CONTENTS

Before We Begin: Getting the Most from This Workbook -- pg. 9

INTRODUCTION
WHY PREVENTING MINISTRY FAILURE IS SO IMPORTANT -- pg. 15
1. Ministry in America Today -- pg. 15
2. Resolving the “God Complex” -- pg. 19
3. The Process of Restoration: The Journey Back Home -- pg. 21
4. The Seven Foundation Stones for Effective Long-Term Ministry -- pg. 25

FOUNDATION STONE 1
INTIMACY: CONNECTING TO THE HEART OFSUCCESSFUL PASTORING -- pg. 33
1. What Indmacy Really Is -- pg. 34
2. The Consequences of Avoiding Intimacy -- pg. 36
3. Intimacy with God -- pg. 41
4. Intimacy Through Close Friendships -- pg. 43
5. Intimacy with Your Spouse (and What to Do if You’re Single) -- pg. 48
6. Practical Steps Toward Deeper Human Relationships -- pg.52
7. Finding and Growing a Few Good Same-Gender Friendships -- pg. 59
Wrap-Up -- pg. 63

FOUNDATION STONE 2: CALLING: THE POWER FOR EFFECTIVENESS IN MINISTRY -- pg. 65
1. Understanding Our Call to Ministry -- pg. 65
2. Being Sure of Our Calling -- pg. 76
3. Called Versus Not Called:The Negative Effects of Working Outside Our Calling -- pg. 82
4. Staying Versus Leaving: Called to Remain or Move Toward a New Assignment? -- pg. 88
Wrap-Up -- pg. 97

FOUNDATION STONE 3
STRESS MANAGEMENT: AVOIDING INEFFECTIVENESS AND BURNOUT -- pg. 100
1. Stress: The Energy to Accomplish Our Calling -- pg. 100
2. The Energy Drain of Stress Mismanagement -- pg. 106
3. Are You Distressed? Self-Evaluation Tools for the Weary -- pg. 111
4. Practical Safeguards: Spiritual and Relational -- pg. 117
5. Practical Safeguards: Emotional and Physical -- pg. 126
Wrap-Up -- pg. 137

FOUNDATION STONE 4
BOUNDARIES: PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST -- pg. 139
1. Personal Boundaries -- pg. 140
2. Real-World Boundaries in Our Ministry Setting -- pg. 147
3. Real-World Boundaries with Intimate Relationships -- pg. 157
4. Real-World Boundaries with Ourselves and with God -- pg. 164
Wrap-Up -- pg.168

FOUNDATION STONE 5
RE-CREATION: THE FUEL TO RE-ENERGIZE MINISTRY -- pg. 170
1. Slaves to the Schedule -- pg. 170
2. Common Excuses for Not Re-creating -- pg. 174
3. The Three Rs of Re-creation: Rest, Recess, Renewal -- pg. 179
4. Creating Our Own Re-creation Plan -- pg. 182
Wrap-Up -- pg. 187

FOUNDATION STONE 6 -- pg. 190
PEOPLE SKILLS: MANAGING OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE
1. Personality and Personality Theory -- pg. 190
2. Active Listening:Tailored Shepherding for Our Unique Flock -- pg. 201
3. Reflective Listening -- pg. 205
4. Assertiveness Techniques Every Minister Can Use -- pg. 211
Wrap-Up -- pg. 219

FOUNDATION STONE 7
LEADERSHIP SKILLS: SETTING MINISTERS APART FROM THE
Rest of the Sheep -- pg. 220
1. Transformative Leadership -- pg. 220
2. Dealing with Change in Ministry -- pg. 226
3. Leadership Styles: What’s in Your Wardrobe? -- pg. 230
4. Other Ingredients for Effective Leadership -- pg. 239
Wrap-Up -- pg. 244

APPENDIX A: Feelings List -- pg. 251
APPENDIX B: Christian Counseling Resources and Related Ministries -- pg. 254
APPENDIX C: The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory -- pg. 255
APPENDIX D: Balanced Breathing Exercise for Relaxation -- pg. 257
APPENDIX E: Personality Strengths Inventory -- pg. 258
APPENDIX F: Contributors from CareGivers Forum -- pg. 261
APPENDIX G: For Further Reading -- pg. 262

A complex mix of factors both internal and external test the limits of your ability to minister wholeheartedly over the long haul.
Senior pastor Brad Hoffmann and licensed professional counselor Michael Todd Wilson work with pastors removed from their place of service. The common experiences of these pastors revealed patterns that consistently contributed to burnout, ineffectiveness and moral failure. If such patterns can be predicted, the authors reasoned, can they be prevented?
Preventing Ministry Failure is a personal guidebook for people in ministry to prepare them to withstand common pressures and to flourish in the ministry God has called them to. Work through the exercises and reflections individually or in conversation with your peers, and you’ll find yourself better equipped for the challenges of vocational ministry, and more conscious of the presence of God leading you on and restoring your soul.