Publisher's Synopsis
This book will encourage pastors! This resource will help pastors stay in the fight! Today's minister needs to be encouraged, for discouragement is rampant. Gone are the days when pastors were in a high prestige/low stress calling. Today it is more likely that ministers feel like they are in a high stress/low prestige job. The Word of God, and more specifically Second Timothy is rich with insights on how to stay in the fight. The author has identified helpful themes from this pastoral letter, presenting each as a conversation. Reflecting on his own journey where he was tempted more than once to throw in the towel, he speaks of the transforming influence that Second Timothy had on his life. The biblical truths embraced will rekindle the dream, the vision for making a significant (and joyous) contribution to the kingdom of God. This book will be profitable for any who might read it solo style. Given the twenty-nine conversations, it can be used as a one month devotional guide. It is full of outstanding quotes, illustrations, and questions for further personal reflection. For the alert reader there are numerous ideas and thoughts that are immediately transferable to preaching and teaching. But its greatest benefit will come to those who choose to use it in a small group discussion setting with other pastors. Each conversation is followed up with insightful questions designed to generate life giving conversations. Those best positioned to not only survive pastoral ministry, but even to thrive in it, are those who have a significant support network. The shaping of this book as a small group discussion guide makes it a unique offering to the pastoral support literature. For those suffering from an ongoing sense of the Monday morning blues, and possibly even thinking of checking out of ministry, they may first want to check out this book. . .
