The New Pastor`s Handbook - Help and Encouragement for the First Years of Ministry

Ideas of expectations

I appreciated all the insights, encouragement and reinforcements. Recommended.

My main issue with this book is that it's chapters are actually too short. Each idea is given only 2-4 pages, and there isn't much in the way of storytelling or profound illustrations to make much of what Helopolous says very memorable. There are a few striking stories, such as his hospital visits to a woman without arms and legs that taught him the importance of that ministry, but they are few and far between. I much preferred H.B. Charles' book On Pastoring, which is the exact same type of book, covers the exact same content yet has much more personality. Unlike this book, by the end of Charles' you feel like you really know the man. I can't quite say the same for Helopolous.Don't get me wrong. The book has its uses. Helopolous covers more topics than Charles, albeit with less depth. There are is some wisdom and practical advice here for pastors, such as the tip on recycling your sermons to be used as blogposts or other forms of media so that you aren't always writing new material. Other helpful topics include how to set agendas for meetings, the blessing of the youth pastorate, the importance of listening, the importance of spending your early years focusing on study of the Word, and how to serve faithfully as an assistant pastor. His chapter on the invisible nature of pastoral work, and how it can be less satisfying since we are not producing anything tangible like other vocations, did resonate with me, as did the subsequent chapters on not taking yourself too seriously (people need Jesus, not us).There are a lot of imperatives in this book. He tells you what to do, a lot, without going into great detail on how to do it. It's all fine and good, but I probably won't reopen this book again, and I hesitate to say I would recommend it. You can read it in a couple hours or less, and there's some good stuff in there. It's…fine, but it isn't great writing. Don't expect to be thrilled by the end.A few quotes:"I define effective preaching as the proclamation of biblical truth with passion, which is aimed at the affections of the people listening as they engage the truth of the text with their minds by the stirring of the Holy Spirit.""My wife and I often comment on seeing our own sins present in the lives of our children. Like magnets they pick up our iniquities, and like mirrors they reflect them back to us." I like this line. It's poetic, and a good use of simile."While all of God's people are constantly waging spiritual battle, our calling makes this an even more intense reality. Our adversary lacks no ignorance in terms of what our sins, our failings, and our corruption could do to a host of Gods people. The colonial soldiers in the American Revolution often aimed for the British officers. If they killed an officer, they knew the troops under him might reel with disorganization, demoralization, and even defeat. Our adversary knows the same.""Don't get entangled in controversies early in ministry. Devote your first years to learning the Scriptures above all else.""Do not take an [assistant pastor] position unless you respect and like the senior pastor under whom you will serve.""Our calling is a holy calling. If holiness does not mark us, we should not be surprised when it does not mark our churches."

I purchased this book since I have accepted a new call to a much larger church, and, based on the back cover's description, I thought it might give some new insight to my 8+ years of ministry experience. The acknowledgements almost immediately turned me off: "all seasoned MEN in ministry." Ironically, immediately after this the author effusively praises his wife, who by his own admission is wiser than he will ever be--but God forbid she should aspire to the ministry! The Opening Words says "My BROTHERS, we have a high calling." Unbelievable. Flipping through, all I see are masculine pronouns. I am very disappointed in Baker Publishing, and will be much more careful in the future instead of immediately presuming that the book is worthwhile based on their publishing it. Since you're alienating women, go ahead and put a large notice on the front of this book that it is FOR MEN ONLY. The user name attached to this account is my husband's--I have been ordained in the PCUSA for over 8 years, and am female. Had I read further to see that the author had been ordained to the PCA, I would NOT have purchased this book. If I can't return it, it's going in the trash. If you're a female pastor, don't waste your money.

This is a phenomenal book. After 45 years in ministry I can say it's incredulous how this gentleman wrote such a comprehensive and succinct manual for a pastor's personal and public ministry. There is no filler here. Chapters are terse and to the point, insightful not dry or uninteresting. I am thinking of bringing mine along inside my Bible case with my Bible for casual re-reading or devotional use. This is a winner and I am pleased there is such a book available. It should be read by literally everyone in pastoral ministry as soon as possible.