"The Church in Dark Times" (Mike Cosper)

TITLE: The Church in Dark Times: Understanding and Resisting the Evil That Seduced the Evangelical Movement
AUTHOR: Mike Cosper
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (208 pages).

What are dark times? What are the risks facing the evangelical churches today? How do ordinary churches fall down the path of shame? What are the signs of seduction? What are the social and cultural influences that we need to be aware of? What ideological, spiritual, or structural factors are involved in scandals? These questions are dealt with in depth by Mike Cosper who had previously produced and hosted the podcast, "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." Writing with Hannah Arendt's insights on human behaviour and experiences of abuse, he defines dark times under the umbrella of totalitarianism, and how totalitarian ideology is seductive to the modern mind. Churches need to discern and resist the temptation toward evil within their organizations. Anchored on the Bible verse to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," (James 4:7), author Mike Cosper exposes the telltale signs of abuses, conspiracies, denials, violence, and the infiltration of devilish ideologies that sought to hide the Truth. Using the defunct Mars Hill Church as a backdrop to the book, Cosper seeks to extend Arendt's reflections on her experiences with the evil Nazi regime. Dark times are not simply about totalitarianism. It includes how the world becomes disconnected from goodness and purpose. 

"Citizenship Without Illusions" (David Theodore Koyzis)

TITLE: Citizenship Without Illusions - A Christian Guide to Political Engagement
AUTHOR: David Theodore Koyzis
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2024, (168 pages).
 

The year 2024 is an Election Year in America. How do we vote? What guidelines are there to help us decide on which candidates are best for the country? What is the role of the Church in society? Should Christians get involved in politics at all? After the election, what should we do when our candidates of choice get outvoted? At the core of the discussion is the question of citizenship. Author David Koyzis is convinced that citizenship not only has its privileges, it carries a heavy responsibility. With this in mind, many are aware of the deep divisions in the country over the different political affiliations. With a keen awareness of the political turmoil happening throughout the country, he explores the nature, meaning, and history of citizenship matters. He looks at what it means to be a good citizen. That includes standing up for justice, being informed of matters around us; supporting our communities; volunteering in needy areas; and the courage to engage in activities that honour God. On voting, Koyzis first affirms one's right to vote and offers his perspectives on the issue of wasting one's votes. He regularly compares the political systems of Canada and the US to give context before providing his views. He even offers caveats for anyone wanting to set up a "Christian" political party. Recognizing that there will always be diverse views, the author urges all to maintain open conversational channels regardless of political alliances. 

"Where Have All the Church Members Gone?" (Thom S Rainer)

TITLE: Where Have All the Church Members Gone?How to Avoid the Five Traps That Silently Kill Churches
AUTHOR: Thom S. Rainer
PUBLISHER: Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2024, (144 pages).

This book is a fictional tale of a Church in crisis. The lead pastor, Oliver Wagner has been pastoring Connection Church for the past 8 years. Everything appears well from the outside but upon closer examination, there are more than meets the eye. People are still coming to Church but some have stopped coming. Some leaders faithfully serve albeit with different expectations of the direction of the Church. Along with those who work well alongside the pastor, some row in the opposite direction, opposing any pastoral initiatives at every turn. Pastor Wagner works well with some key individuals like Jorge Miranda, Emma Rockwell, Becky Garner, but not with people such as Ken Cassidy. With skillful storytelling, author Thom Rainer points out some common dysfunctions in that Church to help us reflect on our churches. Some of these "traps" that many fail to notice include:

• Members who stopped coming;
• Declining frequency of attendance;
• Attrition rates that are larger than recruitment numbers;
• Lack of foundational Bible teaching and Discipleship;
• Recognizing and Dealing with conflict;
• Having a low bar of expectations on members;
• Lacking an understanding of the importance of Church membership;
• Failing to evangelize or reach out;
• Churches that are too prone toward programs rather than discipleship;
• .....

"Faithful Politics" (Miranda Zapor Cruz)

TITLE: Faithful Politics: Ten Approaches to Christian Citizenship and Why It Matters
AUTHOR: Miranda Zapor Cruz
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2024, (216 pages).

Do we choose Republicans because the Presidential candidate carries a Bible? Do we choose Democrats because my Christian friends are there? Do we choose parties simply because their policies are more Christian? How do we practice our Christian Faith in our often heated political environment? What is the difference between heavenly and earthly citizenship? How do we know if our actions are serving God or Caesar? How do we live as heavenly citizens while on earth? In our polarized climate, how can Christians behave as peacemakers? Is there such a thing as a Christian political party? Should we vote for candidates who claim to be Christians? These are some of the questions that trouble many Christians. Before attempting to answer any of these questions, we might need to ask a more fundamental one: "What does it mean to practice faithful politics?" This one question is the basis of this book to show us what it means to be salty, prophetic, separationist, and social. Underlying these principles are biblical applications of dual citizens, first of the Kingdom and then of earthly citizens. Living as Kingdom citizens means recognizing the different approaches to politics as compared to what we see in everyday worldly affairs. For instance, instead of limiting ourselves to relationships based on our nationality statuses on earth, we learn a universal perspective of seeing people as fellow humans living under grace from heaven. Instead of fighting one another to gain access to limited resources on earth, we learn to share in the hope that the economies of God will always be more abundant. 

"The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation" (Kevin DeYoung)

TITLE: The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation
AUTHOR: Kevin DeYoung
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (48 pages).

Many churches are clamouring for more young people in their congregations. The average age of a North American Church today is above 40, and greying fast. This is a statistical parallel to an aging society. That is why many Church leaders desire young people to step up in leadership for the next generation and beyond. Desires however is one thing. Designing an appropriate strategy is another. Along with that is the inter-generational gaps that often lead to clashes and misunderstanding between the young and the old. Whether it is about the worship wars, traditional vs contemporary music, the generational makeup of leadership boards, the various programs for the young and not-so-young, the common theme is similar: Reaching the next generation is easier said than done. Is there a secret to doing that in the first place? Author and pastor Kevin DeYoung realizes that there is no simple answer to that important question. In trying to explain his strategies that to him is not so secret, but not to others, he titles this book with a catchy "not-so-secret" secret.

"Trust" (Dominique Shelton Leipzig)

TITLE: Trust.: Responsible AI, Innovation, Privacy and Data Leadership
AUTHOR: Dominique Shelton Leipzig
PUBLISHER: Charleston, SC: Forbes Books, 2024, (399 pages).
 

It is not easy to trust what we see today. From Artificial Intelligence to Deep Fake technologies, it is becoming easier to manipulate data for illegitimate ends. With innovation comes the tendency for cheating and criminal activities. Data security is critical to preserve the integrity of businesses and maintain positive public trust. All it takes is a data leak, hacking, systems malfunction, or an infiltration of ransomware, and the corporation's activities easily come to a standstill. According to Dominique Shelton Leipzig, the problem with modern corporate boardrooms is that data management is typically delegated to backroom staff, like data scientists or IT professionals. Some don't know the right questions to ask about their data in the first place. This calls for a more proactive approach when dealing with data and information in the company. Data stewardship cannot be left to consultants, or engineers in the data center, or outsourced to cheaper IT professionals outside. They need to be managed responsibly. Senior management needs to be held accountable. Data breaches and data security lapses cannot be blamed on data center staff. CEOs must take an active interest in the integrity and use of data in their organizations. With more businesses and information being collected and stored both inside and outside the organizations, there needs to be a heightened awareness and responsibility about its collection, management, protection, and usage. Companies of all sizes need a proper data strategy. The thesis in this book is that to re-establish trust in organizations, it is high time for senior management to take leadership of their corporate data as a critical asset. In Leipzig's words, one must "lead with trust." That means three things:

"Pastoral Identity: True Shepherds in the Household of Faith" (Douglas D. Webster)

TITLE: Pastoral Identity: True Shepherds in the Household of Faith
AUTHOR: Douglas D. Webster
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2023, (192 pages).
 

According to Barna research, the percentage of pastors considering quitting full-time ministry hovers around 42 percent. The pandemic only made it worse. Whatever the numbers, the trend is a worrying one. With enrolment at theological institutions down, and the rising attrition of pastors, churches continue to have a hard time hiring pastors. Perhaps, this is a symptom of a deeper problem, that the expectations of both churches and pastors are both misaligned. Author Douglas Webster recognizes the different expectations not only in the modern era but also through the ages. The one thing that is fundamentally important is the issue of identity. How do we understand the way pastoral leadership has changed? What kind of pastoral care is needed in a culture of nominal Christians? What if the gifts of the pastor do not match  the Church's expectations? 

In this book, Webster helps us wrestle with the differences of pastoral identity across two eras: Christendom and the modern household of faith. Thr former is based on religious tradition or Church denominational history (time-limited) while the latter on followers of Jesus who reflect the values of the gospel (timeless). Change has been happening even in the modern era. The challenge is to try to adapting gospel approaches to changing culture.

"Church Revitalization: A Pastoral Guide to Church Renewal" (Russell N. Small)

TITLE: Church Revitalization: A Pastoral Guide to Church Renewal
AUTHOR: Russell N. Small
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2023, (232 pages).
 

Like it or not, every organization will need to be refreshed or revitalized every now and then. Existing members age or move on to "greener" pastures. New people move in and form new relationships. As dynamics shift from year to year, organizational structures can sometimes become archaic and inflexible to changes. Pastoral transitions also play a part in the range of changes. If these changes are to be expected, it makes perfect sense to prepare for them. This book shows us the way. The first five chapters present some theories to know and assess "critical areas" in such revitalization efforts. The following five chapters present the practical steps to put them into action. The primary purpose of the book is to recognize Church Revitalization as a calling and to help do our part to renew the Church over and over again. Chapter One sets the stage to bring us back to the fundamental convictions of a Church. Questions are asked pertaining to the definition of a Church, what it stands for, and the types of churches we are talking about. Not all churches are the same doctrinally, traditionally, and structurally. Not a problem. The point is not about the differences but to recognize our own church's conviction, mission, and vision. Chapter 3 deals with the history of the Church so as to establish a pattern of thought. This includes the assessment of past pastorates, reviewing Church records, major decisions made, spiritual successes, and listening carefully to members and the community. Chapter 4 deals with demographic concerns both inside the Church and outside in the neighborhood. On the inside, we look at factors such as generational differences and on the outside, to learn awareness about the cultural, social, and political climate. Chapter 5 looks at the spiritual health of the pastor. There are various personality tests for pastors to take to better self-understanding. There are also tips of pastoral wellness and emotional health. An important point to note is the danger of burnout and blowout! There is also a section on digital wellness which is increasingly relevant. From chapter 6 onward, the author brings in several strategies to help us plan toward Church revitalization. It is crucial that we do not skip the first few chapters about Chruch and leadership personal evaluation, lest we put the cart before the horse.

"Tell Her Story" (Nijay K. Gupta)

TITLE: Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
AUTHOR: Nijay K. Gupta
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (224 pages).

One of the negative comments I have heard from modern readers is about the patriarchal nature of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. They note how the heads of households in the past are restricted to men. There are also many instances where modern folks quickly accuse gender discrimination. Why should Eve be a "helpmeet" to Adam and not the other way around? Why are most of the judges male? What about the way women are been treated? Is God being fair to the oft-referred "weaker" sex? Even in the New Testament, why did Paul put restrictions on women when it comes to teaching in the Church? These questions not only colour the minds of people, but they can also sometimes affect their faith. It might even cast doubts about God being fair and just. Sometimes, this has spurred the rise and development of modern feminism. Aware of such trends, scholars and theologians have begun addressing the issue of women and gender inequality in the Bible. In this book, author Nijay Gupta looks at the women leaders in the New Testament to highlight how such "hidden figures" have impacted the development of the Early Church. Apart from people like Mary, the mother of Jesus, Priscilla, and a few others like Phoebe and Eunice, the number of women leaders is agonizingly few. By shedding light on the impact of women leaders in the Bible, the author hopes to inform readers about the significance of women in ministry yesterday, today, and into the future. At the same time, there is definitely more than meets the modern cultural eye about women in the Bible. Gupta aims to debunk some of the myths that people have, such as women being resigned to insignificant roles in society then; and the unfair status imposed on women, etc. More importantly, by understanding the stories of these women, we get a better understanding of contexts. "Her Story" includes:

