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Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul
Every leader functions on two stages--the front stage or public world, and the back stage or private world. One cannot lead successfully front stage when one is completely depleted back stage. In a time when pastors are leaving the ministry in record numbers due to cynicism, disillusionment, weariness, and personal scandals, there is an urgent need for soul care in the private lives of leaders.
Replenish helps leaders focus on the back stage, the interior life, in order to remain spiritually healthy. In a caring, encouraging tone, it will show pastors how to
prioritize matters of the soul
develop healthy spiritual practices
address problems that lead to burnout
create a healthy rhythm in their lives
improve their people skills and the spiritual climate of their team
develop better systems in their churches
discover how to lead an unhurried life
For the many ministry leaders who feel alone, in over their heads, or simply worn out, this book will offer welcome relief and a healthy way forward.
Replenish helps leaders focus on the back stage, the interior life, in order to remain spiritually healthy. In a caring, encouraging tone, it will show pastors how to
prioritize matters of the soul
develop healthy spiritual practices
address problems that lead to burnout
create a healthy rhythm in their lives
improve their people skills and the spiritual climate of their team
develop better systems in their churches
discover how to lead an unhurried life
For the many ministry leaders who feel alone, in over their heads, or simply worn out, this book will offer welcome relief and a healthy way forward.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
171 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 13, 2011
I picked up this book because it was a giveaway on a blog--endorsement of one of my favorite writers/thinkers, Margeret Feinberg. I started this book from the framework that it was just a replica of Gordon MacDonald's Ordering Your Private World, or that it would be just a relatively quick, surface read. When I ended, I had grown deeper, formed an appreciation for the author's practicality and purposefulness. The book is as broad as it is deep and helps you process through what it takes to be a healthy person on a personal, professional (individual) and team level. A challenging read that pushes you into the practical instead of just the theoretical.
July 9, 2022
Every few years, when I’m feeling burned out in ministry, I read a book about soul care to help me get back on track. Lance Witt worked at Rick Warren’s church for many years and knows firsthand how easy it is to become unhealthy spiritually while going through the motions of meeting ministry demands.
I especially appreciated his chapter on approval addiction and how those of us who suffer from a malady called “eternal niceness” often find ourselves saying yes to things that drain our joy just because we don’t want to disappoint anyone. We run decisions through the filter of ‘What will people think?’ rather than “What’s the right thing to do?” When we end up with nothing left (emotionally, physically or spiritually) to give, we have only ourselves to blame.
Witt affirms that “we have been scammed into believing that an insane pace is simply the price tag of effective leadership.” Quoting John Ortberg, he writes, “Hurry is not about a disordered schedule, it is about a disordered heart.”
Nothing earth-shatteringly new here, but very helpful nonetheless.
I especially appreciated his chapter on approval addiction and how those of us who suffer from a malady called “eternal niceness” often find ourselves saying yes to things that drain our joy just because we don’t want to disappoint anyone. We run decisions through the filter of ‘What will people think?’ rather than “What’s the right thing to do?” When we end up with nothing left (emotionally, physically or spiritually) to give, we have only ourselves to blame.
Witt affirms that “we have been scammed into believing that an insane pace is simply the price tag of effective leadership.” Quoting John Ortberg, he writes, “Hurry is not about a disordered schedule, it is about a disordered heart.”
Nothing earth-shatteringly new here, but very helpful nonetheless.
September 23, 2025
Audiobook. Nothing particularly new but the author puts a lot of foundational ideas into clear, concise chapters. I will revisit this one as a regular “checking in” on myself.
April 6, 2013
Loved this book. Lance provides great leadership teaching in a non-preachy way.
December 31, 2019
Excellent Guidance for Church Leaders.
March 24, 2025
Every single person in ministry needs to read this book. Period. It’s the most spot-on reflection of the reality of leading in ministry, and it offers the most practical advice on how to become spiritually healthy. So much wisdom - each chapter has a few thoughtful questions to ask yourself and/or your team, and they’re not the typical, generic, “homework” questions many ministry books contain. These questions would be an effective way to take an accurate measurement of your spiritual health and inspire you to keep going. I underlined at least half of this book!
