Letters to a Young Pastor

by Calvin Miller

Much has changed over Calvin Miller's decades of pastoral ministry, but he believes two things remain the same: God is love and people are broken. Now God is calling young pastors to stand in that gap. And in this honest, warm and humorous series of letters, Miller shares his wisdom and experience so you can flourish in your future ministry—without ever wanting to resign on Monday.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Theology, Religion

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Reviews

[James Chessor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by Calvin Miller. It was a gift sent by a great friend. What a treasure it has been for me. I laughed and cried. His transparency on real life moments and emotions that all faithful pastors face was a breath of fresh air for me. I highly recommend every pastor to read this book regardless of age or experience.

[Wes F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful, pithy, creative, challenging & biblical advice for those young (or old) who are in ministry of one sort or another. Miller is such an engaging, creative writer & thinker--and his counsel comes from years & years of personal, on-the-ground, experience and endurance. He has a spiritual maturity that comes through every page and much wisdom to proffer for those seeking to influence and impact those also on a spiritual journey of growth and impact. Wise words; for him/her who has ears to hear. Borrowed from the library; read on my iPad.

[Isaiah Jesch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compared to a work like Spurgeon's Lectures to His Students, this work was quite lacking. Though I enjoyed certain chapters and found there to be some good points within the book, I don't see myself referencing this work much again or recommending it to others. It started well, a very seasoned saint with wisdom to share, but that feeling didn't endure throughout the book.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've grazed on this book for 4 years, and I'm sad that it's finally over.
This book is full of pithy one-liners and humorous cliches, but at its root, it comes from a lifetime of pastoral experience.
While the authors experience and context is different from my own, and perhaps some of his views as well, the opportunity to learn from a Christ-loving, seasoned veteran is well worth the read!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miller is a wordsmith and storyteller. Good book with great advice. (Though a little dated in some theological references)

Quotes:

When we sin, we do not infuriate God, our Lover. We only hurt him. We grieve him! (Eph. 4:30). Grieve is a love word.

A baptist lady: Why do you speak against our drinking wine? Don’t you know that Jesus drank wine? ‘Yes, her friend replied, hanging her head, but I would think a lot more of Him if He hadn’t.’

Victories in life are often followed by mopes. Elijah, 1Kings 19.

Let the church know how much you love your spouse and kids. Keep your family close.

A scoundrel may inform a saint, especially a frowning saint, that joy really is the most infallible proof of the presence of God (Don’t let your piety be over serious)

Live in openness. Practice forgiving other people. Inform the parish that you are a person in progress.

People will endure anything in a church except an absence of vitality.

The Bible is a noun and verb book, so should sermons be. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Not Sincerely repent, honestly repent, for the glorious, superbly beautiful kingdom is at hand.

3 rules for sermons: Keep it relational, make it narrative. Keep is short, brevity is the soul of wit. And above all, it must be listenable.

Rom. 8:1, means there is no video projectors in heaven. If you knew what was in my heart, you wouldn’t listen to one of my sermons ever again, and if I knew what was in your heart, i would never want to preach to you again.

2 proverbs: [1] It is amazing how much a congregation can get done if we don’t care who gets the credit. [2] The less I feel like i have to have my way, the greater the possibility that God might actually have his.

[Jason Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book. It's light-hearted, easy to take on board, insightful, humorous, transparent, and direct about the ups and downs of pastoral ministry. I enjoyed it a lot and will no doubt be saved from my stupidity more than once by something I've read here.

Unfortunately the book is so deeply mired in conservative Southern Baptist paradigms of church and ministry that it is embarrassing how much of it I could understand and relate to. In his introduction, he says that for twenty-five years, "I led only a couple of people a week to Christ. Anyone can do that." This might just sound strange to some people, but for anyone who knows the Independent Baptist movement well, this will send off exactly the alarm bells it should. If you imagine the sort of pastor who would say this, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that this guy is not nearly as bad. But then that's not saying much.

