A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations: Building an Excellent Match Upon Your Shared Strengths Hardcover - 1999

From the jacket flap

A New Beginning for Pastors and CongregationsThis wise and practical guide provides clear insight for both pastors and congregations on how to begin a healthy, productive new pastorate or make a fresh start in an ongoing ministry. Author Kennon L. Callahan, today's most sought-after church consultant, has conferred with thousands of pastors and congregations, helping them discover their strengths and gifts and showing them how to work together in service to their community and mission. Here he offers fresh suggestions on how pastors and congregations can ensure a solid future together, whether they are newly beginning or beginning again.Callahan challenges the accepted wisdom that a year or more must pass before a new pastor can have an impact on a new congregation. He observes that the first three months are decisive for shaping a successful long-term relationship with any new church, and that the first few days set the tone for the months and years that follow. "In the first few days and weeks," he says, "you and your congregation teach one another who you plan to be together. Many pastors, in these early days, constructively teach their congregation that they plan to be a good shepherd, a helpful preacher, a wise and caring leader, a community pastor. Many congregations participate in helping this constructive beginning to grow forward."A New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations offers fresh wisdom for every ministry, new or ongoing, on how to grow stronger, deeper, and more helpful. Illuminating his insights with stories of real ministries, Callahan identifies specific ways that pastors and congregations can develop healthy, constructive relationships of trust, respect, appreciation, and genuine love, fulfilling their objectives, hopes, and mission.Today's most sought-after church consultant shows how you can make a healthy start in your churchA New Beginning for Pastors and Congregations offers practical, concrete wisdom for both pas