Resilient Ministry - by Bob Burns & Tasha D Chapman & Donald C Guthrie (Paperback)

About the Book

Why does one well-equipped, well-founded ministry succeed while another fails? Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman and Donald Guthrie undertook a five-year intensive research project on the frontlines of pastoral ministry to answer that question. What they found was nothing less than the DNA of thriving ministry today.

Book Synopsis

Why does one well-equipped, well-founded ministry succeed while another fails? Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman and Donald Guthrie undertook a five-year intensive research project on the frontlines of pastoral ministry to answer that question. What they found was nothing less than the DNA of thriving ministry today.

Review Quotes

"Any pastor and spouse will greatly benefit from a study of this material. It will confirm God's call and presence in their life and ministry, strengthen their ministry skills, and help clarify the roadmap of their ministry journey."

"Any pastor and spouse will greatly benefit from a study of this material. It will confirm God's call and presence in their life and ministry, strengthen their ministry skills, and help clarify the roadmap of their ministry journey."

--Gary R. Allen, Enrichment, Summer 2013

"Burns, Guthrie and Chapman provide not only painstaking research and thought-provoking analysis in Resilient Ministry, but also even more--they provide a path forward for sustaining excellent ministry over the long haul. As a result, this book needs to be required reading not just for theological educators and judicatory and denominational officials, but also for pastors (and pastors' spouses) and lay leaders--everyone who cares about Christ, his church and his ministers. If Christ's church advances, it will only be through ministerial leaders who are resilient, committed, sustained and growing. Burns and company show us the way."

"Burns, Guthrie and Chapman provide not only painstaking research and thought-provoking analysis in Resilient Ministry, but also even more--they provide a path forward for sustaining excellent ministry over the long haul. As a result, this book needs to be required reading not just for theological educators and judicatory and denominational officials, but also for pastors (and pastors' spouses) and lay leaders--everyone who cares about Christ, his church and his ministers. If Christ's church advances, it will only be through ministerial leaders who are resilient, committed, sustained and growing. Burns and company show us the way."

--Dr. Sean Michael Lucas, senior minister, First Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

"Highly practical, spiritually substantive and rich with examples and suggestions, this book offers much-needed insight into factors that are crucial for long-term flourishing in pastoral ministry."

"Isolation, relentless demands and little nurturing result in many ministry leaders abandoning their posts. The authors have exposed much of this to the light along with a solid understanding of what is needed for pastors to thrive as faithful servants. This book is also a call to the church to care for its shepherds."

"Resilience is a trait of gifted leaders, clergy and laity alike. In this wise, insightful and intensely practical book, Burns, Chapman and Guthrie draw on extensive interviews and research to illumine traits and practices that nurture resilient ministry. Read, discuss and practice Resilient Ministry for yourself and with colleagues in community."

"Resilience is a trait of gifted leaders, clergy and laity alike. In this wise, insightful and intensely practical book, Burns, Chapman and Guthrie draw on extensive interviews and research to illumine traits and practices that nurture resilient ministry. Read, discuss and practice Resilient Ministry for yourself and with colleagues in community."

--L. Gregory Jones, professor of theology and senior strategist in leadership education at Duke Divinity School

"Resilient Ministry is a refreshingly practical book, packed with big and small suggestions for persevering and excelling in Christian ministry. . . . There is no doubt that this is a book I?ll be coming back to again and again for remembering the priorities of resilient ministry"

"Resilient Ministry is a refreshingly practical book, packed with big and small suggestions for persevering and excelling in Christian ministry. . . . There is no doubt that this is a book I?ll be coming back to again and again for remembering the priorities of resilient ministry"

--Wes VanderLugt, Enact blog

"The content of the book certainly has the potential to help pastors to not only survive but thrive in ministry."

"The content of the book certainly has the potential to help pastors to not only survive but thrive in ministry."

--Ralph Gliege, MB Herald, June 1, 2013

"This book is accessible to both church leaders and lay Christians, and is must-reading for every believer who is willing to faithfully care for the pastors God has called to shepherd them."

"This book is accessible to both church leaders and lay Christians, and is must-reading for every believer who is willing to faithfully care for the pastors God has called to shepherd them."

--Critique: A Magazine of Ransom Fellowship, 2013:3

"This is a very strong 'all-in-one' resource, especially if you have not had a formal digital strategy in the past. Bourgeois's clear explanations of various tools and digital philosophies are excellent."

"This is a very strong 'all-in-one' resource, especially if you have not had a formal digital strategy in the past. Bourgeois's clear explanations of various tools and digital philosophies are excellent."

--Paul Pastor, Leadership Journal, Spring 2013

About the Author

Tasha D. Chapman (Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is dean of academic services and adjunct professor of educational ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary.

Donald C. Guthrie (Ed.D., University of Georgia) is professor of educational ministries at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Bob Burns (Ph.D., University of Georgia) is senior associate pastor and head of staff at Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, and adjunct professor of educational ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary.