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Pastors at Greater Risk
Some of today's pastors are relatively untroubled but need help in releasing the pressure inherent in ministry to others. Others are close to running on empty, both spiritually and emotionally. All of them would like someone to confide in who can provide realistic help based on firsthand experience. This is precisely what "Pastors at Greater Risk" is all about! First published in 1993, this edition is completely rewritten, with updated stats, interviews with contemporary pastoral leaders and a special emphasis on today's hot-button issues- job turnover, pornography, spiritual burnout, congregational turnover and more! Result: A book that is rich in wisdom and understanding and one that provides pastor-to-pastor help at a time when it is needed more than ever!
- GenresLeadershipChurch
334 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 12, 2023
Not sure how I put my hands on this book but am glad that I did. Part of the subtitle uses the phrase "real help." This book is filled with practical real help from those that have been in the trenches of ministry. They do not speak in theoretical mumbo jumbo but in clear language. Pastors are in a tough spot, yet they are not without hope or resources.
Throughout the book, there is a wealth of encouraging truths to apply. And this is the problem with any helpful book, it must be used. I'd say that pastors ought to give this a read. Probably with a pen & legal pad at their ready.
It was easy to read & easy to share things with my pastor friends. Thanks for the concern & "real help."
Throughout the book, there is a wealth of encouraging truths to apply. And this is the problem with any helpful book, it must be used. I'd say that pastors ought to give this a read. Probably with a pen & legal pad at their ready.
It was easy to read & easy to share things with my pastor friends. Thanks for the concern & "real help."
January 16, 2011
This book came as a recommendation after a long conversation about ministry burn-out. It was a very timely book in my life. If you are (or know someone in) ministry...you MUST read this book!!! It will open your eyes to the many issues that happen in church ministry...and effective tools to make things better. The wisdom, encouragement and challenges were well received in my heart.
A few stats from the book that really surprised me..."52% of pastors say they faithfully take off at least one day each week to spend with their families." (Just one day?) How about this one..."80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse." And how about this stat..."90% of pastors work more than 46 hours a week" What concerns me is this stat (and I'm sure the number is higher because these are the pastors that realize they need a break...what about all those that feel it but haven't admitted it yet???) "45.5% of pastors say that they've experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry."
The reality is pastors have a very challenging role in society...they are over worked, under paid and under appreciated. This takes a tole on their marriage, children, congregation and community. I still need to think and discuss a number of issues that this book addressed. However, I still think it was an amazing read and a great book for a weary soul.
A few stats from the book that really surprised me..."52% of pastors say they faithfully take off at least one day each week to spend with their families." (Just one day?) How about this one..."80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse." And how about this stat..."90% of pastors work more than 46 hours a week" What concerns me is this stat (and I'm sure the number is higher because these are the pastors that realize they need a break...what about all those that feel it but haven't admitted it yet???) "45.5% of pastors say that they've experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry."
The reality is pastors have a very challenging role in society...they are over worked, under paid and under appreciated. This takes a tole on their marriage, children, congregation and community. I still need to think and discuss a number of issues that this book addressed. However, I still think it was an amazing read and a great book for a weary soul.
December 10, 2018
The book is written in an engaging, authentic manner. London and Wiseman display their immense experience and also tap on the insight of leaders from other like-minded organisations that care for pastors (through Q&A/interview sessions at the end of most chapters) to lay out the unique challenges of being a pastor. I'd imagine that their wise (preemptive) recommendations and (reactionary) interventions would be thoroughly insightful to practising ministers. Indeed it’s much better to learn from the mistakes of others rather than making them yourself. Its best use perhaps is as a reality check to pastors - STOP running yourself dry and take the necessary measures to not crash and burn!
I appreciated how in including letters from pastors and their family members to illustrate specific topics, London and Wiseman do not sugarcoat the crushing toll of pastoral ministry and opt to publish it in its raw form. Also great was the highlighting of key principles by featuring them as block quotations, which broke up the monotony of walls of text. If I could feature a paradigm-shifting principle I learnt from this book, it would be the advice to avoid having monday as an off day - read Chapter 7 for the full scoop!
Even at 300 plus pages, it did not feel that long because the content was accessible and topics discussed were highly relevant. What keeps this book from being rated a full five stars would be the tone of the book - I felt the full weight of the gloom and doom that would befall the lives and families of the pastors. My impression was that it would be better to avoid ministry rather than to have to struggle unsuccessfully against the insurmountable odds placed on a pastor; I felt rather depressed and helpless when I saw how much I had to do in my own strength to not destroy my family and my ministry. My guess is that the authors' target audience would be Arminian-leaning pastors and so the slant of works (pursuit of holiness; not overworking etc) and practical step-by-step applications would resonate deeply with them.
How is a pastor ever going to survive? I'd rather have wished for London and Wiseman to remind us of the supernatural life-changing power and the blessed everlasting hope of the Gospel. Practical advice is great, but we ministers need to be captured and consumed before imparting a love of Christ to their families and flock.
Nevertheless, because this title is so exhaustive in its sweep and extremely helpful in its depth of suggested interventions, it would still be an invaluable resource in any pastor's library (even for the slightly reformed ones like myself). Just be sure to read Edmund Clowney's inspiring Called to Ministry alongside this to catch a glimpse of Clowney’s enrapturing love for his Saviour and great awe and joy of being in his service.
I appreciated how in including letters from pastors and their family members to illustrate specific topics, London and Wiseman do not sugarcoat the crushing toll of pastoral ministry and opt to publish it in its raw form. Also great was the highlighting of key principles by featuring them as block quotations, which broke up the monotony of walls of text. If I could feature a paradigm-shifting principle I learnt from this book, it would be the advice to avoid having monday as an off day - read Chapter 7 for the full scoop!
Even at 300 plus pages, it did not feel that long because the content was accessible and topics discussed were highly relevant. What keeps this book from being rated a full five stars would be the tone of the book - I felt the full weight of the gloom and doom that would befall the lives and families of the pastors. My impression was that it would be better to avoid ministry rather than to have to struggle unsuccessfully against the insurmountable odds placed on a pastor; I felt rather depressed and helpless when I saw how much I had to do in my own strength to not destroy my family and my ministry. My guess is that the authors' target audience would be Arminian-leaning pastors and so the slant of works (pursuit of holiness; not overworking etc) and practical step-by-step applications would resonate deeply with them.
How is a pastor ever going to survive? I'd rather have wished for London and Wiseman to remind us of the supernatural life-changing power and the blessed everlasting hope of the Gospel. Practical advice is great, but we ministers need to be captured and consumed before imparting a love of Christ to their families and flock.
Nevertheless, because this title is so exhaustive in its sweep and extremely helpful in its depth of suggested interventions, it would still be an invaluable resource in any pastor's library (even for the slightly reformed ones like myself). Just be sure to read Edmund Clowney's inspiring Called to Ministry alongside this to catch a glimpse of Clowney’s enrapturing love for his Saviour and great awe and joy of being in his service.
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March 30, 2021Some good material for pastors
May 29, 2024
Creo q este es el mejor libro q se puede leer un pastor excelente toca todos los temas que necesitan saber los pastores
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews