12 Faithful Men: Portraits of Courageous Endurance in Pastoral Ministry

12 Faithful

by Collin Hansen (Editor), Jeff Robinson (Editor), Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. (Foreword)

Most pastors know when they enter the ministry that they will spend time helping others through times of suffering. What they usually do not realize, though, is that they too will suffer. Caught off guard, many of them end up deeply hurt and quit the ministry, deciding that perhaps they misunderstood God's call on their lives or that they simply do not have what it takes. But church history is filled with compelling stories of men who were profoundly afflicted while they carried out their ministry and yet persevered faithfully until death.

Now the editors of The Gospel Coalition have collected inspiring stories of twelve faithful men who endured great suffering for the cause of Christ. The stories of the apostle Paul, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan, Wang Mindao, and others show that suffering in the context of ministry is expected--and it's never wasted. Pastors and ministry leaders, as well as those who support them, will find in this collection encouragement to run the race with endurance.

Genres: Biography, Christian, History, Church History, Leadership, Nonfiction, Christian Living

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2018

About the author

Collin Hansen is editorial director for The Gospel Coalition and was previously an associate editor for Christianity Today. He has written for Books & Culture, Leadership, and Christian History & Biography, and is the author of Young, Restless, and Reformed.

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très agréable à lire et contenu édifiant. C’est particulièrement encourageant de lire le récit de chrétiens connus du passé sous un nouvel angle, où l’on voit tout ce qu’ils ont souffert (physiquement, spirituellement ou socialement), et comment ils sont restés fidèles malgré tout.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Twelve thumbnail biographies focused on pastoral leaders who served faithfully through suffering.

Pastoral ministry is not for sissies, contrary to some popular stereotypes. The hours can be long, you often encounter people at their worst (and sometimes at their best), your call is to be faithful to God's word, and a shepherd of God's people. Sooner or later, conflict and criticism homes in on you. Pastors not only help the suffering. If they are at all faithful to their work, they are the suffering.

This is a book to give courage to pastors. It consists of twelve thumbnail biographies of faithful men (I would hope a companion volume on faithful women is forthcoming--there are a host of examples). Some are quite familiar: Paul, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Charles Spurgeon. Some you may have heard of: Andrew Fuller, Charles Simeon, J.C.Ryle. And some like John Chavis, an early Black preacher; Janani Luwum, the Ugandan archbishop martyred under Idi Amin; and Wang Ming-Dao, a Chinese pastor who led the house church movement under Mao.

What they all have in common is that faithfulness in ministry led to some form of suffering. A number went to prison, including Paul, John Bunyan, Luwum, and Wang Ming-Dao. Others faced controversy with their people, including Calvin and Edwards and Simeon. Spurgeon struggled with the black dog of depression throughout his ministry. Chavis, highly educated and even a tutor of white children was barred from preaching, though licensed, simply because he was black.

Each of the biographers in this volume explore the ways these men were formed through suffering. For Paul, suffering portrayed what he proclaimed, focused him on eternal things, authenticated the integrity of his ministry and destroyed self-glory. Calvin came to understand through the suffering of exile the call to exile we all share. Prison plunged Bunyan into the scriptures such that Spurgeon comment that if you cut Bunyan, he would bleed "bibline." Fuller learned through the heartbreaks of the death of his wife and son, and another wayward son, to give comfort to all who struggled with similar circumstances. Simeon pressed on despite great opposition in prayerful, humble expository ministry from which might be traced the University and Colleges Christian Fellowship in the United Kingdom, InterVarsity/USA and the ministry of John Stott, Kent Hughes and others.

I appreciate the inclusion of examples of African American, Chinese and African examples and would hope that the western Church might hear more examples of Christian faithfulness around the world. In a culture where it seems that the most common prayer is that things would go "smoothly," the honest portrayal of the various forms of suffering that is the lot of faithful pastors is both a bracing word, and a welcome balm. I suspect many pastors wonder if they are alone, and if they have done something wrong if they are not "prospering."

