The Eric Trap is a leadership fabel that reveals the 5 things every leader in ministry has to get right. Whether you are full time, part-time or a volunteer this practical book written by several highly respected leaders who have made it a habit to practice these 5 important principles will inspire you to a new level in your own life and ministry.
The Eric Trap
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Vanessa
Format:Paperback
The Eric Trap was written by a group of children's ministry leaders under the leadership of Jim Wideman. The book presents an insightful, engaging and honest look into the daily, real-life experiences, struggles, thoughts and emotions of a children's pastor. This book reveals the reality of what it's like to serve on a church staff and details Pastor Eric Newman's relationships with fellow staff, volunteers and family.
Although Eric is a fictional character, I believe many leaders will relate to his experiences and struggles.
The book was an easy and enjoyable read. The chronicles of Pastor Eric are presented in the form of a story. Integrated into the book are chapters with practical ideas and commentary drawing on principles presented in Eric's story. The end of each chapter contains questions to help readers apply the principles to their current life and ministry situations.
These chapters cover important topics including:
*Relationships with Volunteers - the importance of delegating and equipping others for ministry, allowing them to develop as the people and leaders God desires them to be.
*Relationship with the Senior Pastor - understanding and aligning your visions for ministry, and submitting to the senior pastor's leadership for the benefit of the church as a whole.
*Relationships with Parents - equipping parents to guide their children's spiritual development, since their impact goes much deeper than the one hour or so a week the children spend under our influence at church.
*Relationship with God - abiding in Him and relying on Him, not our own strength in ministry, and measuring our growth and success in His terms.... Read more ›
Although Eric is a fictional character, I believe many leaders will relate to his experiences and struggles.
The book was an easy and enjoyable read. The chronicles of Pastor Eric are presented in the form of a story. Integrated into the book are chapters with practical ideas and commentary drawing on principles presented in Eric's story. The end of each chapter contains questions to help readers apply the principles to their current life and ministry situations.
These chapters cover important topics including:
*Relationships with Volunteers - the importance of delegating and equipping others for ministry, allowing them to develop as the people and leaders God desires them to be.
*Relationship with the Senior Pastor - understanding and aligning your visions for ministry, and submitting to the senior pastor's leadership for the benefit of the church as a whole.
*Relationships with Parents - equipping parents to guide their children's spiritual development, since their impact goes much deeper than the one hour or so a week the children spend under our influence at church.
*Relationship with God - abiding in Him and relying on Him, not our own strength in ministry, and measuring our growth and success in His terms.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By jason vernon
Format:Paperback
The Eric Trap is a book by Jim Wideman, Sam Luce and Kenny Conley. The book focuses on 5 things every leader has to get right. The Eric Trap is exciting, engaging and inspiring. This is not just another boring book about leadership. The authors write in a way that puts the reader in the middle of the story. I can't begin to tell how many times I felt like Eric.
The book can be read in a couple of hours and it is well worth your time. I recommend picking up a copy for your entire leadership team. The chapter on delegation really inspired me to focus on tasks that I can share with other qualified leaders. I now realize that simply delegating is not enough. I have to place a great emphasis on delegating authority. The concepts in the book have already started to lighten my load.
As a lead pastor, I greatly appreciated the section on aligning individual ministries with the overall vision of the church. It really helped me to gain clearer insight on my team's perspective of ministry. I am a huge fan of family ministry and I thought the chapter on activating parental leadership was right on target. The topic of measuring success was also very beneficial to me. Possibly we all are measuring the wrong things in our ministries.
Every leader should read the final chapter of the book. Almost every one in ministry has struggled with balancing their priorities. I constantly need to be reminded of what God expects from me.
Check it out, this is one of the best books i've read this year!
The book can be read in a couple of hours and it is well worth your time. I recommend picking up a copy for your entire leadership team. The chapter on delegation really inspired me to focus on tasks that I can share with other qualified leaders. I now realize that simply delegating is not enough. I have to place a great emphasis on delegating authority. The concepts in the book have already started to lighten my load.
As a lead pastor, I greatly appreciated the section on aligning individual ministries with the overall vision of the church. It really helped me to gain clearer insight on my team's perspective of ministry. I am a huge fan of family ministry and I thought the chapter on activating parental leadership was right on target. The topic of measuring success was also very beneficial to me. Possibly we all are measuring the wrong things in our ministries.
Every leader should read the final chapter of the book. Almost every one in ministry has struggled with balancing their priorities. I constantly need to be reminded of what God expects from me.
Check it out, this is one of the best books i've read this year!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By churchlady
Format:Paperback
I found myself reading this book at an interesting time in my long career in children's ministry. A career that is finished in a couple of weekends. This book having been read a couple of years ago and with the cooperation of a supportive senior pastor could have saved my career.
