Leaders That Last

D. Kinnaman Gary, H. Ells Alfred

Description

Thousands of ministers burn out every year; others fall prey to sexual temptation. With piercing honesty, Leaders that Last dismantles stale stereotypes about pastors and offers hope for handling their recurring, daily struggles. Co-authored by a minister who admits to struggling with periodic bouts of depression, this practical resource offers a hopeful message for pastors of every denomination. Serving a church is a lonely business no matter how big the congregation. A pastor is expected to be nearly perfect, modeling holiness, generosity, and kindness. In need of moral and emotional support, pastors often try to go it alone, satisfied with a collection of acquaintances but no true friends. Starting a Pastors in Covenant support group changes all that. Struggling leaders can throw each other a lifeline when they agree to communicate with caring and candor. Geared primarily for those in ministry, Leaders that Last is an important message from two authors who understand the difficulties that come with ministering 24-7 . . . with no Sundays off.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781585584987
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

© 2003 by Gary D. Kinnaman and Alfred H. Ells
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means for example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews .
ISBN 978-1-5855-8498-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C .
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®. NIV ®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.© Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide . www.zondervan.com
Scripture marked KJV is taken from the King James Version of the Bible .
Scripture marked TLB is taken from The Living Bible © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved .
Scripture marked MESSAGE is taken from T HE M ESSAGE . Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group .
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
“Genuine friendship is one of the most important elements in lasting ministry. Finally we have a book that teaches this eternal principle for longevity . Leaders That Last is a godsend to ministry leaders. Gary Kinnaman and Alfred Ells use lessons form their personal friendship and ministry to make a compelling case for acquiring and maintaining healthy pastoral relationships. Readers will be challenged to pray for friends who can help them survive the rigors of ministry.”
Ted Haggard, senior pastor, New Life Church, Colorado Springs
“I practice what they preach and believe it to be the single best idea to preserve pastors because it is pragmatic and effective. Read and apply to stay in the race.”
Dr. Alan Nelson, founder, Leading Ideas; author , Spirituality and Leadership
“Jesus defined life as relational, and it is in relationship with him and others that we find the abundant life he promised . Leaders That Last gives the account of one successful pastor who has actually found the enjoyment of this life in ministry. This book will be a great encouragement.”
Darryl DelHousaye, senior pastor, Scottsdale Bible Church; president, Phoenix Seminary
“Dr. Gary Kinnaman combines a humble heart and a remarkable comprehension of other cultures beyond his own. His ministry is a treasure of God that will profoundly enrich the Hispanic community. I recommend him with all my heart.”
Alberto H. Mottesi, evangelist
“One of the great needs in the world today is summed up in the title Leaders That Last . Gary Kinnaman and Al Ells have examined this subject from the unique vantage point of having dealt personally with both leaders that have lasted and, tragically, those who haven’t. Their collective insight, wisdom, and advice in this work should become required reading for today’s leaders and tomorrow’s.”
Tommy Barnett, pastor, Phoenix First Assembly of God
“Large-church culture is full of frequent, predictable, painful problems (small churches have their own). In Leaders That Last , Gary (a megachurch pastor) and Al (a therapist and consultant) open up about these faults. Their thoughtful candor is “sane” advice (especially their tips for groups) for healing “insane,” unsafe church cultures and the people who in spite of a pastor’s best efforts create them.”
Todd Hunter, director, Allelon Fellowship of Churches; former national director, Vineyard-USA
“Covenant groups for busy and drained leaders is a win-win idea, and this book is a vital resource for pastors considering accountability with relationships. It is a great book with awesome stories and will be used to save many ministries from extinction.”
Frank Damazio, senior pastor, City Bible Church, Portland, Oregon
“The local church has a vital role to play in contemporary society, and its leaders are often the determining factor for success or failure. For too long we’ve seen many leaders going at it alone or dropping out of the race prematurely. This book is a clarion call to church leaders to begin cultivating the kind of friendships that will help ensure that they are ‘leaders that last.’”
Mark Conner, senior pastor, Waverley Christian Fellowship, Melbourne, Australia
