All those who enter the pastoral ministry desire to succeed. Yet they all find, surprisingly, that a number of key issues come up for consideration. Most pastors find that most of these issues appear during the first ten years of pastoring. During those years the pattern is determined, which will point to the success or to the development of habits that will reduce effectiveness and produce stumbling. In this warm, personal, from-the-heart book, a long-time pastor not only identifies twenty-one potentially harmful issues if not handled well, but he also provides counsel and direction in how they should be faced and handled. Pastors in small rural churches where ministry seems simple, and those in suburban churches which are a bee-hive of activity, as well as those in city parishes with new challenges every day, will all find fresh insight here. Ministries will be enhanced by learning from these issues that the author identifies. All will be grateful for the warnings issued and the advice given. ""Learning ministry involves so much more than learning skills and techniques. These letters from a wise, veteran pastor lead us into a deeper way of envisioning the very core of what pastoral ministry is all about--a way of seeing deeply into the hopes and fears in our hearts and in the people among whom we minister. May many growing pastors embrace this book as 'pastoral wisdom literature.'"" --John D. Witvliet, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship ""Like Theilicke's exercises for 'young theologians, ' Howard Vanderwell's Letters to Growing Pastors offers precisely the sort of hard-won wisdom and encouragement that ministers need, especially in their first years out of seminary. At once personal and intimate, it touches on central issues every pastor faces: burnout, integrity, prayer, community, and more. A wonderful graduation gift "" --Ron Rienstra, Assistant Professor, Western Theological Seminary Howard D. Vanderwell is a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church, and for forty years has served pastorates in Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Currently he serves as a Resource Specialist for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and as Adjunct Professor of Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary. He has earned his MDiv and ThM degree at Calvin Seminary and his DMin from Westminster Seminary in California.
