Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome - Softcover

Hughes, R. Kent; Hughes, Barbara

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1581349742 ISBN 13: 9781581349740

Publisher: Crossway, 2008

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author:

R. Kent Hughes (DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is senior pastor emeritus of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and former professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hughes is also a founder of the Charles Simeon Trust, which conducts expository preaching conferences throughout North America and worldwide. He serves as the series editor for the Preaching the Word commentary series and is the author or coauthor of many books. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, and have four children and an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.

, Senior Pastor Emeritus, College Church, Wheaton, Illinois

Barbara Hughes has supported her husband Kent’s pastoral ministry for over forty years while also raising four children. She is a popular teacher of women’s groups and the author of several books. Barbara and Kent live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, and have an ever-increasing number of grandchildren.

author, Disciplines of a Godly Woman; coauthor, Disciplines of a Godly Family

Review:

"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, 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

"With wisdom gained from their own struggles and long years of experience, Kent and Barbara Hughes spell out the principles that can set God's servants free from the yoke of unscriptural ideas."
―Vernon C. Grounds, Chancellor, Denver Seminary

"Bless you, Kent and Barbara, for saying with clarity and boldness what thousands of pastors and pastors' wives need to hear. Your call back to the basics in ministry will free many from the false demands of 'success' and restore the proper measurements of achievement."
―Ray C. Stedman, Former Pastor, Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto, CA

About this edition

• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1581349742
• ISBN 13: 9781581349740
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208