The biographies are short, rather than exhaustive, averaging about fifteen pages, making this ideal for devotional reading. While more lengthy and definitive works have been written about many, the focus on the theme of endurance through suffering and God's provident work makes these pithy biographies welcome support amid the press of pastoral duties. Buy two of these, one for your pastor, and one to understand and pray for her or him (and other faithful pastors around the world).

____________________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories of the Lord’s faithfulness to 12 men in ministry who faced a variety of different hardships. Encouraging to see how God upheld each in the midst of very different circumstances. Suffering in its various forms seems to be the norm.

[Aaron Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is a fantastic look into the lives of 12 strong and troubled Christian leaders and how their suffering was not only necessary for the growth and strength of their ministries, but often times it was the prime building block God used. This is a book for anyone who has questions, doubts, and fears of the role suffering plays in the life of a believer.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book that considers the lives of 12 men throughout history — from the Apostle Paul to modern-day martyrs — who suffered in various ways for the sake of the gospel. As such a compilation, it doesn’t attempt to give a full biography of each person, but does share the pertinent biographical facts related to how they struggled and endured in ministry.

Each chapter is focused on one person, and one specific way they showed faithful endurance through their unique trials. It shares specific details of their sufferings, direct quotations from their correspondence or sermons, and a few key takeaways that we can glean from their examples. Many of the names were familiar, but not all — unfortunately, it was a little harder to relate to the unfamiliar ones due to the brevity of each chapter. However, there were a plethora of end notes, which provided quite a few resources for further reading about each of the men.

The first chapter considers Paul, the “Apostle of Pastoral Affliction,” and served as sort of an introduction to the whole book. In considering a brief theology of suffering, it shared six Pauline lessons on faithfulness that we would do well to heed, whatever our occupation may be. It then went on to consider the following 11 examples of faithful endurance:

- John Calvin: Faithful in Exile
- John Bunyan: Faithful in Prison
- Jonathan Edwards: Faithful to the End
- John Newton: Faithful amid Disappointment
- Andrew Fuller: Faithful amid Heartbreak
- Charles Simeon: Faithful Shepherd to Hostile Sheep
- John Chavis: Faithful in the Face of Racism
- C. H. Spurgeon: Faithful in Sorrow
- J. C. Ryle: Faithful amid Personal Ruin
- Janani Luwum: Faithful unto Death
- Wang Ming-Dao: Faithful amid Political Coercion

As I read each chapter, I found it especially helpful to note the variety of trials. Some suffered severe persecution for their faith, some from family deaths or betrayals, and others from financial hardships or emotional struggles. Everyone’s suffering looks different, and everyone’s response to suffering looks different! There is no one-size-fits-all manual for facing persecution (other than trusting in God to carry you through it).

While the book is officially written to men who are pastors, I found it extremely helpful in strengthening my own faith. Lord willing, I have many long years of ministry ahead of me — and I know I will face many trials, especially as we seek to share the gospel with unreached people. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I know we will face persecution of some sort, financial difficulties, relational stress, and physical challenges. I know, because we’ve barely gotten our feet wet with ministry and yet have already walked through many of those types of trials.

Reading these “portraits of courageous endurance” gave me hope that, though the road may be long and hard and filled with hurdles, God will continue to work in and through me to accomplish His purposes. It fortified my faith in our good Heavenly Father, who will never allow anything in our lives that is not for our good and His glory. I know suffering will come — but I also know the One who will walk with me through that suffering.

This compilation of biographical sketches should be an encouragement for any Christian, no matter what your calling in life, and especially for those serving in full-time ministry. We all face hard things as soldiers of Christ, but those in pastoral ministry or missions of some sort seem to experience an extra measure of trials. If that’s you, I’d highly recommend this book as a way to prepare or strengthen your heart and mind, and remind yourself of the truth that God does not waste our suffering!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for sharing my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed herein are completely my own.

[Dan Curnutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are twelve short biographical studies about Pastors who faced a degree of suffering in their ministries. Some were specifically targeted by opponents, some were jailed and beaten, some struggled through personal tragedy.

The premise of the book is to help those who are "called" into ministry to understand that they will face struggles and trials, that is pretty much a given. It follows some of the Apostle Paul's thoughts from Philippians when he states that a believer is Christ must suffer for the sake of Christ. That sounds downright unpleasant. Why would anyone want to suffer for a ministry?

But these twelve bio's give us a glimpse into the hearts of men who did suffer for the "sake of Christ," and how that effected their lives and their ministry.

This book is intended to be an encouragement to those of us in ministry, but again, just understand that it gives us the perspective that we will be hurt in ministry, torn down, dragged through the mud, etc. While that may hurt the rewards that come out in the long run are what is worth the price we will pay.

Enjoy!

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ministry professionals rarely lead with their weaknesses. We want church leaders with plenty of personality, charisma, and confidence. Missionary letters and reports may dip into Brené Brown vulnerability territory for a paragraph or two, but the overall theme is generally a litany of accomplishments and success stories. The 21st century church largely agrees that blessing and success are the measure of a person’s calling. Of course, we have a pretty way of defining “blessing,” and an even prettier way of judging anyone whose life does not exude the evidences of “blessing.” This is human nature, but it is ironic given the pattern established by apostles who commended one another to “share in suffering as a good solider of Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 2:3) Church history trumpets the stories of saints who chose death over defection or endured unfathomable hardship in carrying out their calling.

Editors Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson have selected the stories of 12 Faithful Men: Portraits of Courageous Endurance in Pastoral Ministry in an effort to dismantle the cool factor that prevails in our view of ministry life. Beginning with the Apostle Paul, who knew well the sting of the lash and the sting of rejection, the record shows that those who have been profoundly used by God “to build the church suffered grinding affliction along the way.”

It may surprise readers to learn that renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon suffered from depression or that Jonathan Edwards was ousted from an influential pulpit and spent the remainder of his ministry in the wilderness. John Newton composed Amazing Grace, but he also weathered financial distress and professional pettiness and politics in the pursuit of his calling. It turns out that many of the names we associate with great faith and “success” in ministry were plagued throughout their lives with criticism from their community (often from their own people!), chronic health concerns, or circumstances that were a continual source of mental anguish and despair.

Grueling, Glorious Calling
Historical heroes of the faith ministered in an era of high mortality rates among children, depressing statistics for women in child-bearing years, and the total absence of antibiotics and effective methods of pain relief. Add to this the challenges of ministry life, particularly in cultures where the gospel was not welcome, and it becomes clear that “the surpassing power belongs to God,” and His servants are merely fragile vessels with a powerful message.

Fast forward a century or two, however, and statistics from The Gospel Coalition point to the sobering fact that “pastor suicides climbed 24 percent between 1999 and 2014.” (32) In spite of heightened awareness of mental illness and treatment options among the general population, pastors continue to be reluctant to share their own struggles with depression or doubt.

Pray for Sanctified Courage
Reading the stories of historical figures who loomed larger than life against a backdrop of persecution, jailing, pressure to compromise, and family drama has encouraged me to pray with greater wisdom for present-day ministry leaders. Family challenges may not include a small-pox epidemic, but parenting in the 21st century is not without peril. Add to this the pervasive consumer culture rampant within the church in which Christians “shop” churches for programs, sermons, decor, and a coffee menu that is tailored to their specific preferences, and it’s easy to see why a pastor could become discouraged.

It’s said that Spurgeon’s preaching career resulted in larger church sanctuaries, built to accommodate the crowds he drew. Most ministry leaders will never experience that degree of exposure, and yet we can pray for them to share the truth with holy boldness among the flock God sends to them. Pastors who love courageously put their hearts at risk in a way that is Christ-like and winsome and yet costly.

Peter, the fisherman turned ministry leader, warned his own flock:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

He spoke from experience, of course, but suffering in the context of ministry is never wasted, and after reading about the endurance of these 12 men in church history, I can sense my own tiny mustard seed of faith sprouting just a bit more.

Many thanks to Baker Books for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

[J.K. Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating – Put it on your list

Level – Quick, easy read; short book

Summary
I have to admit that I just skimmed the title of this book and didn’t read the subtitle. I was expecting a basic short biography of 12 men, but the subtitle says it all. This book is about pastors and their particular struggles in life. The book is a collection of essays written by 12 different men, only one of which was one of the editors. The first chapter is about Paul, and also functions as something like an intro to what the book is trying to accomplish. The other 11 men/chapters are John Calvin, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Andrew Fuller, Charles Simeon, John Chavis, C.H. Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, Janani Luwum, and Wang Ming-Dao.

