How to Thrive as a Small-Church Pastor

by Steve R. Bierly

Pastoring a small church is no small job. It can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. Read this book for a relief . . . And a turning point. Steve R. Bierly offers the seasoned reassurance of one who has been in the trenches of small-church pastoring. He understands your unique needs and problems not just as a pastor, but as a person. And he shows that, by God's grace, you can fulfill your calling and thrive in the face of its challenges. With humor and fatherly wisdom, Bierly helps you reframe your perspectives on - God - Your ministry - Your relationships - Your personal needs . . . And more. Drawing on years of experience, he offers assurance that you're not alone, a fresh outlook on the successes of your ministry, and an upbeat, practical approach to spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. How to Thrive as a Small-Church Pastor will help you face realistically the rigors of your vocation . . . and reclaim your first love of ministry.

187 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Brian Tubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated, but Excellent!

Reading this in 2021, I had to overlook or smirk at the dated pop culture and tech references (cassette tapes, anyone?), but…

Setting that aside, I found this book an excellent source of tips, insights, wisdom, and encouragement for small church pastors. I found myself making so many highlights that I was like: “I may as well just highlight the whole book!”

[Will Dole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed

This book was hot and cold. I read it as part of a class on pastoral ministry in a town and country setting.

There is a lot of sage advice. There's a fair amount of questionable or at least not universally applicable advice. And his writing style just isn't my jam.

All that said, the good outweighs the bad, and if you need a reminder that small church ministry matters, this book can be a good encouragement in that direction.

[Dave Pettengill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok

Some good nuggets of wisdom. This would probably be a good book for someone who is completely new to ministry and in a small church for the first time

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that I found quite helpful. However, the overall negativity of the author grated on me after a while. He seems not to have worked through some of his own ideas about the inferiority of small churches. He spends a lot of time spinning how positive things are in small churches, but in the end I just didn't think he bought his own spin.