"The Call to Follow" (Richard Langer and Joanne J. Jung)

TITLE: The Call to Follow
AUTHOR: Richard Langer and Joanne J. Jung
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (224 pages).
 

There are many resources on leadership. From seminars by well-known leaders to books written by famous authors, stuff on leadership continues to be highly sought after. In many societies, aspiring to positions of leadership is a badge of honor. Many schools even have special curricula to teach leadership. Training leaders is now a multibillion-dollar industry. In contrast, not much is talked about or taught with regard to the call to follow. Jesus clearly said: "Follow Me." It is a call to discipleship. For authors Richard Langer and Joanne Jung, this is a tough call. Tough because followship cannot hold a candle to the topic of leadership. Many people prefer to lead but few want to follow. Truth is, few are called to lead but we are all called to follow. Langer and Jung back this up with multiple statistics. When they search Amazon to find our books about leadership, the results outnumber followship on a ratio of 400:1. Even those books that teach us the importance of following eventually become another resource about leadership. The authors want this book to speak to all of us, regardless of whether we are in or not in any position of leadership. They then lead us through the steps to obey our calling to follow, more specifically, to follow after Jesus. In Chapter One, the authors call us to distinguish between helpful and harmful teachings of leadership, before turning to the topic of what it means to follow. They define followship as "we follow Christ (deference) through the power of the Spirit and with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (engagement and zeal) in order to glorify God and build his kingdom (mission ownership)." They help remove layers of myths regarding the call to follow. Comparing "followship stereotype" and "biblical followship," they help set the stage for us to boldly walk the path of discipleship and followship. They point out the significance of followship that should not be undermined. They help us with reasons to learn more about followship. 

"A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings & Funerals and Other Occasions" (Aubrey Malphurs, Keith Willhite, and Dennis Hillman)

TITLE: A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings & Funerals and Other Occasions: Revised and Updated
AUTHOR: Aubrey Malphurs, Keith Willhite, and Dennis Hillman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2022, (456 pages).
 

Pastors play a key role in any Church. They are frequently called to initiate, implement, and innovate on Church programs. Members of the Church rely on them for the smooth running of the Church. From Sunday services to weekly Church visitations, they are expected to meet the needs of the congregation members. Amid these weekly routines, there are happy events like weddings and baptisms, or sad events like illnesses and funerals. Then there are the seasons of the Church calendar such as Lent, Easter, Christmas, and others. This handbook covers a lot about these events, with a particular focus on weddings and funerals. Part One looks at a typical wedding service, providing sample service outlines, messages, and other relevant resources pertaining to the nature and meaning of marriages. 

Part Two follows the same framework as weddings above. Written with great sensitivity to the families of the bereaved, the chapters contain eulogy outlines, graveside instructions, memorial services, comforting messages, and sermons of hope. There are even outlines for pastors to provide for family members wanting to give memorial messages. Also included are resources that share some different perspectives of death and dying.

"The Loneliness Epidemic" (Susan Mettes)

TITLE: The Loneliness Epidemic: Why So Many of Us Feel Alone--and How Leaders Can Respond
AUTHOR: Susan Mettes
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2021, (224 pages).

Is loneliness a problem? Consider the research data. A third of American adults admit they are frequently lonely. Within the past two decades, feelings of loneliness have more than doubled. Nearly half of all practicing Christian Millennials have experienced it too. Moreover, the problem is growing, not just in North America but globally. Come Winter, the problem deepens. Rates of depression and suicide continue to rise. Why is this happening? In short, it is due to a lack of meaningful relationships. In pre-pandemic days, loneliness has been a rising concern. In 2020 when the world goes into lockdown, everyone starts to talk about the challenges of loneliness and mental health. Research from the Barna group offers compelling evidence on the extent of the problem. This leads to several other problems such as the lack of intimacy, fewer trust relationships, isolated lives, and other crises pertaining to human relationships. So widespread is the problem that even churches are full of lonely people. So why are people lonely? How is it that even people of faith who go to Church can be lonely? What can we learn from the statistics gathered? How can we address this problem? Is loneliness a Western phenomenon or is it more global? In Part One, Author and Professor Susan Mettes defines loneliness as "the distress someone feels when their social connections don’t meet their need for emotional intimacy." She distinguishes this from "social isolation" and "solitude." The former is about circumstances often unforeseen. The latter is about being alone. In Part Two, Mettes goes into greater detail about factors influencing loneliness such as:

"The Worship Architect" (Constance M. Cherry)

TITLE: The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services
AUTHOR: Constance M. Cherry
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2021, (352 pages).

The format and style of Worship in churches have been changing over the years. The factors that spur changes include congregational size, cultural influences, renewal movements, liturgical requirements, and so on. Along with the trend, the word "worship" has also become more loosely used to include personal devotions, small group gatherings, musical events, conferences, workshops, as well as everyday living. In an effort to recover the meaning of worship, author and professor Constance Cherry has revised her 2010 volume about designing worship services with a focus on Church services. Part of the concern has to do with what the author calls "a diminishing ecclesiology and an anemic Christology." The purpose of her writing this book is: "to equip leaders to prepare and lead Christian worship services that are faithful to Scripture, historically conscious,  relevant to God, Christ-centered, context-specific, and engaging for worshipers of all ages." Using the metaphor of building a house, Cherry designates four rooms of worship as follows:

1. First Room: The Gathering of God's People
2. Second Room: The Hearing of God's Word
3. Third Room: The Response to God's Word
4. Fourth Room: The Sending out of God's Disciples

"Elements of Biblical Exegesis" (Michael J. Gorman)

TITLE: Elements of Biblical Exegesis
AUTHOR: Michael J. Gorman
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2020, (352 Pages).

One of the first things I learned in Bible School is the danger of reading our thoughts into the text, a process called eisegesis. The solution: Exegesis. This is about reading the Bible for what it is, reading in the context of the passages concerned, and appreciating the original cultural and historical contexts. In many seminaries, bible exegesis is a core curriculum for all students. By helping students engage the text for what it says instead of reverting to what we feel or want it to say, we will be better expositors and teachers of the Bible. Books like this form an important part of the learning of exegesis. In this third edition, the author has included a new emphasis on interpretation from present social and ecclesiastical contexts, especially from the indigenous and Majority World. He provides additional material from both the interpreter's as well as the text's canonical contexts.  Part One of the book sets the stage by explaining to readers the basics and tools of exegesis. Gorman explains that exegesis is essentially an investigation or scholarly reading. This process includes examining the text for authorial intent, for contextual meaning, for genre awareness, and for details on meaning. It is also an opportunity for conversation. This reminder is important so that students will not see the study of the Bible too individualistically, but to be aware that the Holy Spirit illuminates God's Word in more ways than one. Exegesis is also more an art rather than mere science. That is because while we can learn of all the methodologies, content, and techniques, it takes art to put them all together. Gorman is also convinced that any exegesis needs to consider the readers' context too. That is why this third edition includes additional material on the four contexts: historical, literary, theological, and contemporary. He also helps us look at exegesis from diachronic and more so on synchronic approaches. The former examines the world behind the text while the latter on the world within the text. Gorman does a good job in describing many of the basic terms which makes this book not only a primer but a refresher for those who had previously done exegesis. Some of the key features here are:

"40 Questions about Pastoral Ministry" (Phil A. Newton)

TITLE: 40 Questions About Pastoral Ministry (40 Questions Series)
AUTHOR: Phil A. Newton
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (336 pages).

