Ministry throws unexpected challenges at you. What if a little more training could help you navigate them successfully? Though church leaders take courses in preaching and Christian education, when do they learn about personal limitations and the benefits of intimate friendships? Or what about conflict resolution? Knowledge gaps like these are often the primary factors that lead to frustration and burnout. In What Great Ministry Leaders Get Right, Jimmy Dodd of PastorServe and Renaut van der Riet of Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, FL, outline the six core competencies church leaders need to develop healthy, biblical, and sustainable leadership. Jimmy and Renaut address the critical lessons often missing from ministry training that all leaders need to successfully serve their congregations. Whether you’ve been in the pulpit for years or are just beginning your ministry education, every pastor can make sure they’re prepared for the real-world challenges of ministry.

In Leadership by the Book, Galen Jones pushes the reader to reconsider what kingdom leadership is. Instead of grounding leadership in self-help principles, Jones demonstrates that Christ is the one who enables and empowers leaders by his Spirit. Developed from biblical and exegetical bases, this book presents clear guidelines for kingdom leadership that influences the world for God and includes a strategic plan for individual and corporate multiplication.

Seminary is an important step toward ministry—but only when you make the most of it. Many seminarians finish their education with regrets and missed opportunities. They feel spiritually drained, they never connected with their professors or colleagues, they are plagued with a long list of “What Ifs?,” and worry they wasted this time. And many, as they enter the ministry, discover gaps in their education and are left thinking, If only my seminary had taught me that. Prepare for your calling and make the most of your theological training with Succeeding at Seminary. Seminary president Jason K. Allen provides guidance for incoming and current seminary students on how to maximize their education experience. You’ll learn how to select the right institution and weigh the pros and cons of online or in-person classes. You’ll also receive tips for developing rapport with peers and professors and get insights for how to navigate a work, study, and family-life balance to help you survive the rigors of advanced theological learning. Seminary can offer the opportunities and education you need to flourish in ministry, but only if you are ready to make the most of it. With Succeeding at Seminary,you’ll get the guidance and encouragement you need to maximize your seminary opportunity and excel in your calling.

This 52-week couples’ devotional combines biblical wisdom and sage marriage advice with fun date ideas, thoughtful conversation starters, short prayers, and creative techniques to help you recapture joy in your marriage. Do you and your spouse feel more like roommates than a married couple? Greater Joy TWOgether will help you go deep in your faith, nurture your marriage, and make laughter a part of your everyday life. Each weekly devotion includes a short reading, a Scripture verse, conversation prompts, ideas for putting the week’s theme into action, and prayer starters to draw you closer to God and each other. Author Ted Cunningham offers his trademark blend of humor and inspiring biblical content to help you and your spouse: Understand the importance of intentional little connections Engage more with each other throughout the week Encourage and equip other couples Realize that daily married life can be more fun than you think With a laugh-out-loud emphasis on laughing out loud, Greater Joy TWOgether will add spark to your relationship as you prioritize faith, each other, and the lighter moments of your crazy life.

Catechetical / Youth Ministry

"This is the story of thirteen churches and the leaders who moved them from stagnancy to growth and from mediocrity to greatness. Drawing on one of the most comprehensive studies ever on the church, this book reveals the process of becoming a "breakout" church and the factors that lead to this spiritual metamorphosis."--The Publisher description.

Over the next five to ten years, it's predicted that more than 50,000 strategic ministry leadership positions are going to be filled. Who will these leaders be? And more importantly, who will prepare them for these positions? Mentoring Leaders offers a unique angle on what it takes to prepare transformational leaders for today's church. While addressing the different phases of leadership development and mentoring, as well as the characteristics of a dynamic and effective leader, Carson Pue focuses on the element of spiritual development. The invaluable insights and wisdom found in this book will give emerging leaders new strength to follow their calling as it helps them sharpen their vision, shape their values, and share their leadership adventures.

Management Essentials for Christian Ministries is a thorough examination of management principles for Christian ministries including churches, denominations, and parachurch organizations. Contributors represent a diverse denominational cross section. Study of management principles is required coursework for seminary students today. Management Essentials for Christian Ministries represents a thorough treatment of all issues regarding church administration and functions and provides a theological grounding for organizational approaches to church management.

Leading is a calling from God, but that doesn't mean it is easy. There are choices to be made about what your congregation believes, how your church organizes for effective ministry, and how your church serves the settings of which you are a part. The good news is that others have gone before you. Author Larry L. McSwain's forty years of experience can help guide you through these choices. Rooted in research, The Calling of Congregational Leadership teaches a three-pronged approach to congregational leadership: being a good leader, the knowledge needed by the leader, and the managing of ministry leadership. By using this practical, holistic approach to leading congregations, McSwain shows you how to use your church's potential for conveying the power of God in the lives you touch. The Calling of Congregational Leadership is for those who seek to enlarge the understanding of their leadership to make their communities of faith more vital and more reflective of the mission of God in the world.