Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry (Hardcover)

~ Ruth Haley Barton (Author), Leighton Ford (Foreword)
Key Phrases: discernment process, Promised Land, Life of the Leader, Finding God's Will Together (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership lays bare the ancient truth that great leadership comes from the inside out, and provides a helpful road map for examining and seeking God's transformation of that largely unexamined inner core from which true leadership proceeds. This is a powerful resource for me and my own leadership team." -- Gary Haugen, president, International Justice Mission, and author of Good News About Injustice

"A weary, waiting world cries out for God-shaped leaders who would serve more than be served, who would find power by laying down power, who would lose their lives for others. In her reflections on the life of Moses, God's radically human and holy friend, Ruth Haley Barton has given us not only a portrait of what sacrificial and redemptive leadership looks like, but has provided practice for getting there. This is a book to read alone and together. It will encourage and empower us to seek God more deeply, to listen for and embody our innate callings, to stay faithful to our solitary and even lonely journeys in community, and to love God for the long haul." -- N. Gordon Cosby, cofounder, The Church of the Saviour, Washington D.C.

"For those of us who lead, there are many fine books to hone our skills. But too few excavate our souls. Too few tell us stark truths, and serve up strong tonic, and give us hope and courage in the face of our calling's hardships and loneliness and moments of sheer tedium. Too few teach us how to seek and find God in the maze of committee work and the darkness of criticism and the heartbreak of betrayal. This book does all that, and well." -- Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God and pastor of New Life Community Church, Duncan, British Columbia

"In the same spirit in which Henri Nouwen wrote The Return of the Prodigal Son, Ruth Haley Barton has captured the soul of Moses and has revealed him to us as a seeker of truth, wisdom and vulnerability." -- Glandion W. Carney, Chaplain of the Christian Legal Society

"[This] book has become for me a companion on the way. . . . The author's style is warm and accessible. I like her insights into the inner life of the leader. . . . I am deeply grateful for the helpful practices she describes and recommends. But what draws me even more is that Ruth writes with realness and integrity out of her own intimate experience of the inner journey of a leader. . . . Reading this book will surely help you to be attentive to the God who is the strength of your soul, and the heart of your leadership." -- Leighton Ford, founder of the Arrow Leadership program and author of The Attentive Life

Product Description

(I>"I'm tired of helping others enjoy God."

"I just want to enjoy God for myself." With this painful admission, Ruth Haley Barton invites us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Weaving together contemporary illustrations with penetrating insight from the life of Moses, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership explores topics such as responding to the dynamics of calling facing the loneliness of leadership leading from your authentic self cultivating spiritual community reenvisioning the promised land discerning God's will together

Each chapter includes a spiritual practice to ensure your soul gets the nourishment it needs. Forging and maintaining a life-giving connection with God is the best choice you can make for yourself and for those you lead.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 229 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (July 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083083513X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830835133
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,642 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshment for the Leader's Soul, August 30, 2008

By	Mike Bonem "Mike" (Bellaire, TX) - See all my reviews

"Strengthening the soul of our leadership is an invitation that begins, continues and ends with seeking God in the crucible of ministry." These words from the final chapter summarize the central theme of the book. The chapters leading up to it paint a compelling picture of the fruitfulness and joy of leading from a healthy soul that is focused on God, and the risks of soul-less leadership in ministry.

Barton follows the story of Moses and talks about her own journey, including struggles and victories. At times she challenges the reader to take stock and at other times she offers practical advice for refilling our souls. And at the end of each chapter, she offers a "practice" that will help readers to reflect on and apply the teaching they've just read.

I'm not one to read with a highlighter in hand, but within the first few pages I found myself thinking, "Oh, that's good," and marking a couple of sentences for future references. I kept going back to the highlighter as Barton kept taking me to places deep in my spirit. At times Barton's words were a needed wake-up call and at other times they were a source of refreshment. I'm thankful for both, and I'm sure that you will be as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers a real problem that many may not realize exists for their pastors and priests, December 8, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

It may seem hard to believe, being a pastor or other religious leader can be very draining on one's faith. "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry" is a guide for religious leaders who want to maintain their own faith while leading others. With tips on realizing when one is born to lead in faith, surrounding oneself with a positive congregation and more, "Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership" answers a real problem that many may not realize exists for their pastors and priests.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What every leader ought to read!, March 5, 2009

By	Rev Reader (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

I have recommended this book to several friends. This is a book that gets to the heart of the difficulties and struggles that leaders face. But it also offers a path to finding God's strength through it all.