Sustaining Leadership: You Are More Important Than Your Ministry

by Paul Swann

Publisher:

Bible Reading Fellowship

, 2018

Overview

Many books on leadership and ministry are written from the point of view of success and strength. In Sustaining Leadership Paul Swann writes out of the raw experience of failure, getting to the heart of who we are as leaders rather than what we do. From this he offers both hope and practical resources for sustaining effective long-term ministry, looking at self-care, balance and healthy ministry, feasting on divine love, and more. As he says, this is the best gift we can offer those we serve.

Key Features

• Writes out of the raw experience of failure.
• Gets to the heart of who we are as leaders rather than what we do.
• Offers both hope and practical resources for sustaining effective long-term ministry.

Contents

• Foreword
• Introduction
• PART I: DISINTEGRATION
• 1 Encountering fragility
• 2 Emerging from fragility
• 3 Embracing fragility
• PART II: REINTEGRATION
• 4 How are you being?
• 5 Restoring our image of God
• 6 A question of balance
• 7 Soul food
• PART III: HOLDING ON TO HOPE
• Notes

Praise for Sustaining Leadership

This is a story of a successfully growing ministry plunged suddenly into soul searching physical, mental and emotional depths. At times shockingly raw, these personal experiences, reflected on so honestly, drive home such hard learned spiritual insights, that I needed to re-read some sections to allow the message to sink in. And it’s a profound message: learning simply to be still before God; clinging to personal worth even at the expense of ministry; loving self as well as neighbour; enjoying real Sabbath rest. This is not a book for the casual believer or religiously comfortable. Neither is it just for ‘leaders’. Rather, it is essential reading for those courageous enough to accept a God given call to active and costly service. Spoiler alert! It does all work out well in the end. But that, after all, is rather down to God.

—Clive Langmead, Author

This courageous, raw and inspiring book is a ‘must read’ for any who long to live in the fullness God intends for us, amidst the realities and challenges of everyday life. A ‘how to’ walk the Truth of God’s strength in our weakness. I wish I had had this treasure twenty years ago!

—Alina Clarke

This book is both wonderfully easy to read yet at the same time deeply challenging. Paul Swann’s gutsy and honest story made me realise the true importance of self-care in ministry (which is ideal as I prepare for ordination). The ‘Pause to Reflect’ moments scattered throughout the book really help with not just reading it as someone else’s story but as a guide through your own story too. This will be re-read many times in the years to come!

—Sarah Bardell (Ordinand)

Product Details

• Title: Sustaining Leadership: You Are More Important Than Your Ministry
• Author: Paul Swann
• Publisher: Bible Reading Fellowship
• Print Publication Date: 2018
• Pages: 160
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9780857466518, 0857466518
• Resource ID: LLS:SSTNNGLDRSHMDLF
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-03T15:33:00Z

About Paul Swann

Paul Swann trained for ordination in the Anglican Church and served in two growing parishes in the Diocese of Worcester. In 2008, Paul was forced to retire early and spent four years in the wilderness of total fatigue. Since 2012, Paul has begun to offer a new ministry from this place of weakness. He has served as diocesan adviser on spirituality, offers spiritual direction and leads retreats. The insights of this book are drawn from these experiences.