There are also a number of what I'll call paradoxes:
√ He led a church of three thousand people but repeatedly rips mega-church pastors to shreds.
√ He is on staff at a seminary but preaches a thinly veiled anti-intellectualism.
√ He speaks against using snide labels to distance ourselves from other Christians groups but refers to John Calvin as a determinist repeatedly.
√ He exhorts to carefully preaching the word but insists on narrative preaching.

I would guess that unless you are American, Southern Baptist, and old school, this is probably not going to be the book to push you forward.

[Vincent Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book written from a seasoned pastor, Calvin Miller, to help younger pastors who are going into pastoral ministry in the form of 35 different letters. The book is helpful is describing practical day-to-day issues that may arise during the course of ministry, and he gives words of wisdom based off of his personal experience. The book has both a combination of seriousness and humour - of which might be overdone (my personal preference). But nonetheless, it is a heart warming book with much sharing from a wealth of experience.

[G. Mark James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mix of good and bad

As a reformed Presbyterian minister, newly minted, it was helpful to read advice from another perspective. There are some things in this book I don't have to worry about as a Presbyterian but there are some good nuggets of gold and some good advice here. Some minor disagreements arise because of the way we approach/interpret Scripture.

[Kyle Bueermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Think of it almost like the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes - an old pastor sitting down over coffee with a young pastor and giving him some advice.

You probably won’t agree with everything Miller says. But there is great wit and wisdom in his advice. Even though I never got to meet him, I’m grateful for his book and the conversation he created with it.

[Adam Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I richly enjoyed this book. I loved the humor and easy to digest riches of years of ministry poured into these pages. Is it a book that could only be birthed from experience. Truly a man that loved life and literature as seen through the references used to bring meaning to the trials he faced. Definitely recommend reading and sharing with someone.

[Chris Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is full of laughs and tears. First book I read of Mr. Miller and truly a little treasure for me. So many profound truths that help to understand people, ministry and own position as a servant. Great read!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

have these letters provide insights and wisdom for new pastors and even pastors who have been around for a while. There's a wide range of subject matter, things that I have not even thought about. It is a very helpful book to read for any pastor in the ministry.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing healing and soothing balm. Dr Miller was my preaching professor at SWBTS. What an incredibly wise, humble, supremely talented man. He is irreplaceable and is dearly missed on this earth.

[George Munteanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book for a young pastor

This is a very nice book written by a man of God with lots of experiences. He has a very nice sense of humor.

[Irene Esguerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This helps to appreciate the hard work pastors do and also who they are.

[Phinehas Osei · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. I read it first as a teenager, and it will remain one of those books I keep going back to. For anyone looking forward to, or into pastoral ministry, this book is essential.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casual and encouraging.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin Miller has tackled a much needed subject that will be an encouragement to those young men entering the ministry field as well as older men in ministry that need encouragement and a good laugh.

Too often when men surrender to ministry they do so with open and somewhat naive hearts. They want to serve God so badly and they want to serve the flock that they often find themselves quickly overwhelmed by all that goes into this field. It is after all unlike any other field of work on this planet.

I remember when my husband entered this very field part time 14 years ago then full time 7 years ago. He poured over books by the greats. He labored through seminary with great excitement and endurance. He sought out mentors - that he soon found were not readily available. He drank in the wisdom and teachings of older pastors. In all this he would have loved to have had this book. When I saw that this was for review I immediately thought back to those days and requested the book for he and I to review together. My husband has a heart to help young men entering the ministry and currently mentors 3 young men at different levels. However, he is always looking for good resources to recommend to them.

This book was it. My husband became so excited in reading it that he came to me more than once talking to me about it. As I read it I loved the easy and personable style of Calvin Miller. He broaches all subjects with truth and love and an easy comical style that makes the book an enjoyable read. A young man in ministry can't help but find the wisdom that they thirst for and the encouragement they will desperately need when they become parched and overwhelmed by the work load of the pastorate. Also I have a great appreciation for Miller's approach to explaining the dangers and pitfalls that ministers will face. This is a treacherous field - and our enemy is on the prowl within the church walls to deceive those in service and cause them to fall. Miller seeks to give council and guidance with a great amount of tack and humor.

If you know of a young man who has surrendered to the call of ministry, is currently in seminary, is serving in the ministry - Buy this for them!

Thank You B&B Communications for this review copy.

[Jonathan Brooker · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started this book I was so warmed by the sense that I was talking with a grandfatherly, seasoned, ministry veteran. It felt like we were sitting on his porch as he told me stories of ministry and I appreciated the vulnerability he was willing to have with some of his faults and failures. But before long that image began to disappear and be replaced with the image of talking with a bit more of a temperamental, erratic, and crotchety grandpa.
One of the things that made this book most difficult to read as a whole was how the writing would change often and without any kind of warning. What I mean is that an author usually has a "voice" they write in. It's their style and it flows throughout their writing. Miller's was a bit all over the place. One solution I think to this would've been to pose the book as a secret collection of writings from a seasoned pastor (Calvin Miller) to a young pastor friend of his (and then create a fictional character). Then there would've been more forgiveness for such sloppy editing and whiplashing change of subjects.
I also need to say that the "crotchety" part comes out most in discourses about megachurches and meetings. He had no problem painting all megachurches and their pastors with a wide brush. And it wasn't a pretty one. They are pretentious know-it-all's, who can't possibly do pastoral care, and who offer too simplistic of solutions to problems. The irony was a bit concerning! Then the classic worn-out pastor rhetoric about those dang ol' board meetings! This along with other complaints splattered throughout the book felt like the author's chance to vent and complain rather than to offer constructive ideas on how to thrive in ministry.
And there's a whole chapter that seems to be almost entirely about how frustrating it is when little kids walk out during your sermon to use the restroom. I think this chapter could've been done away with completely.
While there was certainly some real good material to be mined from these letters, I must agree with another reviewer in saying that I would grab the nuggets to give to others rather than a copy of the whole book.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever wondered about what life is like for the Pastor of the church ? Ever thought about stepping into the life of ministry within your local fellowship ? Letters to a Young Pastor introduces readers to Calvin Miller. Calvin Miller is what I would call in the life of Pastorhood , an experienced one , being pastor of a church for over twenty-five years. Imagine , twenty five years , 52 Sundays a year , depending on your church -anywhere between 1-3 sermons a Sunday. That's alot of preparation and different sermons every week. I always wondered whether they keep a record of their sermons, the prep work as it would be interesting research material etc. Imagine the God's knowledge that these Men of God have within them, it's astounding.
Letters to a Young Pastor is Calvin's gift to new Pastors chronicling his life in letter format as a Pastor , his up's and down's , his different themes. The way the ministry has changed for him as the years passed and new technology made it's way into our world. Like for me , I remember the days of putting the words on the screen via the OHP's and now its all done through Powerpoint. Or when the sermons were translated onto tape cassettes and now it's gone from CD's to DVD's.
Letters to a Young Pastor from Calvin Miller contains over 35 short chapters, he covers topics from family life, ethics, sermons, biblical worldview, leadership, and spiritual discipline. An excellent memoir from an “old soldier” sure to be a blessing to those just beginning the journey of their pastoral call.
This is the ideal book for anyone not just those wanting to become Pastors but anyone wanting to take that step of faith and work in God's ministry.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: LETTERS TO A YOUNG PASTOR
Author: Calvin Miller
Publisher: David C. Cook
September 2011
ISBN 978-0-7814-0577-5
Religion/Christian Ministry/General

God is love, and people are broken. Two truths that every pastor knows, but quite often forgets in the busy, often hectic, sometimes frantic business of doing ministry in the 21st Century. Calvin Miller, distinguished writer-in-residence at the Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, and a former pastor with 25 years under his belt, clearly, gently, often humorously reminds every young pastor of these fundamental truths in this book which was written with one intention: to encourage young pastors to fight the good fight for the faith, to stay the course, and to keep their eyes on the Author and Finisher of the faith. In these pages, Calvin Miller’s heart for the church, and for the undershepherds who lead them, can be clearly seen. And at 252 pages, it is clear that Calvin Miller has distilled his quarter-century of ministry-in-the-trenches into a work that can be easily read in a short time by those busy young pastors, and yet will linger in their hearts and minds for a lifetime. Well done, Pastor Miller. Well done, indeed!

252 pages
$14.99

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Few books written about ministry make me laugh out loud. Cringe, yes. Depressed, yes. But this book had some great one liners and zingers. The problem was that there also a lot of groans. Now, I shouldn't put this on the quality of the book itself. Calvin Miller is a self-declared evangelical and Southern Baptist. It is to be expected that he would take swipes at people on the other side of the spectrum and refer to pastors with exclusively male pronouns. Still, I did enjoy parts of this book, though not all of it. The three stars are really more for those who know me and might be puzzled if I gave it any more than three. It is definitely worth a read. (And I picked it up at Dollar General for $3...more than worth that price!) Before passing this book on to someone else I will probably be going back to mine it for those single sentence 'gems'.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the cover: cool, crisp, clean. Love the title: when you give a nod to Rainier Maria Rilke, I expect good things.

In this case, I wasn't disappointed. Calvin Miller's letters cover a wide range of issues that young pastors will face. He is candid, as if writing to a dear friend, and wise with all his years of being a pastor.

I settled quickly into Miller's writing; I loved it. For once, an author who doesn't endeavor to oversimplify everything, as if readers are stupid. Plus, Miller is funny--dry humor, good taste.

The letters are the perfect length and weight: substantial without being overbearing. I'm not left wanting at the end of each letter (which happens a lot to me when I read most devotionals out there today).

I recommend it to all pastors, young and old.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calvin Miller, a long time pastor and writer who I had never even heard of before, has captured my heart with his book, Letters to a Young Pastor. This is the book, aka diary, I have always wanted a peek into. Pastors have a hard time of it. We must love the unlovely, keep a smile on our face, shoulder the burden of the gospel, all while maintaining our own sanity and salvation. Mr. Miller sheds light on his own mistakes in ministry and made me laugh over and over with his personal stories. Ministry is hard, true, but if you have been called, its the only thing you can do. Thank you Mr Miller for helping me to see that I'm not the only one out here who feels this way.

[Noah Schumacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book. Great content and wisdom from a man who has walked the road of ministry. However, I believe it was poorly written, edited, and compiled. That aside, its a great book. It was refreshing to read a book where the author was unabashed concerning his convictions. Though I had different viewpoints at parts with content, it was nonetheless inspiring and impressive to get inside the mind of a pastor who has been through many experiences in ministry and maintained a healthy marriage, family, and ministry to the end.

[Dottie Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is written as letters to young pastors from the vantage point of Calvin Miller's many decades as a pastor. He gives wise advice on a variety of issues pastor's face in today's church. One of my favorite quotes is "The Holy Spirit don't sponsor no copycats. He never leads any two pastors to do things in exactly the same way. Be as individual as your fingerprint."

[Jeff Bjorgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miller is such a fun writer to read. a good dose of honest, crusty, humorous, and wise advise for not only pastors but anyone that finds themselves in the local parish. The book has a similar flare to it as his memoir, "Life is Mostly Edges" and he quotes a great deal from his book on leadership. A must read or Bible College graduates, or any pastor for that matter.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, as I am still a young pastor with much to learn. I appreciate Miller's wisdom and experience. I also appreciate that he doesn't bow down to either the mega-church culture that looms so largely over evangelicalism, or to the emergent/emerging church (whatever that is). Good read for pastors - much more to do with heart & soul, than mechanics of pastoring.

[Matthew Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read for me. I appreciated Miller's candor about ministry. He managed to speak in spiritual terms that did not come across as phony. He is "the real deal" in my opinion, and offers great insight cloaked in a generous and humorous spirit. Sure, he rambles a little and repeats himself at times, but so does my grandfather. That doesn't mean he isn't full of wisdom!