Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Every year thousands of God's servants leave the ministry convinced they are failures. Years ago, in the midst of a crisis of faith, Kent Hughes almost became one of them. But instead he and his wife Barbara turned to God's Word, determined to learn what God had to say about success and to evaluate their ministry from a biblical point of view.
This book describes their journey and their liberation from the "success syndrome"-the misguided belief that success in ministry means increased numbers. In today's world it is easy to be seduced by the secular thinking that places a number on everything. But the authors teach that true success in ministry lies not in numbers but in several key areas: faithfulness, serving, loving, believing, prayer, holiness, and a Christlike attitude. Their thoughts will encourage readers who grapple with feelings of failure and lead them to a deeper, fuller understanding of success in Christian ministry.
This book was originally published by Tyndale in 1987 and includes a new preface.
- Concerns about the morale and survival of those in Christian ministry
- Serves as an effort to encourage those involved in different areas of ministry
- Seeks to help readers grow in their understanding of what God desires from those that serve Him
I. A Dark Night of the Soul
- Disappointed Dreams
- "Hang On to My Faith"
II. Definitions
- Success is Faithfulness
- Success is Serving
- Success is Loving
- Success is Believing
- Success is Prayer
- Success is Holiness
- Success is Attitude
- Sweet Success!
III. Encouragements
- Encouragement from God
- Encouragement from the Call
- Encouragement for the Ordinary
- Encouragement from Fellow Workers
- Encouragement from Reward
IV. Helps
- How the Pastor's Wife Can Help
- How the Congregation Can Help
Top Highlights
“But imperceptibly my high Christian idealism had shifted from serving to receiving, from giving to getting. I realized that what I really wanted was a growing church and ‘success’ more than the smile of God.” (source)
“C. S. Lewis once said that God whispers to us in our joys, speaks to us in our difficulties, and shouts in our pain. I needed his shout.” (source)
“ God’s call is to be faithful rather than successful.” (source)
“Spurgeon’s dictum: ‘A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not.’” (source)
“I don’t know what you’re going to do. But for right now, for tonight, hang on to my faith. Because I believe. I believe that God is good. I believe that he loves us and is going to work through this experience. So hang on to my faith. I have enough for both of us.’” (source)
One of the very best books I have read on the spirituality of pastoral ministry.
Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College
I recommend that every pastor first read the Hughes's book privately and then go over it with his lay leaders. Doing this will not be less than a milestone and might well be a watershed.
J. I. Packer, Late Board of Governors' Professor of Theology, Regent College
Born out of experience, based on the Word of God, and applied to real life, this book is just what weary and discouraged pastors and their wives need. And it wouldn't hurt if critical church officers read it too! I highly recommend it.
Warren W. Wiersbe, former General Director, Back to the Bible