“This book comes at a very critical time of transition for the church. Without a doubt the contents of this book bring a voice of stability and hope for many pastors and leaders across America. Both Gary and Al are personal friends and mentors whose teachings have greatly influenced my life and ministry. The message within this pages will challenge you to take the next step for a kingdom vision that will transform your life and your ministry.”
Hector Torres, Hispanic International Ministries
“I love to learn from leaders I trust. In Leaders That Last , Gary Kinnaman has given us the treasures of his life. If we ponder these words and walk in this wisdom, our lives will be rescued from great folly and set on paths of joy.”
John Dawson, president, YWAM International
“Every leader of a growing ministry and every pastor of a local church will immediately identify with the heartfelt insights of Gary Kinnaman and Alfred Ells . Leaders That Last goes right to the heart of the pressures leaders face, coping mechanisms that can undermine our ministry, and how to develop the health and skill necessary to finish well. It is the most effective and insightful book I have read in many years on the heart of a spiritual leader.”
Floyd McClung, director, All Nations; senior pastor, Metro Christian Fellowship, Grandview, Missouri
“Church leaders carry enormous loads, and all too often they do it alone. Without close friends, trusted confidants, or genuine supporters, many of them eventually wear out under the pressure of ministry. This book provides wise, practical, and biblical advice on how to build the safe relationships and godly accountability that church leaders need in order to persevere and thrive in pastoral ministry.”
Ken Sande, president, Peacemaker Ministries
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Endoresements
Introduction
1. Am I Crazy?
2. These Guys Are in Trouble!
3. The Perfect Church
4. On Being Human
5. Modeling Failure
6. Al Saved My Life
7. Friendships for Life
8. How Our Group Works
9. Building Safe Groups
10. Lessons Learned
Notes
About the Author
Other Books by Author
Introduction
The walls are coming down! As Howard Snyder predicted nearly two decades ago in his landmark book Foresight , the church has made an enormous shift away from denominational and institutional traditions toward kingdom mission.
This book is about the next shift from unity movements and ministry partnerships to genuine friendships and relational accountability among diverse leaders who represent the Christian faith in a given city.
Although C. Peter Wagner’s term “postdenominationalism” has not been well-received, it’s a fact that denominations, both mainline and conservative, are reeling from the massive social upheavals of the last several decades. Driven by globalization and technological revolution, the times, well, they are a-changin’. New “apostolic” movements are emerging worldwide, and the influence of entrepreneurial megachurches like Willow Creek and Saddleback often transcends denominational models and influence. The huge and influential Promise Keepers men’s movement is another sign of transdenominational times.
A parallel trend has been a widespread interest in “city-reaching,” in which churches and ministries in cities across America are coming together to work for spiritual renewal and community transformation.
Thus we see two significant opportunities facing the church in the twenty-first century. First, local churches must work together in an increasingly hostile, post-Christian world. The apostle Paul’s teaching about the members of the body of Christ isn’t just about what happens in a local church. It’s about all of us, including those in divergent leadership contexts, working together and understanding that we need one another in order for the church to be the church. If Paul were writing 1 Corinthians 12:21 today, he might say something like this: “The Baptists can’t say to the Lutherans, ‘I don’t need you,’ the Nazarene pastor can’t say to the Pentecostal pastor across town, ‘I don’t need you,’ and the megachurch pastor can’t say to the pastor of the small church down the street, ‘I don’t need you!’”
Second, those of us in full-time ministry need significant and safe relationships to strengthen and sustain us in an increasingly difficult vocation. Now more than ever, we need each other “professionally” because we have a shared mission, but we need one other “personally” as well. We won’t survive and our churches won’t survive if we don’t invest in long-term, transformational relationships with one another.
Leaders don’t seem to be lasting. According to one study, some fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry every month, and most never return. Although this is an extraordinarily complex issue involving multiple factors, we are convinced that the primary problem is this: Most people in full-time ministry do not have close personal friendships and consequently are alarmingly lonely and dangerously vulnerable.
Why is it so difficult for church leaders to overcome their suspicions and insecurities to become friends and work together? Do we really know what it means to love one another as much as we say we love Jesus? Pastors are discovering tha