My Thoughts
If you are wondering if the ‘J’ in J.C. Ryle is for John, the answer is yes. That means that half of the book is about people named John. I have no idea what Janani means in Swahili, but, it’d be pretty funny if it translated to John (the was John Calvin is actually named Jean). I feel like there was a missed opportunity to go full John here. I’m mostly joking, if anything I wish it had been expanded a little more across time and the world. I appreciate them covering two more modern Christians from other countries (I guess non-English, as most of the guys are). I hadn’t heard of either of these two, nor did I know who Simeon or Chavis were. I thought I new Fuller, but I was getting him confused withe other Fuller, founder of the seminary.

Overall, I thought it was pretty interesting. I’m already pretty familiar with Paul, Calvin, Edwards, and Spurgeon, but this book definitely makes me want to grab a biography, and learn more about Spurgeon, Bunyan, and especially Newton. Personally, while reading this book, I was going through my own time of suffering as well as studying unanswered prayer at church, so this fit in well, and was at least some level of encouraging.

This book would benefit most people who are struggling in their faith, but especially pastors. That really seems to be the target audience. Though, as the book is written by 12 different authors, you have varying degrees of focus. It was probably a mistake to attempt an intro and snippet on Paul. The book would have benefited more from either a dedicated intro, or a chapter more focused on being an intro that used Paul as an example and then perhaps another pastor (obviously needs to be another John, Knox perhaps?) if they want to keep the 12 angry men play on words thing going.

If you like history or biography, it is also a worthwhile book. It is a short enough book that is easy to read and will encourage you in your faith; so it is probably a book most people should put on their list. If you are a pastor/elder/deacon, I’d say it is a must read.

* I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at MondayMorningTheologian.com

[Sam N · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did receive this book at no charge from the publisher for my unbiased, honest opinion.

Disclaimer: I am not this books target audience. The target audience for this book is specifically for pastors, deacons, or other (mostly male) heads of the church. Here after all heads of the church will be grouped together under the term Preacher.

The book boils down to one main premise: that all preachers who are truly called to be servants of God as preachers tend to have a somewhat tragic life in some form or fashion. All of the biblical scriptures and each of the ’12 Faithful Men’ mentioned are examples to back this belief. He gives examples of how even in biblical times, the Apostle Paul had to experience tragedy, and how in many of Paul's letters, he mentions that to truly be a good teacher of God’s word then you would need to go through many tragedies not only to test your faithfulness but to be a better preacher. Paul (and thus the author) further explains that through these struggles, you will be able to better connect to your congregation as you will be more understanding and compassionate. His main biblical scripture he continues to draw from being Corinthians and more specifically 2 Corinthians, although he does utilize other passages as well to support his view.

Further, he does give additional examples from other preachers to show the struggle of those called to serve, such as those, that like Paul, were also imprisoned for sharing the gospel, as well as personal tragedies, such as the loss of spouses, children, and other loved ones. He gives examples of those that have been pushed out of their congregations or due to circumstances, were forced to preach where they weren’t truly wanted, as well as, some that had their own personal, inner struggles.

While I did feel that some of the stories could have definitely been shortened a bit and were only drawn out to give a bit of filler, overall it was a good book. I would definitely recommend this book to pastors, preachers, or other heads of the church, especially those new to the calling.

Let me state that while I am not part of the target audience in this instance, I can appreciate the subject matter. There are several examples and scriptures mentioned that I can definitely see myself drawing back on during my own difficult times.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I got 12 Faithful Men, I thought it would be twelve stories of famous Christian people who courageously endured, as the title implies, through trials and suffering. And I was right, in a sense, but I wasn’t expecting the pastoral audience the book is clearly aimed for. This was a book written by pastors, for pastors, and so the “portraits” weren’t as detailed or as lengthy as I would have liked.

