"Traditionally there are three parts to the ordained ministry—preaching, pastoring, and leading. In our religious world today, preaching and leading are the most highly valued. But while it is not so visible and attention grabbing, skillful knowledge of and pastoring of the human soul is perhaps the most fundamental of the three. Talented preachers and leaders who are not mature and wise pastors may draw a crowd, but they will not help believers 'grow in grace' (2 Peter 3:18) and Christlikeness in both their private and public lives. Tom Nelson's fine book will help rehabilitate the importance of the work of shepherding in our churches."
-- Timothy Keller, Redeemer City to City
"I remember the first time I heard Tom speak, the words of a prophet in a winsome spirit, and now this book. The gospel is deeply imbedded in each page, a clarion call to pastors everywhere, asking what is at the heart of their call and exploring the painful reality of what happens to the kingdom when it is not embraced. Coming out of Covid-19 this may be the most important book for you to get your hands on. If we don't rethink the church now, when will we? There is hope in his words and a true north in this book."
-- Nancy Ortberg, CEO of Transforming the Bay with Christ
"The Flourishing Pastor overflows with practical wisdom from the frontlines of a pastoral ministry that has been both faithful and innovative. Tom Nelson understands the contemporary cultural challenges of pastoral ministry as well as its timeless woes, from the discouragement of grumpy parishioners to the heady lure of celebrity and the loneliness of leadership. This book makes clear the irreducible foundation of the ministerial vocation: intimacy with God that roots one for integrity and resilience over time. Simultaneously, it coaches pastors in a vital, practical skill: discipling congregants in connecting their work and worship. While unpacking it all, Nelson writes with a pastor's heart, and it's easy to see why he has been a beloved mentor to many a young pastor."
-- Amy L. Sherman, author of Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good
"It is no secret that pastoral ministry is in crisis. And into that crisis Tom Nelson has unflinchingly walked with humility and authority to provide just what our weary shepherds need—restoration and guidance: restoration that is deep and comprehensive; guidance that is wise and convicting. Grounded and beautiful, The Flourishing Pastor brings necessary healing and hope not only to pastors but also to those of us in their care."
-- Curt Thompson, author of The Soul of Shame and Anatomy of the Soul
"Years ago I heard someone say that the best thing a pastor can give to his congregation is his own holiness. Based on that counsel, my go-to prayer for myself and other pastors is, 'Lord, always grant us character that is greater than our giftings and humility that is greater than our influence.' My friend Tom Nelson has written a wonderful field guide for every pastor who shares in this sentiment. If you are a pastor who values not only building a flourishing congregation but also your own flourishing soul, I cannot recommend this book highly enough."
-- Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of Jesus Outside the Lines
"By uncovering the art of shepherd leadership that propelled King David from a vulnerable condition to a flourishing life, Tom Nelson argues that many pastors today have stopped valuing their skillful hands and have focused more on narcissistic distractions. This marvelous book filled with functional adaptations of children's stories and pastoral interactions clarifies the true purpose of the shepherd leader. Tom also reminds us of the vital role of hands in the formation of the heart, which enables pastors to comprehend that the greatest influence of Jesus' apprentices does not rely on grandiose achievements but rather on the condition of their hearts. Begin a new journey carrying Jesus' yoke of apprenticeship as you are enlightened by this timeless book."
-- Fernando Tamara, pastor of Hispanic ministries at Orange County First Assembly of God and regional development representative for Made to Flourish
"I've been waiting for this book for a long time. Pastor, just read the first chapter alone and you'll realize how much you need to sit, read, and hang out with Tom Nelson."
-- John Yates II, rector of The Falls Church (19792019)
"Some books you read for fun; some books you read to stay current in your field. But how many books have you ever read because it's a matter of life and death? If you're a pastor, that's why you need to read this book—your destiny is hanging in the balance. You may think I'm just being dramatic, but Tom Nelson—with more than three decades of experience as a pastor—shows how the hazards of your occupation are liable to squeeze the life right out of your soul unless you yourself learn to abide in the intimate watchcare of the Great Shepherd. Quite frankly, the stakes couldn't be higher! Now more than ever we need pastors who are thriving, because when pastoral leaders flourish, churches flourish, and when churches flourish, communities flourish. In short, pastoral self-care is mission critical."
-- Bill Hendricks, executive director for Christian leadership, the Hendricks Center at Dallas Theological Seminary, and president of the Giftedness Center
"The deepest, truest learning is always over the shoulder and through the heart. In The Flourishing Pastor we are drawn into Tom Nelson's long labor of love—a vocation born of commitments to biblical theology and missional practice that have formed his work as a pastor among a particular people in a particular place, a vision for his congregation and his city. With surprising candor and humility rooted in an honest spirituality that seriously wrestles with the Word and the world together, this is a window into the mind and heart of someone who longs for the reality of an integral life for himself and for all of us. Every pastor I know would be graced by this apprenticeship in print, a book where words become flesh in the life of a good man who is also a good pastor."
-- Steven Garber, author of The Seamless Life and senior fellow for vocation and the common good with the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
