I would like to put this little book into the hands of men who are beginning to ponder the possibility of training for ministry and considering the significant investment in time and money which this will require. Before they even start, it is vital to understand the potential hardships of a lifetime of ministry as well as the joy and privilege of that calling. Every disciple of Jesus has to count the cost of following him, and I never like to paint ministry as ‘the hardest game in the world’; every Christian in the secular workspace faces challenges and temptations unique to their own calling. There is, however, a unique application of cost counting for those who follow in the footsteps of apostles, pastors and teachers who have served the church over thousands of years. The authors are acutely aware of these peculiar challenges. One can feel their empathy with the many men they have sought to counsel and encourage.
Understanding the need for perseverance in ministry and the particular factors which may challenge that perseverance may even put some people off following this path. This would be ironic as the book is written in the context of a significant number of pastors in the US leaving ministry. The encouragement to understand the calling may not address the shortage of pastors and may even make it worse. It may, however, prevent the sorrow and pain of leaving ministry later in life.
I hesitate in recommending this to serving pastors. The subjects are useful, but are covered at least as well in other books. I would point people to Dangerous Calling by Tripp or Going the Distance by Brain. These books may have a more remedial usefulness. Pastoral Perseverance left me wondering if some would read it and realise that they should never have started in the first place! It would be best read by pastors or potential pastors with a mentor in place to chat with. Please keep that amber warning in mind even as I recommend that you do indeed read it.
The short chapters are all well written with good biblical content and some honest personal reflections. There is nothing new here for serving pastors, but there are useful reminders about things we should already know. For example, they outline how hard it can be to sustain a preaching ministry and the potential for discouraging or even hostile responses. It was helpful to be reminded of the need for tenacity and the foundational principle that in our own death in service there is life for those to whom we minister (2 Cor. 4:11-12). The authors encourage us to ‘embrace weakness, engage grief and experience joy in the face of this pastoral death.’ If you can cope with the ideas behind that language, then read and reflect in the light of the grace of the Lord. If you can read it there, then this book may be an unexpected blessing to you.