That being said, I did enjoy the stories of these 12 men. I ended up skipping a lot of the application and simply read about the 12 men, so it was a pretty quick read. Most of the people that Hansen and Robinson wrote about I had already known about, such as Paul, Jonathan Edwards, and John Newton, but some I had never heard about. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Janani Luwum, a Ugandan pastor, and Wang Ming-Dao, a Chinese pastor, because it gave me some insight into the trouble that brewed, and is possibly still brewing in Uganda (and Africa in general) and in China. I knew about Mao, but I didn’t know about Idi Amin, the “African Hitler,” who slaughtered thousands of his own people in his quest for power.

I really wasn’t expecting 12 Faithful Men to be as devotional as it was, so it was a little disappointing, but I did find the lives of the people inside interesting. I could also think of a few other people that the authors didn’t highlight that would have fit right in with the theme of the book, so I think there’s something to be said about endurance in suffering in religion in general, and Christianity in particular. There were some good things said about suffering and faith, too, though I did end up skimming a majority of that part when the authors directed it specifically towards pastors. The book really didn’t fulfill what I thought it would, but I did learn some things nevertheless.

Disclaimer: Book provided by the publisher

[Karl Dumas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s easy to think that persecution of Christians and suffering by Christians don’t happen much anymore, at least in the West, and that’s certainly true compared to some parts of the world. In fact a real ‘first world problem’ is that many of us think that persecution stopped centuries ago when they stopped throwing Christians to the lions. The only problem is that persecution still exists, and Christians suffer as much as non-believers. And frequently pastors suffer as much, or more, than anyone else. But as James reminds us, we should “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds”. (James 1:2, NIV)
And that’s what we see in the profiles of men who suffered for their faith, or despite their faith and service to the Lord. 12 Faithful Men” Portraits of Courageous Endurance in Pastoral Ministry (Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson, EDS,. Baker Books, 2018) profiles a dozen well known Christian Pastors, mostly from the recent past centuries, (the Apostle Paul and John Calvin go back a little farther) who learned the joy of sharing in the suffering of Christ. Each profile is a few pages which can be read in just a few minutes. Read about John Bunyon and Johnathan Edwards; John Chavis and C.H. Spurgeon, and finish up with Ugandan Janani Luwum and Chinese Wang Ming-Dao.
Fascinating stories of fascinating men who helped shape the Church as it should be known today.
I received a copy of this book as a participant in Baker Books’ blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review, rather offer my honest opinion.
4/5

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 Faithful Men is a collection of portraits that capture the lives and ministries of godly men, scattered throughout church history. These men come from a variety of backgrounds and have all made significant contributions to the kingdom of God.

Collin Hansen and Jeff Robinson serve as editors of this project and enlist the help of several other pastors and scholars who paint short portraits of these faithful men. What makes this volume so valuable is that each of the twelve men has faced significant pain, suffering, or persecution in ministry. The men include the apostle Paul, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Andrew Fuller, Charles Simeon, John Chavis, C.H. Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, Janani Luwum, and Wang Ming-Dao.

Most of the faithful men featured in this book are well-known names. The portraits are painted with skill, passion, and biblical wisdom. They are short introductions that will likely prompt some readers to do a more in-depth study. A few of the faithful men in this volume are lesser known figures, most notably, Janani Luwum and Wang Ming-Dao.

Each portrait is an invitation to pursue a life and ministry, which is tethered to sacrifice and suffering. The clear message is that ministry entails suffering and that God uses adversity to mark a man and make a man. And while each portrait provides a basic glimpse of one of these twelve faithful men, the greater message is that God is exalted and glorified in each of these men.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of mini-biographies of prominent Christians, pastors, who suffered during their time of ministry. Some suffered beatings and death from persecution. One biography is of a man who suffered mostly racial persecution in the US. At least one story is about suffering inflicted by other leaders in authority in at least one Christian church. One man suffered being ostracized by his own congregation. Each story is authored by a different person.

The common thread is that suffering is within God's plan. Often it is used for growth of the individual. Almost always it is an example to others. Always it is to the glory of God.