What is a pastor? What do pastors do? What does it take to remain spiritually healthy? How could pastors lead the Church? How do pastors handle conflict? What do pastors do when expectations clash? What about discouragement? How do pastors conduct marriages, funerals, and other landmark rituals? Why should pastors aim for long pastorates? These questions and many more are covered in this comprehensive volume of advice for pastors present and future, young and old. Written in an easy to reference Question-and-Answer format, author and pastor Phil Newton shares from his over 40 years of pastoral experience about what a pastor is, what it takes to develop a pastor's health, some key practices, the ministry of preaching, Church leadership, and many more matters related to the pastoral ministry. Burdened for the pastoral ministry, Newton shares his conviction that any pastoral ministry must stem from the foundation of God's Word, with appropriate reflection theologically, and applied contextually to the modern Church environment. He writes this book even as he deals with chemotherapy challenges. The questions mainly provide a framework for issues commonly faced by pastors. In five sections, he gives answers to 40 of the most important questions with regard to pastoral ministry.

"101 Leadership Insights" (Bob Phillips and Del Walinga)

TITLE: 150 Essential Insights on Leadership (Legacy Inspirational Series)
AUTHOR:  Bob Phillips and Del Walinga
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2021, (176 pages).

How does one lead to inspire? How could a leader motivate another to improve and to do better? How do we go about discovering our own personality profile and leadership styles? What does it take to be a leader? What do we do when our leadership is challenged? How do we move from dealing with differences to learning to make a difference in the lives of people? How does one deal with criticisms? What does it take to be a forward-looking leader? How could a leader learn to distinguish between rights and responsibilities? What about avoiding burnout? How does one form a vision? What does it take to develop resilience in leadership? What about loneliness? How do we balance the different expectations on us? These and many more form the basis of this large volume of leadership insights. Filled with lots of famous quotes and illustrations, it is a fascinating look at the many different perspectives of leadership. There are chapters on leadership styles and behaviors to help us determine the most appropriate attribute for different occasions. Authors Bob Phillips and Del Walinga have given us a book filled with insightful advice and powerful examples of leadership. Knowing the highs and lows that come with leadership, they encourage us to learn and to keep on learning. 

"Forerunners of the Faith Manual" (Nathan Busenitz)

TITLE: Forerunners of the Faith: 13 Lessons to Understand and Appreciate the Basics of Church History
AUTHOR: Nathan Busenitz
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2020, (112 pages).

The great Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said: "Life is lived forward but understood backwards." In trying to make sense of history, we are in effect trying to understand the meaning and significance of how past events have impacted or are still influencing our modern world. As a kid, history is one of those subjects that tend to be old and boring. Who wants to study the past when the future is so much more exciting? Once we get older, we realize that many things that we are trying to solve in the present have happened before in the past. In fact, the more we know of the past, the better we are able to plan for the future. With regard to faith, it is no different. In this survey of Church History, Church Age, or some might prefer to call it the History of Christianity, author and professor Busenitz divides post-Resurrection age in four periods:

1. The Apostolic Age (1st Century)
2. The Patristic Age (2nd-5th Centuries)
3. The Middle Age (6th-15th Centuries)
4. The Reformation and Modern Period (16th-20th Centuries)

"Lifelong Leadership" (MaryKate Morse)

TITLE: Lifelong Leadership: Woven Together through Mentoring Communities
AUTHOR: MaryKate Morse
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale, 2020, (240 pages).

