in ministry. He is the coauthor of Soul Virgins: Redefining Single Sexuality (Sexual Wholeness Resources) and Preventing Ministry Failure.

Brad Hoffmann

Brad Hoffmann (D.Min., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) is pastor of Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and cofounder of ShepherdCare.