Book Review – Baker Books, 2023
by Ron Baker
I’ve been a solo pastor in a small church. The experience is both exhilarating and exhausting. There are people, and visions, and expectations and resources and family and . . . The solo pastor must become an expert at pastoring the small church. Although the description we often see is of a generalist (and you do a lot more than the specialist in a large church), you are a specialist at pastoring the small church.
Gary McIntosh gets this dynamic! People propel the church and relationships are vital. At the same time, development and vision need to be empowering for those who live in the small church. His books is simple (much like the organization of a small church needs to be).
A story leads each chapter – Jim and Bill chat – a new small church pastor and a mentor pastor. The stories are raw and realistic. The answers are not simplistic but outlined in simple English. McIntosh sets each chapters conclusion with questions and steps to take.
People – the first hurdle and the best place to huddle. Followed by direction casting with Jesus. Then keeping the pastor sane! These themes outline the book. Within in each chapter you can find small gems that would make good fridge magnets or t-shirt decals.
My one caution is the tendency to make the rules of life legalistic. In any leadership book the author will be succinct and nuances may be missed. McIntosh certainly tries to play the field and to bring into play the varying sides of an issue. As a young pastor this book would have been invaluable to me. As a seasoned veteran I recognize my own propensity to love legalism more than Holy Spirit direction – then I feel in control. But life is about surrender, not control. Some days the counter-intuitive is the direction God is prompting us to go – and breaking the “rules” is valid.
Yes, the solo pastor is a challenging life, but even more so, seeing the fulfillment of lives discipled is well worth the effort.