Leadership is tough. It is a marathon. It is often lonely. As leaders minister to others, who ministers to them? Those who lead in the Name of Jesus, do they then claim that their strength comes from above? Theologically, that is true, but practically, God has placed people among us to be His avenue of support. Enters the notion of mentoring. In recent years, mentoring has become popular. There was a time in which people learn from famous leaders who are experts in their specialty fields. Going to conferences and seminars, leaders and trainees would lap it all up all the knowledge and experience they could gain from these top leaders. When they return back to the grind, they start to yearn for the next shot of spiritual adrenaline. What if leaders could do more than just depending on gurus and inspirational talks? What if they could be freed from the expectations of leadership molds that are beyond them? What if they could be truly themselves without having to carry around a facade of invincibility? Wouldn't that be liberating? Wouldn't that be comforting? What if the thing leaders need most is not knowledge nor the inspirational stories other leaders tell, but a special place of safety and encouragement that could help them grow? Enters this book that teaches the importance of mentoring communities. Author MaryKate Morse defines a mentoring community as:

"a yearly, three-to-five-day gathering of a mature leader mentor and five to ten younger leader participants who step away from work and daily life and come together to rest, listen, and pray for each other."

"Resisting Babel" (John Mark Hicks, ed.)

TITLE: Resisting Babel: Allegiance to God and the Problem of Government
AUTHOR: John Mark Hicks
PUBLISHER: Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2020, (160 pages).

This book gives us a collection of articles that looks at David Lipscomb's political theology summarized as follows: "Human government is still Babel - confusion, strife." From the study, one learns to distinguish human government from kingdom rule; understand the limitations of human politics; and to remember that allegiance to God and loyalty to government does not necessarily mean the same thing. Richard T. Hughes shares the background that leads to Lipscomb's position. Hughes is quick to rebut a modern example of leaders using the Bible for their own political ends, ignoring the trajectory of Scripture that teaches us not to let human governments usurp the position of God. John Mark Hicks states Lipscomb's idea as follows: "Submit but don't support." He points out the historically different political stands according to the different theological persuasions. The Institutional view (Roman Catholic) holds that churches should ally with world institutions to control and use the institutions for common interests. The "Two Kingdoms" (Protestant) holds that the success of the political regime is essential to the success of the Church. The "Conflicting Kingdoms" (Anabaptist/Mennonite) holds that the Church and the world are to be separate and distinct. As far as Lipscomb is concerned, there is a difference between supporting a government's work versus imbibing the "power's spirit." The operating principle is to witness and embody justice in this world in a manner that is "without coercion, disorder, or violence." Hicks follows up on Lipscomb's political theology with a case study on the ills and evils of racial segregation. The Church is to be the center of "reconciliation, peace, unity, and healing." Lipscomb connects modern slavery with divine punishment. His thinking evolves from seeing slavery as God-ordained to abolishing it gradually in favour of freedom for all. In a nutshell, Lipscomb may not be as fast as we would hope to abolish slavery, but he was surely progressing in the right direction toward eventual freedom for all.

"Character Matters" (Aaron Menikoff)

TITLE: Character Matters: Shepherding in the Fruit of the Spirit
AUTHOR: Aaron Menikoff
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2020, (208 pages).

A ministry not marked by the fruit of the Spirit is doomed to fail, if not sooner than later. Most people who read the Galatians 5 passage would readily apply it generally to the Christian life. For author Aaron Menikoff, he specifically applies it to ministry leaders such as pastors and church leaders. More specifically, this book is about pastoral sanctification. They should model such a process of fruit-bearing for the people they shepherd, and to be an example of abiding in Christ and becoming more Christlike. The way to do so is to work through the fruit of the Spirit one by one, which is exactly what this book is about. Character matters enough for any leader or believer to do something about it. For the sake of the kingdom. Menikoff says it well, that "abiding in Christ isn’t just about becoming a Christian; it’s about growing as a Christian. Spiritual fruit is the believer’s sanctification." When working through the nine virtues in Galatians 5:22-23, we are reminded that they are meant to lead us along a path, and are not meant to be an end in itself. The goal is holiness. Along the way we need to deal with our own blind spots. The first is the misplaced notion of self-importance that corrupts what God's love is all about. Good sermons do not replace the need to love people.