Thriving through Ministry Conflict: By Understanding Your Red and Blue Zones (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Joseph M. Jurkowski (Author), Todd A. Hahn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A book about the greatest challenges facing ministry leadership: understanding and resolving conflict and facing expectations. Written in a story format, this book conveys to leaders three simple survival principles that are indispensable to successful ministry: 1) The problem is you; 2) Resistance is your ally; and 3) Change is only effective if it is the right kind of change.

From the Back Cover

By Understanding Your Red and Blue Zones Two of the greatest challenges facing ministry leadership are expectations and conflict. Ironically, the more a pastor cares, the more he or she is set up to fail. The solution is not that the effective minister learns to care less, but that he or she cares within legitimate expectations. Using a fictional story of how personal conflict and unmet expectations are resolved into hope and restoration, this book guides pastors and leaders in ministry through three simple principles that are indispensable to successful ministry: • Identify your own "red zone"—the source of unresolved conflict within yourself. • Understand how you reinforce the "red zone" in others—unhealthy conflict. • Learn skills for relating to others in the "blue zone"— where conflict is over ideas and values, not self. • Includes implementation worksheets.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310263441
• ISBN-13: 978-0310263449
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #375,998 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What I needed years and years ago, October 30, 2005

By	PTD "Okie Pastor" (Yukon, OK United States) - See all my reviews

Thriving is an excellent book for anyone, especially in ministry, but it is truly helpful for anyone. Let's face it, conflict is a fact of life and it is found everywhere - in ministry, at the office, in little league, at home, etc. What is so helpful about this book is the understanding that conflict does not equal personal attack. So often we take all conflict personally, what the authors call "The Red Zone" rather than professionally, "The Blue Zone."

The book is enjoyable to read as the material is presented in the form of a story about a pastor's struggle in his own church and family. It isn't a dry list of principles, but an opportunity to discover the core ideas as the main character does.

To satisfy the other side of our brain, the authors include a great section at the end of the book with plenty of exercises to apply the principles to one's own life and conflict style.

I highly recommend this book. I plan on buying multiple copies to give to friends and colleagues.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An indispensible tool for ministry leaders, September 9, 2008

By	Tod Bolsinger (San Clemente, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a pastor with 20 years experience in the church and a seminary professor in practical theology, I know of no other resource that is so immediately and practically accessible for coaching ministers through the toughest aspects of our calling. It captures succinctly and deftly so many of the issues surrounding pastoral conflict (and beyond conflict to change-leadership, too). I am having my entire pastoral staff read it, my wife who is a therapist with minister clients is reading it and it is being passed along to other colleagues.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, November 11, 2006

By	Ron Sheveland (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Internally, I don't handle conflict or criticism well. This book helped me understand why and the internal changes that I need to make even before I work on the tension that might exist between me and others. With its narrative teaching style, "Thriving through Ministry Conflict" is fun to read and easy to learn from. This a great resource that I have already given to friends.