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How to Treat a Staff Infection: Resolving Problems in Your Church or Ministry Team
Anyone involved in ministry for any amount of time has probably run across staff problems. And the challenge in dealing with staff problems within a Christian ministry is solving the problems in a Christian manner--and keeping a sense of humor about it all. In How to Treat a Staff Infection, Dr. Craig and Carolyn Williford take a "medical" approach to those common ministry ailments, including - a stiff neck "God always intended VBS to be two full weeks." - temporary paralysis "You want me to make a decision?" - a flaccidity of the lips "Got a prayer request for you won't believe what so-and-so did now..." - abnormal weight gain "God just gave me this incredible idea..." - and many more Almost every problem a ministry staff encounters is covered in this humorous and helpful book.
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 20, 2021
Maybe one of the most important books I’ve read. Rarely does a book feel so obviously helpful (as it reminds you of so many personal ministry experiences) while at the same time brings conviction and healing personally.
This book is funny, and super practical. It will forever stay on my book shelf because of it’s usefulness to “diagnose” and “treat” (understand and appropriately address) staff team “illnesses” (difficult people and situations on ministry staff teams). It was quoted in “When Narcissism comes to Church” and the quote was so true that it drove me to find this book, and I could have underlined half of the book.
I read it straight from cover to cover, however you could easily use it as a reference book and skip to chapters that are relevant to see how your situation might correlate and find helpful and practical tips on how to handle your situation with humility and genuine care for the offending party. Chapter titles are clever, like “Temporary Paralysis” (Widespread inability to make decisions) and “Rigidity of the Body” (Too Fixed in One Place to Budge - Even an Inch) and address practical problems you’ve definitely seen if you’ve been serving in ministry very long, or will eventually see if you haven’t. I wish I had read this book 10 years ago and had it as a reference all these years.
The biggest problem is that the book seems to be out of print and almost impossible to find. I got my copy used in “Like New” condition and was grateful I could get my hands on it. But even considering the difficulty in obtaining it, I highly suggest this read for anyone working in ministry on a team! Just don’t buy the $800 version on Amazon!
This book is funny, and super practical. It will forever stay on my book shelf because of it’s usefulness to “diagnose” and “treat” (understand and appropriately address) staff team “illnesses” (difficult people and situations on ministry staff teams). It was quoted in “When Narcissism comes to Church” and the quote was so true that it drove me to find this book, and I could have underlined half of the book.
I read it straight from cover to cover, however you could easily use it as a reference book and skip to chapters that are relevant to see how your situation might correlate and find helpful and practical tips on how to handle your situation with humility and genuine care for the offending party. Chapter titles are clever, like “Temporary Paralysis” (Widespread inability to make decisions) and “Rigidity of the Body” (Too Fixed in One Place to Budge - Even an Inch) and address practical problems you’ve definitely seen if you’ve been serving in ministry very long, or will eventually see if you haven’t. I wish I had read this book 10 years ago and had it as a reference all these years.
The biggest problem is that the book seems to be out of print and almost impossible to find. I got my copy used in “Like New” condition and was grateful I could get my hands on it. But even considering the difficulty in obtaining it, I highly suggest this read for anyone working in ministry on a team! Just don’t buy the $800 version on Amazon!
February 7, 2016
The various "illnesses" that were utilised to illustrate various ministry problems did not cut it for me. It may have been done with an intention of being creative but the authors lack the verve, authority and confidence of more established church growth consultants.
I'd rather recommend a book by Hybels or McIntosh any day. Check my goodreads profile for my review on some of these titles.
I'd rather recommend a book by Hybels or McIntosh any day. Check my goodreads profile for my review on some of these titles.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews