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Together: A Guide for Couples Doing Ministry Together
Serving in numerous ministry capacities together, Geoff and Sherry Surratt have valuable lessons and observations to pass along to couples seeking to serve in ministry together.
Marriage is hard. Learning to do life with another human being presents unanticipated challenges that take determined, focused, humbling effort to work through.
Ministry is hard. Much like marriage, it's full of unanticipated challenges, requires a great deal of selflessness, and often comes with little reward.
Marriage and ministry together? It’s a unique calling, yet couples who enter into it seldom receive adequate preparation, training, or even warning!
Geoff and Sherry Surratt have been at both marriage and ministry together for over 30 years and have seen the highs, lows, and everything in between—they've managed to figure out a way to make it all work together. But the Surratts aren't the Facebook ministry couple with perfect hair, perfect skin, and perfect children. In fact, Together isn't a how-to-guide to create the model marriage-in-ministry. It's more like coffee with friends who've been where you are going and have learned some valuable lessons that may help you find your way, together.
Marriage is hard. Learning to do life with another human being presents unanticipated challenges that take determined, focused, humbling effort to work through.
Ministry is hard. Much like marriage, it's full of unanticipated challenges, requires a great deal of selflessness, and often comes with little reward.
Marriage and ministry together? It’s a unique calling, yet couples who enter into it seldom receive adequate preparation, training, or even warning!
Geoff and Sherry Surratt have been at both marriage and ministry together for over 30 years and have seen the highs, lows, and everything in between—they've managed to figure out a way to make it all work together. But the Surratts aren't the Facebook ministry couple with perfect hair, perfect skin, and perfect children. In fact, Together isn't a how-to-guide to create the model marriage-in-ministry. It's more like coffee with friends who've been where you are going and have learned some valuable lessons that may help you find your way, together.
- GenresMarriage
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2018
6 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Geoff Surratt
12 booksGeoff Surratt helps churches across the country in strategic planning, teaching and staff development. Geoff previously led the church planting and multisite ministry of Saddleback Church and served Seacoast Church overseeing their 13 campuses. He has almost 30 years of ministry experience in a variety of roles in local churches, and is the author of several books including The Multisite Church Revolution, The Multisite Church Roadtrip and 10 Stupid Things that Keep Churches from Growing. Geoff lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sherry. They have two children and one granddaughter.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 3, 2020
I read this book for a class on Building Covenant Marriages, and perhaps I had wrong expectations going in, but it was significantly disappointing on many levels.
First, I had hoped that there would be some sense of a biblical theological framework for how doing ministry “together” should be thought through, which there was zero of. Now, I know this wasn’t their intention, that they’re goal was to write the book “as if sitting down to a cup of coffee,” yet, any book on doing ministry together that doesn’t begin with what ministry is in light of God already significantly misses the mark.
Second, not only does the book miss any theological grounding, but also it hardly has scripture at all. It really is best summarized as a biography, not only of the authors but also there are several other stories thrown in. And if the goal was to write a biography good for them, but I personally didn’t find it an inspiring or exemplary biography. Which, is one of my biggest problems with it, which is that it unfortunately displays what is a common story in the evangelical world of hopping from place to place in ministry. I simply didn’t agree with many of the big choices described here.
Even with books I don’t enjoy there is something to be learned, and so there were insightful and helpful words of words on along the way, but for the cost and then time it’s certainly not one I would recommend, although it does seem that the need for a book of its nature, for husbands and wives in ministry, is a whole that needs to be filled.
First, I had hoped that there would be some sense of a biblical theological framework for how doing ministry “together” should be thought through, which there was zero of. Now, I know this wasn’t their intention, that they’re goal was to write the book “as if sitting down to a cup of coffee,” yet, any book on doing ministry together that doesn’t begin with what ministry is in light of God already significantly misses the mark.
Second, not only does the book miss any theological grounding, but also it hardly has scripture at all. It really is best summarized as a biography, not only of the authors but also there are several other stories thrown in. And if the goal was to write a biography good for them, but I personally didn’t find it an inspiring or exemplary biography. Which, is one of my biggest problems with it, which is that it unfortunately displays what is a common story in the evangelical world of hopping from place to place in ministry. I simply didn’t agree with many of the big choices described here.
Even with books I don’t enjoy there is something to be learned, and so there were insightful and helpful words of words on along the way, but for the cost and then time it’s certainly not one I would recommend, although it does seem that the need for a book of its nature, for husbands and wives in ministry, is a whole that needs to be filled.
January 19, 2022
This was an easy book to read. It’s written in a conversational style and follows a fairly consistent pattern from chapter to chapter with each of the authors alternating their comments about particular seasons in their marriage/ministry and the topic at hand. They also include a section at the end of each chapter with comments from a ministry couple they know or have admired.
That being said, if you’re looking for a Biblical exploration of ministry and marriages you’re not going to find it here. There are many good lessons here for ministry couples, no doubt, but there is very little Biblical teaching and even fewer scripture references. This is more of a personal story and reflection on their lives and the lessons they gleaned from their failures and successes.
Much of what they offer is very good advice. I found myself nodding in agreement with great frequency. There were a few moments where I either disagreed or would’ve pushed for more thoughtful clarification if I was actually in a conversation with the authors. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and a capable reminder of the challenges and opportunities many marriages are presented when called into ministry.
If nothing else, it will get you thinking and could open doors for conversation and reflection between you and your spouse if you were to read it together.
That being said, if you’re looking for a Biblical exploration of ministry and marriages you’re not going to find it here. There are many good lessons here for ministry couples, no doubt, but there is very little Biblical teaching and even fewer scripture references. This is more of a personal story and reflection on their lives and the lessons they gleaned from their failures and successes.
Much of what they offer is very good advice. I found myself nodding in agreement with great frequency. There were a few moments where I either disagreed or would’ve pushed for more thoughtful clarification if I was actually in a conversation with the authors. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and a capable reminder of the challenges and opportunities many marriages are presented when called into ministry.
If nothing else, it will get you thinking and could open doors for conversation and reflection between you and your spouse if you were to read it together.
July 18, 2024
My wife and I sometimes navigate some, uh, tension when we work together on shared ministry projects, so I thought "Together: A Guide for Couples Doing Ministry Together" might offer some helpful insight for us to consider as we continue to lead alongside each other in the church. And the book was fine. Nothing more or less. It included some anecdotes and stories that were quasi-interesting. There may have even been a few nuggets of insight. But none of it felt particularly fresh or inspired.
On the whole, it was ultimately a rather unremarkable collections of meandering reflections that left very little impression on me. I didn't disagree with what they shared. But that's part of the problem. They didn't say anything substantive enough to invite disagreement. If you've never read a Christian marriage book before, this will do fine. But if you're looking for something particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or deeply profound, I think you'll need to keep looking...
On the whole, it was ultimately a rather unremarkable collections of meandering reflections that left very little impression on me. I didn't disagree with what they shared. But that's part of the problem. They didn't say anything substantive enough to invite disagreement. If you've never read a Christian marriage book before, this will do fine. But if you're looking for something particularly insightful, thought-provoking, or deeply profound, I think you'll need to keep looking...
September 12, 2022
As a pastor’s wife I got some great advice. I didn’t come into the ministry through a traditional route-my husband was an engineer first and felt called to vocational ministry later. I would recommend this to couples that are engaged and going into ministry together. Because of my unique situation some of the chapters didn’t feel relevant but overall I was happy and got some advice to apply to my marriage.
December 5, 2018
SO many things in this book are spot on! Couples in ministry need to read this book...both of them.
February 20, 2022
Was pretty disappointed in the book. The lack of Scripture and the way that the story was told made it seem shallow. Wasn’t a fan of the book.
December 13, 2022
Worthwhile.
April 27, 2024
Lots of ministry stories from both husband and wife who have served in numerous ministry and secular positions.
May 25, 2024
Solid read. Interesting to hear the life stories from a couple devoted to the work of God in the world. Always something to learn from those who have gone before us!
January 23, 2020
The book was pretty good with some good principles to think about, but felt like too much story sharing. The stories are very relatable if you are in the traditional ministry setting, but can feel unrelatable if you and your husband's ministry positions look atypical.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews