Pastoral Perseverance

by Brian Croft, James Carroll

128 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2024

About the author

Brian Croft is Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Brian is the founder of Practical Shepherding, a non-profit organization committed to equipping pastors all over the world in the practical matters of pastoral ministry.

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Hits all the right areas. Encouraging and challenging. Personal stories that give concrete examples as well as reminders from scripture for every pastor. Some of the illustrations of great pastors of church history are hard to take, they come off as superheroes not encouragement. Worth the $$ and the 110 pages.

[Adam Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up after hearing Brian Croft speak at the 2024 FIEC Leaders' Conference, where I appreciated his warm encouragements to persevere. In this co-authored book, Croft and Carroll are concerned to help pastors stay, endure and thrive "over the long-haul". There are six chapters, discussing six important principles: A Need to Qualify, A Call to Take Heed, A Conviction to Shepherd, An Urgency to Preach, A Tenacity to Suffer, and A Resolve to Die. Each chapter ends with brief personal reflections from the authors, which were much appreciated.

Croft and Carroll discuss how a clear sense of purpose is at the heart of persevering. "The pastor's path to steadfast faithfulness, which avoids the pitfalls of distraction and misdirection, is to know and do what God has truly called him to do" (47). They also highlight the importance of holistic wellbeing - physical, mental and spiritual: "A pastor's life will yield consequences... when he exhausts the boundaries of human weakness without proper attention to the need for rest and renewal" (25). Ultimately, they keep pointing pastors to Jesus: "He will sustain you. He will keep you. He will carry you to the end" (115).

As a pastor who has experienced depression, I also appreciated their explicit acknowledgement of this battle. "Brothers, some will battle with depression and need the common grace of medicine and medical care. Please do not forsake these potential instruments in the name of spirituality" (96).

[Gary Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great encouragement to me in this season of ministry.

Croft and Carroll’s big point is that pastors must simplify ministry to prioritise the shepherding of God’s people under your care. They set out the 10 principles of shepherding and speak from lived experience of when this goes well or when they have failed.

The final 2 chapters on suffering and the call to die contain much biblical evidence and persuasion to persevere in pastoral ministry.

One area the book may need attention is in the final chapter - the call to give your life in service to Jesus in pastoral ministry could risk confusion with the call to care for ourselves and our family. The book maybe have benefitted by adding a few hundred words on how to maintain the balance.

All-in-all, well worth a read by anyone in pastoral ministry or anyone who wants to understand the struggles a pastor faces.

[Hector Candelaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may well be the first book I have read that shows the real challenges in pastoral ministry but also the joy and delight it brings to worship the Savior through shepherding his people. I believe in this book Brian and James have given us an overview of what practical shepherding is about. Therefore, if you are looking to enter pastoral ministry this book is for you but if you have years in ministry this book is also for you. From young to old there is something to learn and glean from two men who have endured in tough seasons of ministry and want us to do the same. May God use this book to bless your soul.

[Holland Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in a day to catch up for a class. I think anyone who feels led or aspires for pastoral ministry needs to read this. It really highlights the hardships and demands that many people don’t realise they would face as a pastor. That’s why very few people stay in the ministry 5 years after graduating from seminary. The pastoral call is essentially a call to die. Praise God that it is so worth it though to persevere through gut wrenching times.

[Alastair Gooderham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like sitting for comfort with an experienced mentor round a roaring fire as he exhorts you to persevere. Helpful call to keep going in pastoral ministry not in grin and bear it way but learning that scowls and sticks and stones and suffering are normal for pastors and in Christ we can thrive as we fulfil our task for his glory.

[Tyler Recker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. Excellent for someone starting out or considering pastoral ministry. Basic reminders if you’ve been at it for awhile. Sometimes we need basic. Some really good nuggets still make it worth a read.

[Doug Van Meter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource to remind pastors of the nature of our calling. Particularly helpful for those entering the ministry but helpful for pastors who have been at it for decades.

[Phil Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really helpful look at what will keep pastor's serving until the end. The personal stories of the authors are particularly encouraging. A great book to read in my pastor's book group.

[Chris Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok... all solid stuff, and others have found it encouraging - nothing wrong with it, but it didn't grab me...