All vocations have their share of land-mines. Experienced, successful, and honest tradesmen will admit to making a ton of mistakes on their trip from journeyman to craftsman. Whenever a peer has the opportunity to listen in to these types of professional flubs they should take the opportunity. This vocational intel is gold. After all, what’s better than learning from a mistake without having to suffer its consequences?
I’m thankful for Kyle McClellen, a loving pastor who wrote a book to share his mistakes with other pastors. His goal is to share some of his vocational missteps, learning experiences, and bruises of sanctification with us. Through this relatively short book (120 pages in paperback) Kyle flips through his ministry scrapbook and offers commentary on his pastoral scars, black eyes, and speeding tickets.
Kyle went into seminary and ministry with a fair amount of approval. This did not serve him very well. It stoked his pride. He did well at seminary and then got called to a church. Well, multiple churches. In a short period of time he managed to burn through 4 churches! He found himself pulling orders at an Amazon warehouse. He was in a bad spot. Through a series of events he ended up reading Wendell Berry, falling in love with the town he grew up in, planting a church there, getting over himself, and pursuing what Jesus would have him pursue. He figured out who he is and what he is supposed to do. But, this did not come without significant pain. The lessons he learned in this process form the chapters of this book.
I should also say that Kyle is a friend. He ministers about 45 minutes away from me. His pastoral heart, compassion, and wisdom come from a guy who walked into his share of steel pipes. He has come along side of me to remind me of what is important and beautiful. He has encouraged me to love my wife, family and church out of a love for Christ. He is a good brother. I’m thankful he chose to write this book and serve others in this same way.
This book is helpful for the pastor or seminary student who wants to learn from a godly guy about what mistakes you should avoid. In fact, I think it is a must read for the guy in seminary. I would hope that seminaries would keep this book in their bookstores to help encourage others with “big theological melons” and even bigger “sinful, selfish hearts” (see chapter 1).
But, it is also valuable to the church member that wonders what the pastor may be thinking. It helps to provide some context to church life and calling.
You can pick up a discounted copy at Amazon.