Many of the individuals are not well known. A few, such as Paul and Spurgeon are almost universally known among Christians at least in the Western churches. In most cases, the biography focuses on a few key events in the person's life especially as it regarded suffering.

One thing that struck me was the paucity of scriptural quotations. There were some but there were far more extra-biblical quotations. In at least one biography I didn't note any. This is not a fatal flaw, but in my mind, all truth originates from God through scripture.

It might be obvious, but this is not a happy book other than the glory given to God in these testimonies. But the circumstances are harsh. There are references to horrible abuse.

Overall, this book is worthwhile for those who like personal testimonies or biographies. It is a fairly quick read and it is quite easy to break it up into daily readings.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastors can never have too much encouragement in the trenches of pastoral ministry. Encouragement is exactly what the contributors to this volume have provided for pastors.

Twelve contributors explore the example of twelve godly pastors who suffered disappointment and suffering in different ways in the midst of pastoral ministry and remained faithful to the end. Men who are faithful to the end are needed role models for those of us in ministry today as a great number seem to be disqualifying themselves early on through infidelity in the church or in the home. Most of those looked at in this volume are familiar names whose life stories many pastors are familiar with. Three individuals who were unknown to me were John Chavis African-American pastor who faced great difficulty due to 19th century racism, Ugandan martyr Jana Luwum, and Chinese pastor Wang Ming-Dao who suffered under communist oppression.

Christian biography, especially biography of faithful ministers, is a great encouragement for those in pastoral ministry. I would commend this book to pastors and ministry leaders as it is a great source of encouragement.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has had a profound impact on my thinking (especially the first part of the book) and as a pastor has dramatically affected my understanding and acceptance of personal suffering. In it, one of the suffering ministers, Andrew Fuller, wrote, "It is an interesting thought, that the afflictions of ministers are described in the Scriptures as generally sent them for the people's good. St. Paul speaks of the afflictions that befell him and his brethren as designed to qualify them to comfort others with the same comfort wherewith they themselves were comforted of God...Perhaps the greatest qualifications, the best instruction, the most useful learning, that any Christian minister can attain, without any disparagement of other kinds of learning, is that which is attained in the school of affliction; it is by this he becomes able to feel, to sympathize, and to speak a word in season to them that are weary." And perhaps it is not for ministers alone, but for all believers that this is true. John 12:24

[Kurt Brubaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 Faithful Men is such a helpful little book. Twelve different authors paint a thumbnail sketch of 12 different pastors. Some of the thumbnails were not unexpected like Jonathan Edwards and John Bunyan. However, there were several thumbnails I was pleasantly surprised that were included like John Newton, J.C. Ryle, and Charles Simeon. One of the goldmines is to be introduced to men I never knew existed like John Chavis and Janani Luwam.

These portraits help both pastors and non-pastors get a glimpse of the suffering that other pastors in other parts of the world and other times endured. That is one of the themes of these men. They endured to the end. This is one of the helpful aspects of biographies. The various trials pastors endure today are not that different than pastors in other ages. Yet, the pastors in this book endured. For those who love the Lord and long to serve him faithfully, this book is a welcome addition to your library like water to a thirsty soul.

[Oak · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 Faithful Men: Portraits of Courageous Endurance in Pastoral Ministry highlights the bravery of twelve key historical figures: Paul, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Andrew Fuller, Charles Simeon, John Chavis, C.H. Spurgeon, J.C. Ryle, Janani Luwum, and Wang Ming-Dao. The book excellently shows how these men, who were also pastors, went through a lot of suffering, but also overcame suffering. The book would be a good tool for young pastors, allowing them to see the trials and turbulent times in these renowned leaders’ lives. Hansen and Robinson demonstrate that rough periods are commonplace in ministry, and the leaders of today will be able to relate. Each chapter in the book is written by a different author, giving the book a wide range of perspectives.