Anyone starting out or feeling burnt out please pick this up before you give up. God can use these tips and tools in this awesome and honest look behind the scenes of a children's pastor to change a bad experience into a good experience.
Thank you to the authors for inspiring another generation of leaders, pastors and volunteers to lead in a healthy balanced way to bring glory to God's Kingdom.
Anyone starting out or feeling burnt out please pick this up before you give up. God can use these tips and tools in this awesome and honest look behind the scenes of a children's pastor to change a bad experience into a good experience.
Thank you to the authors for inspiring another generation of leaders, pastors and volunteers to lead in a healthy balanced way to bring glory to God's Kingdom.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was truly excited when I heard of this collaborative leadership book by Jim, Sam, and Kenny. I was even more excited that I had the opportunity to read a pre-release version. The Eric Trap is a creative book, a collaborative effort, a thoughtful journey for the reader, and an honest look at the struggles that can go along with ministry life.
The Eric Trap is a fable about a children's pastor named Eric Newman. Eric has his priorities out of line and subsequently, his relationships, ministry leadership, and family life are spinning out of control. As I read through this book, I saw myself in Eric's failings and foibles. The authors craftily weave teaching about delegation, authority, parental leadership, success, and priorities into Eric's week of turmoil. I really liked how they incorporated formal leadership articles in each chapter that dealt with the fable that had been told. I think they did a fantastic job of editing (rare in a self-published work), and each chapter, though written by different people, carried a similar tone as if one author wrote the entire book. I'm impressed.
I think this work, though couched in the context of children's ministry, can have an impact on a number of young pastors in our country who seem to be ministering in their own self-constructed whirlwind. It's concise and to the point. It reminded me of some of my struggles of the past and strengthened me for the days ahead. Get it, read it, share it with others. This is a hit!
Read more christian book reviews at [...]
The Eric Trap is a fable about a children's pastor named Eric Newman. Eric has his priorities out of line and subsequently, his relationships, ministry leadership, and family life are spinning out of control. As I read through this book, I saw myself in Eric's failings and foibles. The authors craftily weave teaching about delegation, authority, parental leadership, success, and priorities into Eric's week of turmoil. I really liked how they incorporated formal leadership articles in each chapter that dealt with the fable that had been told. I think they did a fantastic job of editing (rare in a self-published work), and each chapter, though written by different people, carried a similar tone as if one author wrote the entire book. I'm impressed.
I think this work, though couched in the context of children's ministry, can have an impact on a number of young pastors in our country who seem to be ministering in their own self-constructed whirlwind. It's concise and to the point. It reminded me of some of my struggles of the past and strengthened me for the days ahead. Get it, read it, share it with others. This is a hit!
Read more christian book reviews at [...]
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Read
Wow! This book is exactly what I needed to read right now. This is the story of a too-busy Children's Ministry pastor who needs to get his priorities straight. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Lindsey R. Whitney
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than a book on Ministry
The Eric Trap, A Leadership Fable is a book that addresses important aspects of leadership from the perspective of Ministry. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tobi Florence
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Eric Trap is a Must Read!
It is the subtitle of the book that says it all, "5 things every leader has to get right." This is the question that must be asked of a leader: not just a children's ministry... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Joe Montoya
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Just for KidMin Leaders...
I read Jim Wideman's Volunteers that Stick and Children's Ministry Leadership about 6 years ago, and I've been endorsing his books in my own workshops for the past few years. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Gloria S. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Eric Trap
I was offered the great opportunity to read a book and review it. The book is called The Eric Trap
The Eric Trap, a book written as a collaborative effort by Jim... Read more
The Eric Trap, a book written as a collaborative effort by Jim... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Todd Mckeever
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Going to Happen to Me!
Yeah right, if you live in a total state of denial. When a person creates for themselves a mini empire in the name of ministry - it will be conquered. Read more
Published 13 months ago by coffeyreader
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Eric Trap - 5 Things You Better Get Right as a Leader
I just finished a great leadership fable - the latest effort by Jim Wideman, Sam Luce, Kenny Conley and Jim's Infuse 2.2 team. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sandra L Lawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't fall into the same trap as Eric!
I love the approach of "The Eric Trap" because the writing style and variation between Eric's story and personal testimony, coupled with the challenging reflection, really gets you... Read more
Published 14 months ago by C. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ouch! A story that hits close to home!
Eric Newman is having a bad week. His ministry, his family, and his pride are crumbling around him, and he's not sure what went wrong or how to stop it. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Aspiring Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars
expertly crafted and down to earth
Exactly! Agreed! Amen! Whoa boy! Conviction! So true! WHAT? Get your head out of the sand! Way to go! Ouch! Read more
Published 14 months ago by melmac