June 23, 2023
Genuinely such a convicting and thought provoking read. I highlighted up so many of these pages, so I hope my future self comes back to glean from the wisdom in this book again. I’ve learned much about keeping my soul connected to the Vine and not neglecting the backstage of my life.
Jeremiah 6:16
Jeremiah 6:16
January 29, 2026
Second read through and still 5 stars. This is a must read for anyone in ministry, professional or otherwise, or anyone who leads in any faith capacity. I’m sure it’s one I’ll come back to again and again.
So practical and yet directly to the heart. The 4 questions at the end of each chapter were great for personal reflection this time around.
So practical and yet directly to the heart. The 4 questions at the end of each chapter were great for personal reflection this time around.
September 27, 2024
3 1/2 stars - the final section is especially good (on Building Healthy Teams)
December 3, 2022
Very practical concepts for a healthy ministry leader. Much of it did not exactly apply to me, but I still appreciate the book overall. It would be best suited for a pastor of a church with a staff, or a leader of a ministry team.
May 6, 2020
Just before starting to read this, I finished reading The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning. If you haven't read it yet, do it now.
One of my favorite quotes from that book is when Manning wrote:
So jumping straight from that to Replenish came as a major shock. Manning suggested that monitoring our spiritual growth is detrimental to our faith, as it puts the focus on our works rather than resting in God's work and love. While Replenish certainly encourages us to rest in Jesus, it also has a lot to say about analyzing our spiritual growth. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing! But it took me quite awhile to get into the book because of it's emphasis, after having come straight from Manning's mindset.
There's a lot that's good about Replenish. I love the encouragement to be refreshed. We can't be effective ministers of the gospel unless we're saturated in the gospel. We need to take time to be renewed in our spirit so that we remind ourselves continually not to rest in what we do as ministers, but in who Jesus is and what He's done.
HOWEVER, ultimately, I think Replenish ought to have stuck to its theme. Rather than sticking to the emphasis of encouraging pastors to rest, it often dabbles in particulars of ministry that have nothing to do with resting. While it's certainly helpful to get into the nitty gritty of how to do ministry, by the time the author wrote about the "ten commandments of technology and team" in chapter forty-one, I had made up my mind that this isn't the book that I would recommend to pastors who need to be refreshed in ministry. I had just read that one, just before this one.
One of my favorite quotes from that book is when Manning wrote:
"I've decided that if I had my life to live over again, I would not only climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets; I wouldn't only jettison my hot water bottle, raincoat, umbrella, parachute, and raft; I would not only go barefoot earlier in the spring and stay out later in the fall; but I would devote not one more minute to monitoring my spiritual growth. No, not one."
So jumping straight from that to Replenish came as a major shock. Manning suggested that monitoring our spiritual growth is detrimental to our faith, as it puts the focus on our works rather than resting in God's work and love. While Replenish certainly encourages us to rest in Jesus, it also has a lot to say about analyzing our spiritual growth. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing! But it took me quite awhile to get into the book because of it's emphasis, after having come straight from Manning's mindset.
There's a lot that's good about Replenish. I love the encouragement to be refreshed. We can't be effective ministers of the gospel unless we're saturated in the gospel. We need to take time to be renewed in our spirit so that we remind ourselves continually not to rest in what we do as ministers, but in who Jesus is and what He's done.
HOWEVER, ultimately, I think Replenish ought to have stuck to its theme. Rather than sticking to the emphasis of encouraging pastors to rest, it often dabbles in particulars of ministry that have nothing to do with resting. While it's certainly helpful to get into the nitty gritty of how to do ministry, by the time the author wrote about the "ten commandments of technology and team" in chapter forty-one, I had made up my mind that this isn't the book that I would recommend to pastors who need to be refreshed in ministry. I had just read that one, just before this one.
December 26, 2022
I was assigned to read this by my ministry.
