How do pastors measure success? Is it through the number of people who fill the pews on Sunday morning? Is it tied to programs, building projects, salary, or book deals? Is it about how much technology they use or what their worship band sounds like? Shawn Lovejoy has seen all of these measures of success lead pastors toward pride, self-reliance, loneliness, isolation, exhaustion, and, in the most extreme cases, self-destruction.
In this honest and encouraging book, he calls pastors back to the main thing--the call to love people and make disciples--and to measure their success the way God does. Using Scripture, personal examples, and case studies, Lovejoy gently leads pastors back to their first love, and in doing so he leads them toward a more effective and joy-filled ministry.
**
From the Back Cover
Our worth is simply not measured by our church attendance, programs, buildings, and budgets. At least it cannot be, or it will cost us. In fact, it already has.
Pastor Shawn Lovejoy has seen false measures of success do damage in his own life. In his work as speaker, consultant, and coach, he's also seen them lead to pride, self-reliance, loneliness, isolation, exhaustion, and even self-destruction in the lives of other pastors. In this transparent, brutally honest, yet encouraging book, he calls us back to measuring our success as pastors the way God does. Using Scripture, personal examples, and practical insights, Lovejoy leads us back to our first love and, in doing so, toward a more effective and healthy ministry.
With contributions from leading pastors, including
Larry Osborne Steven Furtick Mark Batterson Chris Seay Greg Surratt and many more
"Too often we've listened to the false gods of competition and numbers instead of to the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Shawn offers us a needed corrective."--Larry Osborne, author; pastor of North Coast Church, Vista, CA
"An encouraging must-read for any pastor feeling discouraged, worn out, and worried that success will never come."--Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC
"I wish I had this book when I started The Journey. I highly recommend that everyone who serves in the church read this cover to cover."--Darrin Patrick, author; lead pastor of The Journey, St. Louis, MO
"Shawn has given us a book filled with practical insight. I wish I could have gathered this much wisdom in one book when I set out to start my first church seventeen years ago. I would have avoided so many painful mistakes."--Chris Seay, author of A Place at the Table; pastor of Ecclesia, Houston, TX
Shawn Lovejoy is the founding and lead pastor of Mountain Lake Church and directional leader of Churchplanters.com, a coaching and resource ministry for church planters. Shawn, his wife Tricia, and their three kids live near Atlanta, Georgia.
About the Author
Shawn Lovejoy is the founding and lead pastor of Mountain Lake Church, the directional leader of churchplanters.com, and the author of The Measure of Our Success. God has used Mountain Lake Church and churchplanters.com to become one of the most influential church planting ministries in the world, and Shawn gives Jesus all the credit. Shawn loves his wife, his kids, the church, pastors, college football, and PlayStation3. In that order. He lives near Atlanta, Georgia.
Description:
How do pastors measure success? Is it through the number of people who fill the pews on Sunday morning? Is it tied to programs, building projects, salary, or book deals? Is it about how much technology they use or what their worship band sounds like? Shawn Lovejoy has seen all of these measures of success lead pastors toward pride, self-reliance, loneliness, isolation, exhaustion, and, in the most extreme cases, self-destruction.
In this honest and encouraging book, he calls pastors back to the main thing--the call to love people and make disciples--and to measure their success the way God does. Using Scripture, personal examples, and case studies, Lovejoy gently leads pastors back to their first love, and in doing so he leads them toward a more effective and joy-filled ministry.
**
From the Back Cover
Our worth is simply not measured by our church attendance, programs, buildings, and budgets. At least it cannot be, or it will cost us. In fact, it already has.
Pastor Shawn Lovejoy has seen false measures of success do damage in his own life. In his work as speaker, consultant, and coach, he's also seen them lead to pride, self-reliance, loneliness, isolation, exhaustion, and even self-destruction in the lives of other pastors. In this transparent, brutally honest, yet encouraging book, he calls us back to measuring our success as pastors the way God does. Using Scripture, personal examples, and practical insights, Lovejoy leads us back to our first love and, in doing so, toward a more effective and healthy ministry.
With contributions from leading pastors, including
Larry Osborne
Steven Furtick
Mark Batterson
Chris Seay
Greg Surratt
and many more
"Too often we've listened to the false gods of competition and numbers instead of to the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Shawn offers us a needed corrective."--Larry Osborne, author; pastor of North Coast Church, Vista, CA
"An encouraging must-read for any pastor feeling discouraged, worn out, and worried that success will never come."--Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC
"I wish I had this book when I started The Journey. I highly recommend that everyone who serves in the church read this cover to cover."--Darrin Patrick, author; lead pastor of The Journey, St. Louis, MO
"Shawn has given us a book filled with practical insight. I wish I could have gathered this much wisdom in one book when I set out to start my first church seventeen years ago. I would have avoided so many painful mistakes."--Chris Seay, author of A Place at the Table; pastor of Ecclesia, Houston, TX
Shawn Lovejoy is the founding and lead pastor of Mountain Lake Church and directional leader of Churchplanters.com, a coaching and resource ministry for church planters. Shawn, his wife Tricia, and their three kids live near Atlanta, Georgia.
About the Author
Shawn Lovejoy is the founding and lead pastor of Mountain Lake Church, the directional leader of churchplanters.com, and the author of The Measure of Our Success. God has used Mountain Lake Church and churchplanters.com to become one of the most influential church planting ministries in the world, and Shawn gives Jesus all the credit. Shawn loves his wife, his kids, the church, pastors, college football, and PlayStation3. In that order. He lives near Atlanta, Georgia.