Zeal without Burnout($7.75Value)

Description

Practical and biblical guidance to help enthusiastic Christians serve Jesus in a sustainable way. Lots of people who are involved in Christian ministry (whether paid or unpaid) find themselves having to step back from it. They have not lost their love for Christ, or their desire to serve him. But for one reason or another, they are exhausted and simply cannot carry on. Christopher Ash knows this experience all too well. As a pastor of a growing church, and then in his role training people for ministry, he has found himself on the edge of burnout a number of times, and has pastored many younger ministers who have reached the end of their tether. His wisdom has been distilled into this short, accessible book, in which he reveals a neglected biblical truth and seven keys that flow from it. This practical and biblical guidance will help enthusiastic Christians gain the mindset and lifestyle to protect themselves from burnout and serve Jesus for the long term in a sustainable way. Who is this book for? Here is Christopher’s answer from the introduction: “I write for all zealous followers of Jesus. Perhaps especially for pastors and Christian leaders ― to those entrusted with pastoral oversight under God. Some of us have the privilege of being set free from other jobs to devote ourselves to this work; others combine pastoral leadership with “normal” secular work. But I write also for the many keen Christian men and women who, in addition to “normal” life ― busy jobs, parenthood, and so on ― labor sacrificially to serve in their local churches.” From the foreword by Alistair Begg: “Christopher brings to this important subject, not just a personal experience of burnout, but a keen eye to the Bible, and wise pastoral insight into the pressures many of us face as we live for Jesus.” Those who read this book and follow its counsel will find themselves equipped to serve the Lord will zeal, but also in a way that can be sustained over the long-term. For that reason, this is a book for every Christian. --Tim Challies (Blogger) Christopher's exposition of the simple truth that "God is God and we are dust" liberates, humbles and strengthens with practical and pastoral wisdom. Read this if you are feeling weary and be refreshed in God's grace. Read this even if you are feeling energetic because prevention is better than cure! -- Denesh Divyanathan - Founding Pastor of The Crossing Church (Singapore) & President of Project Timothy (Singapore). There are far too many victims of burnout in pastoral ministry. I was very nearly one of them and almost had to pull out after just four years. Christopher Ash's wise counsel, learnt from scripture and through long, and sometimes bitter, experience, would have helped me enormously in those early years and is still what I need today. -- Vaughan Roberts - Rector of St Ebbe's Oxford and Director of The Proclamation Trust As a pastor of 12 years and no longer young, I praise God for Christopher Ash's self-disclosing cry that we are but dust! We live moment by moment as frail beings given health and strength by our sovereign Father, but those are limited by his grace so that we never forget that he is God, not us, and that we desperately and constantly are constructed so as to need him. May this book help us end the corporate church conspiracy to seem stronger than we are, even omnipotent, and leave us content to keep being wisely weak and daily dependent until Jesus returns. -- Dr. Andrew Nicholls - Medical Doctor and Church Pastor This is a brutally honest but profoundly joyful little book. Packed with personal testimony and Biblical insight we are gently reminded of the dangers of behaving like we are God. It is humbling, refreshing and will be a great help to many who want to keep going to the finish line. -- Jonty Allcock - Author and lead pastor at The Globe Church, London I m so grateful (and relieved!) that someone of Christopher s experience has written so candidly about burnout. Interspersed with several others testimonies, this is a very real, down-to-earth but always wise book. There s straight-talking but a soft heart, compassion for the broken alongside a desire for healthier expectations for normal ministry. My only frustration: it left me wanting more! -- Mark Meynell - Associate Director (Europe), Langham Preaching, Langham Partnership I need this book, and I suspect I'm not alone. As a friend and former colleague of Christopher, I have seen first hand his zeal for the Lord. And I have also seen how that can lead to near burnout. Full of biblical and applied wisdom, this book will rescue many a minister and ministry. -- Robin Weekes - Minister, Emmanuel Church Wimbledon It's something we all want - zeal without burnout - and here is a book to help us. Christopher explores the dynamic between a life given to Christ and serving Him in a ministry job. The personal stories make it accessible, practical and at times touching. A great read for any