A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations: Building an Excellent Match Upon Your Shared Strengths

During the first year, the new pastor and congregation set the tone of their ministry partnership. They establish enduring patterns of relating to God and each other. Kennon Callahan here offers sage advice to pastors and congregations beginning together, or attempting to remedy a poor start by beginning again. I recommend this book highly. In fact, I incorporated some of Callahan's insights into a devotional book for new pastors and church members to read during their first 12 months together. Jesus began his public ministry with 40 days of prayer (Matthew 4), so you may wish to check out "Welcome, Pastor: Building a Productive Pastor-Congregation Partnership in 40 Days." Starting well deserves your careful, prayerful attention. Callahan writes, "How you begin shapes how you continue and where you end."

During a recent pastor's coffee in a state far from my own, I asked for advice as I prepared to move to new churches and a very different situation from my previous pastoral experience. Dr. Jim Carpenter lent me his copy of this book (I have since purchased my own)with a stern warning to return his copy. After reading, I understand why. The book is full of friendly annecdotes all pointing away from the stepping-stone and mega-church model back into the mission-oriented church we all dreamed of at seminary. The narrative style runs through the book, but Callahan doesn't stop with annecdotal information. He makes clear and convincing arguments for doing certain things certain ways - much of the advice goes against the words of wisdom offered me at my last church. The words are well measured and warm in tone. You'll finish the book on a quiet Friday... but you won't be finished with the book and its ideas for many months. Buy it, enjoy it, and try it out!

Kennon Callahan is well known for his previous books and consulting work. This latest book is aimed at helping pastors who are starting out in a new congregation or pastors and congregations who want to renew their relationship. Callahan has a fresh focus for this reader. So many of the church experts today urge pastors to focus on the problems of their new congregations. Callahan insists that the key to an effective ministry is an early focus on relationships. He describes how a new pastor should plan the first three months around key visits to regular worshippers, shut-ins and hospitalized. He also has suggestions for getting quickly involved in the community, scouting out the church's mission field, developing a team of leaders and setting goals. The best thing about Callahan's approach is his gentle and confident attitude and the flexibility of his advice.