It felt repetitive and full of pastoral anecdotes. I believe this book would bring comfort or be relatable to type-A pastors, but even still, to me it's addressing symptoms rather than the core issue. Modern pastors are overworked and put on a pedestal. They almost act as congregational presidents, with a board of elders as the house of representatives. I don't think this is sustainable at all, especially if your church exceeds 100 people. So, all I could think about while reading how hard it is to be a pastor in today's world and still focus on the spiritual needs of your staff and congregation is how badly the modern church needs reform.
I gave this book an extra star, because I could see value in discussing the questions of each chapter as a group. I think some practical answers could come out of those discussion times.
It felt repetitive and full of pastoral anecdotes. I believe this book would bring comfort or be relatable to type-A pastors, but even still, to me it's addressing symptoms rather than the core issue. Modern pastors are overworked and put on a pedestal. They almost act as congregational presidents, with a board of elders as the house of representatives. I don't think this is sustainable at all, especially if your church exceeds 100 people. So, all I could think about while reading how hard it is to be a pastor in today's world and still focus on the spiritual needs of your staff and congregation is how badly the modern church needs reform.
I gave this book an extra star, because I could see value in discussing the questions of each chapter as a group. I think some practical answers could come out of those discussion times.
March 14, 2019
Poor Christian literature, superficial, trite observations, enamored of Roman Catholic mysticism. Read because assigned by a ministers' group.
February 25, 2021
Real down to earth insights about the struggles both internal and external, in the life of the full-time Christian minister. Read it and you will be refreshed!
DR
DR
June 4, 2024
Read for work! Loved it! Felt easy to digest and it’s one I’ll come back to for sure.
January 1, 2020
Lance Witt is a former pastor of a very large church. He knows a lot about leading teams, looking more spiritual than you really are, and burn out. In this book he has written 41 short chapters on topics relevant to church leadership. Each chapter then had four thought or discussion questions.
I really appreciated this book. I'm not a pastor, but I am on the leadership team of our mission and almost every thing he says could apply to us as well. I love how he shows how spiritual disciplines can be carried out by real, busy, sinful people. Most books I've read on spiritual disciplines leave me thinking that they aren't that attainable. Rev Witt does a great job showing how a spiritually healthy leadership team is necessary for a spiritually healthy organization. That seems obvious, but when you're in the trenches, you tend to focus on what you're doing and how to get there instead of on who you are and on relationships. I highly recommend to all pastors and ministry teams.
I really appreciated this book. I'm not a pastor, but I am on the leadership team of our mission and almost every thing he says could apply to us as well. I love how he shows how spiritual disciplines can be carried out by real, busy, sinful people. Most books I've read on spiritual disciplines leave me thinking that they aren't that attainable. Rev Witt does a great job showing how a spiritually healthy leadership team is necessary for a spiritually healthy organization. That seems obvious, but when you're in the trenches, you tend to focus on what you're doing and how to get there instead of on who you are and on relationships. I highly recommend to all pastors and ministry teams.
October 11, 2022
At this time in my ministry, Replenish was exactly the sort of counter-momentum I needed in the pendulum of organization vs. soul care. Although the organization of the church is important to work on, if we get caught up too much in that, we'll end up corporate executives rather than pastors, which unfortunately is exactly what a lot of American pastors look like today.
I greatly appreciated the brevity and lucidity of the writing - two words which John Calvin sought to define his own writing. The chapters were incredibly short, and the whole thing felt like a very easy read. That's a nice break from some of the theological tomes I have been reading. The writing was simple, story-illustrated, and to the point.
I also appreciated the final section, which gave practical ideas on how to implement systems for spiritual development and soul care into your leadership team rhythms.
I greatly appreciated the brevity and lucidity of the writing - two words which John Calvin sought to define his own writing. The chapters were incredibly short, and the whole thing felt like a very easy read. That's a nice break from some of the theological tomes I have been reading. The writing was simple, story-illustrated, and to the point.
I also appreciated the final section, which gave practical ideas on how to implement systems for spiritual development and soul care into your leadership team rhythms.
April 24, 2018
This is thoroughgoing review and diagnosis of the many of the challenges and struggles that face pastors working in the modern North American Christian church. The problems highlighted are real, serious and widespread. The solutions offered are solid, practical and helpful. Nothing in this book is particularly new or particularly profound. It merely commends itself with Biblical simplicity. Given the hucksterism, platforming and shallowness (if not outright cultural captivity) of much of “leadership” “philosophy” in megachurch Christianity, that’s very welcome indeed.
July 13, 2024
When I read this book again, I’ll do so more slowly and in more of a “daily devotion” sort of way, as I was suggested to read it. Each chapter is short and poignant to the leader’s soul. Some of the author’s words hit me at just the right time. While I’ll say there does not seem to be a clear structure to the book, there is a clear focus: to be a Christ-focused leader means you must lead from a healthy soul. This requires intention, not wishfulness. I highly recommend this book, and that you take time to read slowly and digest each chapter. This is a book to return to.
July 21, 2024
Throughout the 41 short chapters of this book we are reminded of "simple" truths. These are truths which we could spend a lifetime working through, living out, both in purpose and in practice, lives which are not run ragged, but replenished. Walking in "the good way" and finding fulfillment, joy, and rest for our souls which leads us to say, "Jesus is enough."
The style of the book lends itself equally to introspection and group discussion with distinct but interrelated chapter topics, each with concluding questions.
The style of the book lends itself equally to introspection and group discussion with distinct but interrelated chapter topics, each with concluding questions.
April 19, 2024
This was a fantastic book that helps Christians and particularly pastors and ministry leaders to examine the spiritual health of their own heart and the ministries they lead. So many times we lean upon our own strength and experience and overlook our own spiritual health. Our service to Christ must flow out of our abiding in Christ. As leaders nourish their own souls, through intimacy with Jesus, can we then, through the power of Holy Spirit, lead others effectively.
March 6, 2018
Great challenge and encouragement for those in a position of spiritual leadership. At whatever level we lead, those who look to us will be profoundly influenced by the health of our souls, or our lack of health. Lance Witt writes from the wisdom of experience that helps us remain on, or return to the path to deep soul health.
November 21, 2018
This is a very practical book on the challenges facing church leadership. It is written primarily for those who work in a mega-church environment, but the principles apply across teams and congregations of all sizes. Witt keeps going back to scripture and counseling his readers to reevaluate their ministries and programs against the yardstick of the ministry of Jesus.
October 16, 2019
Easy to read but with no real value. A lot of stories but void of biblical thinking. Rather, it was a reflection of a moral, therapeutic idea of the Christian life. No meat for the soul. No contemplation of our Lord and his work on our behalf. No call to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. No, just suggestions that you would give any unbeliever who is in leadership.
February 7, 2020
This is a must read for anyone who has ever served on a church staff. Each chapter was pertinent and brought clarity to many areas of leadership within the church. I believe leadership within a church is very unique and can be difficult to navigate. With that being said, I am recommending that my teammates read this soon.
January 6, 2021
If I could do half stars I would give this book 3.5. If you are a church leader this book provides 41 short reads to help address your inner life in leadership. Some will simply be good reminders others will give you a gut punch. It would be a great book to read as a team. If you find yourself going through the motions of leadership this might be the next book you should read.
November 22, 2022
This book was very insightful and dealt directly with the health of the soul. Very practical and a good heart check. I thought it might not be applicable to me since I don't work in ministry. However, I have worked in ministry in the past and so I related a lot to the book and could still apply a lot of what was discussed in my life currently.
October 24, 2023
This is a very simple, yet readable book that covers the gamut of what pastors deal with. I read it one chapter a day in my morning devos. Many of the chapters were practical and encouraging. Nothing groundbreaking or game changing but good, readable reminders for how as a pastor to keep your soul healthy––and they are all in one book.
May 27, 2017
Great read for those in vocational ministry whose souls are tired, sick, and weary. Witt provides 41 chapters of good thought provoking insights from the Bible and his ministry experience to encourage!
June 13, 2018
This is a must read for anyone who has served in Christian leadership for more than five minutes. Seriously leaders, you should reread this book, maybe annually as reminder of keeping the most important things the most important; namely keeping your own soul healthy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews