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Isolation: A Place of Transformation in the Life of a Leader
Almost every leaders at one time or another will face being set aside from ministry. This booklet shows what leaders face when set aside from ministry for various reasons like sickeness, persecution, discipline, crises, self-choice, etc. The manual gives patterns and proper attitudes to face these experiences as leaders develop toward maturity in their leadership. Isolation is one of the deep processing items which all leaders should life schedule for.
83 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Shelley G. Trebesch
2 books4 followersco-cultivating flourishing people and organizations...
Shelley G. Trebesch (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) has served as vice president for capacity development for Prison Fellowship International, as well as assistant professor of leadership and organization development at Fuller Theological Seminary and in Singapore as global director for Membership Development for OMF International. An active consultant, trainer and seminar leader, Trebesch has facilitated complex change processes and developed leadership curricula for churches and organizations around the world.
An avid outdoors person, Shelley skis, sails, and hikes in her free time. When she's not traveling, she divides her time between California and Montana.
Current Project: creating a leader development process for International Care Ministries, an organization that works amongst the ultra poor of the Philippines.
Shelley G. Trebesch (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) has served as vice president for capacity development for Prison Fellowship International, as well as assistant professor of leadership and organization development at Fuller Theological Seminary and in Singapore as global director for Membership Development for OMF International. An active consultant, trainer and seminar leader, Trebesch has facilitated complex change processes and developed leadership curricula for churches and organizations around the world.
An avid outdoors person, Shelley skis, sails, and hikes in her free time. When she's not traveling, she divides her time between California and Montana.
Current Project: creating a leader development process for International Care Ministries, an organization that works amongst the ultra poor of the Philippines.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 14, 2011
A friend gave me this book after my re-entry to Australia after working in the U.S for 7 years. Sadly, it took me nearly 6 months to get around to reading it.
I found myself wearied from many of the constant challenges I had faced in the last couple of years in a fairly intense work environment dealing with significant leadership and operational issues, and cultural changes that needed to occur to take the organisation forward.
Trebesch's book was a godsend. Providing me with a practical framework for resolving conflicts that emerged from faulty thinking, the stripping of one's old leadership identity, and dealing with the removal of significant friendships and relationships that had been established in a particular context that was now non existent. I now had something to guide me through dark days of confusion, grief and anger.
Simply, Trebesch argues that whether voluntarily or involuntarily, leaders are taken into substantial periods of isolation. We can choose to be defeated by them or see them as a time of renewal where God is shaping a new leadership identity for what lies around the corner.
There are no pat answers or platitudes in this book. It is sheer hard work, pressing into a God who is sovereign and trustworthy, but right now you are struggling to trust because of the circumstances you find yourself in.
I found myself wearied from many of the constant challenges I had faced in the last couple of years in a fairly intense work environment dealing with significant leadership and operational issues, and cultural changes that needed to occur to take the organisation forward.
Trebesch's book was a godsend. Providing me with a practical framework for resolving conflicts that emerged from faulty thinking, the stripping of one's old leadership identity, and dealing with the removal of significant friendships and relationships that had been established in a particular context that was now non existent. I now had something to guide me through dark days of confusion, grief and anger.
Simply, Trebesch argues that whether voluntarily or involuntarily, leaders are taken into substantial periods of isolation. We can choose to be defeated by them or see them as a time of renewal where God is shaping a new leadership identity for what lies around the corner.
There are no pat answers or platitudes in this book. It is sheer hard work, pressing into a God who is sovereign and trustworthy, but right now you are struggling to trust because of the circumstances you find yourself in.
November 30, 2025
Very good and helpful on thinking about how to walk through isolation/a season of being set aside in ministry and identifying how God is at work. The author is helpful in describing the different causes of isolation and what God may be doing in each. I think the book is helpful for all leaders preparing themselves for development in leadership as it highlights a key tool God uses in forming leaders.
Unfortunately, in the copy I have several footnotes are incomplete (as if they were supposed to carry over to the next page and were up off).
Unfortunately, in the copy I have several footnotes are incomplete (as if they were supposed to carry over to the next page and were up off).
April 9, 2020
A really helpful handbook to process voluntary and involuntary times of isolation in the life of a spiritual leader. The author uses both biblical examples and modern day examples as case studies, with practical ideas of how to emerge transformed and not defeated by isolation. I esp liked the summaries and tables/charts and will use them as reference points when helping others go through their own journeys of stripping and redefining their sense of ministry identities.
April 25, 2018
Easy to read. Practical. Thought-provoking. Helpful resources mentioned if you want to go deeper.
July 12, 2022
Helpful small booklet describing some natural transitional periods that occur in the life of a leader. In these periods of separation from others, there's an invitation from God to grow in a new way.
March 15, 2012
Trebesch identifies, within a Christian context, a phenomenon that occurs in the lives of most leaders (she says that 95% of leaders will experience it). She terms this
isolation
, defining it as:
...the setting aside of a leader from normal ministry involvement in its natural context usually for an extended time in order to experience God in a new or deeper way.
She also identifies a second type of isolation, ministry isolation , that can occur in the midst of ministry. She defines this as:
...an experience in the context of ministry in which the basic symptoms of regular isolation are felt and experienced and in which God uses the situation to deepen the leader's life.
Her basic thesis is that Christian leaders should embrace these typically trying seasons of life, learning to recognize that periods of isolation, though painful, bring about positive transformation within the life of the leader.
Trebesch first identifies the presence of isolation within the lives of many biblical characters. Using both the Old Testament as well as the New, she walks the reader through a process of identifying isolation experiences as the norm for those who seek to know and understand God. By examining these various characters, she is able to identify four basic components of the isolation experience:
1) Stripping: a process whereby leaders are stripped of their ministry identity, discovering how much they rely on the affirmation of ministry. Leaders often discover how addicted they are to "success" in ministry.
2) Wrestling with God: the leader learns to embrace one's true identity as defined by God.
3) Increased Intimacy: a stage of isolation that often includes openness, honesty, weakness, brokenness, and vulnerability, all of which ultimately lead to a deepened relationship with, and reliance upon God.
4) Release to Look toward the Future: the concluding phase, whereby the leader is led out of isolation, and freed to engage ministry and leadership once again, this time at a heightened level of spiritual maturity.
Trebesch is firm in her belief that God uses periods of isolation to transform the identity of the leader, to bring about paradigm shifts in thought, and to deepen the leader's relationship with God. This being the case, isolation must be identified as early on in the process as possible, and embraced by the leader in order to experience the transformative power that is bound up in the experience.
While some may criticize Trebesch's approach, saying it is too formulaic, I would assert that Trebesch's approach is appropriate. It would be dangerous to look at her charts and graphs and conclude that God always works in one particular fashion; however, it is indeed useful to be able to identify some general guideposts for what appears to be a rather standard tool used by God for refining His people.
Overall, I think Trebesch has done a fantastic job of concisely and convincingly describing the isolation process, and has provided a valuable tool to the field of Christian leadership, which can benefit the secular world as well.
...the setting aside of a leader from normal ministry involvement in its natural context usually for an extended time in order to experience God in a new or deeper way.
She also identifies a second type of isolation, ministry isolation , that can occur in the midst of ministry. She defines this as:
...an experience in the context of ministry in which the basic symptoms of regular isolation are felt and experienced and in which God uses the situation to deepen the leader's life.
Her basic thesis is that Christian leaders should embrace these typically trying seasons of life, learning to recognize that periods of isolation, though painful, bring about positive transformation within the life of the leader.
Trebesch first identifies the presence of isolation within the lives of many biblical characters. Using both the Old Testament as well as the New, she walks the reader through a process of identifying isolation experiences as the norm for those who seek to know and understand God. By examining these various characters, she is able to identify four basic components of the isolation experience:
1) Stripping: a process whereby leaders are stripped of their ministry identity, discovering how much they rely on the affirmation of ministry. Leaders often discover how addicted they are to "success" in ministry.
2) Wrestling with God: the leader learns to embrace one's true identity as defined by God.
3) Increased Intimacy: a stage of isolation that often includes openness, honesty, weakness, brokenness, and vulnerability, all of which ultimately lead to a deepened relationship with, and reliance upon God.
4) Release to Look toward the Future: the concluding phase, whereby the leader is led out of isolation, and freed to engage ministry and leadership once again, this time at a heightened level of spiritual maturity.
Trebesch is firm in her belief that God uses periods of isolation to transform the identity of the leader, to bring about paradigm shifts in thought, and to deepen the leader's relationship with God. This being the case, isolation must be identified as early on in the process as possible, and embraced by the leader in order to experience the transformative power that is bound up in the experience.
While some may criticize Trebesch's approach, saying it is too formulaic, I would assert that Trebesch's approach is appropriate. It would be dangerous to look at her charts and graphs and conclude that God always works in one particular fashion; however, it is indeed useful to be able to identify some general guideposts for what appears to be a rather standard tool used by God for refining His people.
Overall, I think Trebesch has done a fantastic job of concisely and convincingly describing the isolation process, and has provided a valuable tool to the field of Christian leadership, which can benefit the secular world as well.
March 26, 2020
I read this during the first month of covid out of interest in the topic and lifelong leader formation and J. Robert Clinton's work. Had no idea I'd find myself deep in this type of season. The was an invaluable resource for me and just revisited again - explains and maps out my own personal journey the last 18 months in ways that provide gratitude and hope. For me, I get it a 5, but it's not the kind of resource that resonates with everyone in all seasons. But if you're in or coming off of a deep season of isolation as a leader - this is a huge help.
August 9, 2013
Good for anyone in ministry to read. We all go through times when we are isolated from leadership, sometimes by our choice, sometimes not. This book helps you recognize these times and allow God to use these times in your life for good (think Joseph in prison).
July 26, 2008
recommended for spiritual leaders; gives lessons and insights for those on sabattical or unable to minister for a season
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews