The Pastor's Soul Series No 8: Your Ministry's Next Chapter

by Gary Fenton

Your Ministry's Next Chapter is just like talking to a close friend, someone who is willing to share his life secrets with you, providing a candid look behind the cosmetics of the pastoral persona. If you are a pastor in or near mid-life, you'll find yourself in it. Read this book before you retire on the job." Bob Buford, Founder of Leadership Network Author of Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance Pastors are maturing. Deepening. They want substance for their congregations and nourishment for their own soul. THE PASTOR'S SOUL series unleashes pastors to do what really matters. To step beyond skills. To give of their unique gifts. To minister authentically and grow in the intangibles of ministry like integrity and character. A GROUNDBREAKING SERIES ON THE INNER LIFE OF PASTORS In this changing culture, pastors need to know about the changes of ministry at mid-life and how they can maintain or rediscover their call to serve God with passion and focus. Pastors are not immune to the struggles of mid-life careers. Over the years many pastors slowly lose the full-hearted passion and vision of their original call to serve God. The tendency is to slow down, retire on the job, or stop growing. Like a low-grade temperature, its symptoms are difficult to detect and seldom get reported, but its effects are destructive and tragic. Longtime pastor Gary Fenton writes candidly about the changes of ministry at mid-life and how pastors can finish strong in the second half. He shows pastors how to keep their ministries vibrant at any age and how to use their gifts to their full potential. "Drawing from his pilgrimage, Gary Fenton provides penetrating insights into numerous challenges facing mid-career ministers. The result is an easy-to-read story filled with encouraging, practical lessons applicable for ministers of all ages." Dr. Bobby S. Terry, Editor, Journal of the Alabama Baptist State Convention

156 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Darrin Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a memoir, and was not what I was expecting. Throughout the author provided some sound principles to consider in mid life beyond. Some of which apply to every mid–lifer, not just pastors. I will be recording some of these principles and thoughts for further consideration.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick read. The author draws mostly from his own ministry experience and that of other pastors he knows. I picked it up because I am in the midlife stage of my own ministry and wanted someone else's perspective on the issue. This was helpful in some places, though not life-changing. I suspect there are better books out there on the subject.

[Daryl Watts]

A little dated, and regional (south), but it does open up some important questions that a minister in his/her 50s should probably address.