A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MINISTRY GROWTH

FitzGibbon draws on Scripture, the life of Jesus and 25 years in the ministry to give a wise, sometimes entertaining and always practical guide to growing a ministry from the ground up.

From the pews, a minister might appear infallible. But FitzGibbon cuts through the illusion to speak minister to minister, with foibles and pitfalls laid bare and readily applicable advice on how to avoid them. Proverbs—not hackneyed adages, but the holy wisdom from the Bible’s Book of Proverbs—and examples from Jesus’ life inform this guide, and on that bedrock rest anecdotes from the author’s own experience that illustrate what to do and what not to do to build a church that can help bring people closer to God. The author’s life straddles both the ministry and a career in business, so the wisdom tends to touch upon administration, public speaking, anger management and personal responsibility, all with a decidedly Christian spin. Many of the ideas here show how to effectively deal with people: in the words of James, quotes remind readers to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger; in the words of Moses’ father-in-law in Exodus, delegate our duties; and, in the words of Paul, beware of pride, haughtiness and stubbornness. New ministers filled with youthful exuberance yet untested in the field might find the solace here that they need to keep their ministry afloat when their dreams collide with reality. A dozen PowerPoint illustrations help visualize the concepts discussed in the text.

Down-to-earth, Christ-inspired advice on leading a congregation.