*I received this book for review.*

[Joseph Bremenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book and its portrayal of church leaders as sufferers in a variety of ways to be especially impactful. I really appreciated his insight at the beginning of the book when talking about Paul. When Paul gives his resume, so to speak, to the church of Corinth he does not talk about all of the great things he had accomplished. He did not talk about the thousands who had listened to his words or the several churches that he had started. He did not talk about his evangelistic travels nor even his credentials as a former Pharisee. Rather, he talked about the sufferings that he had endured for the sake of Christ. Evidently, Paul saw perseverance through suffering and trials as of far greater weight than achievement. I realize that often my mind does not even think about that. I want to achieve great things and produce big results without suffering. Yet Paul sees suffering as a thing of greater value.
Although I appreciated all of the biographies, I particularly enjoyed the J. C Ryle biography. God used some of the most humiliating and difficult circumstances to bring Ryle to the place where he could be used for effective ministry. It reminded me of the story of Joseph. Where although evil circumstances happen near the beginning of the story God uses it for our good and His glory. I am so grateful that we have a sovereign God who is in control of all of the circumstances of our lives. With such a God nothing in life is purposeless.

[Andy Huette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great read not only for pastors (intended audience), but for all Christians. It’s twelve concise biographies about pastors from the past who have endured suffering for the sake of Christ. They all suffered differently, but with faith. As one who has suffered very little, it was eye-opening to consider how suffering is one of God’s means of sharing the gospel and sanctifying the sufferer. It’s also some historical “fresh air” as it helps the reader consider people living faithfully in very different cultural circumstances.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging, humbling, convicting.
Brief insights into the lives of twelve pastors who endured hardship in ministry and were found faithful in the end.
Surprisingly consistent in quality (for a multi-author volume).

Highlights—account of Ryle’s family struggles, Fuller’s modest and faithful care for his wife in the midst of often violent dementia, Wang and his initial compromise followed by faithfulness in face of opposition, and Simeon’s persistence in preaching despite hostility.

[Nate Holdridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edited by Collin Hansen, this book is a collection of essays exploring the lives of twelve biblical or historical ministers and their experiences with suffering. The quality of writing varies from chapter to chapter. Good insights into the theology of suffering, especially in ministry. "The privilege of pastoral ministry is Jesus—serving Jesus, standing for Jesus, representing Jesus, laying down our lives for Jesus, and through it all knowing Jesus more deeply." (Collin Hansen)

[Lewis Kiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read. Every Christian should read biographies of faithful believers of the past. Even though the book gives a very brief summary of these 12 individuals - it is a worthy reminder that difficulties accompany ministry. And the Christian pastor should expect it. This book encourages and reminds the minister what real trouble looks like. (And it’s far more than bickering over the thermostat!)

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book sketching the lives of men who remained faithful amidst suffering. The book starts with the apostle Paul and moves right into the last century. These men suffered from persecution to familial loss and endured to the end because of their confidence in the faithfulness of God. I am thankful for this book. May it help many who struggle.

[Wes Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an encouraging book as it gave examples of pastors who had endured in the midst of hardship. I liked that the book gave a range of hardship whether it was sickness, financial difficulties, government persecution, slander, or racism. I enjoyed learning more about a few pastors I already knew but I especially liked learning about those I had never heard of. Overall a solid read

[Jon Varner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book looking at the suffering of 12 pastors. If you want to be encouraged to faithfully endure hardships this book is well worth your time. Or if you’d simply like to be encouraged by the faithfulness of others definitely give this a read.

[Brian Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 essays written by different authors about Christian leaders endurance in the faith. Some are better written than others but overall it is encouraging to hear of faithfulness in the face of suffering, persecution and hardship.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially loved the chapter on John Bunyan, which should how God used the trials in Bunyan's life to produce great things. This theme is actually repeated in all the mini biographies of the truly great men included. Another theme was our best weapon is to stay in the Bible.

[Michael Millett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first biography/historical account book I have read and I enjoyed it quite a bit! The premise of the book is fairly simple: 12 short accounts of the trials and hardships experienced by some of the most esteemed men in pastoral ministry.

[Zach Nakhla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Super interesting learning about the heartbreaking struggles of some of the great heroes of the faith.

The apostle Paul is a bit of a cop-out, and the one about the evils of racism had a tone that did not match the rest of the book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read. Biographies are always encouraging, but this one is especially so because it highlights the sufferings and failures of these twelve men. It brought much encouragement to my heart!