Character Forged from Conflict: Staying Connected to God During Controversy
Overview
SOONER OR LATER, CHURCH CONFLICT WILL THREATEN TO STEAL YOUR DESIRE TO SERVE GOD AND PEOPLE.
Pastors are maturing. Deepening. They want substance for their congregations—and nourishment for their own soul. The Pastor’s Soul series unleashes pastors to do what really matters. To step beyond skills. To give of their unique gifts. To minister authentically and grow in the intangibles of ministry like integrity and character. In this changing culture, pastors need dedication to do what God wants them to do. They need hope that the suffering they experience while serving Christ has purpose and meaning.
Some of the first words uttered by a new pastor are “Seminary never prepared me for this.” Often “this” refers to church conflict. Most pastors, rookies and veterans alike, experience the betrayal, the hurt, and the anger that comes with working in a church. The pain of conflict cuts to the soul, and only words that address the soul can begin the healing process. Longtime pastor Gary Preston has been wounded, but instead of techniques to handle conflict better, he explores how the conflict he has faced as a pastor has driven him to God. Preston speaks not with cynicism but with candor about the realities of local church work. He points pastors back to God and offers hope for finding grace and comfort in the midst of suffering.
Top Highlights
“As a pastor, I must maintain healthy relationships with all the people in the church, even those with whom that is difficult. Put bluntly, I must shepherd people who don’t like me—and those I don’t really like.” (Pages 49–50)
“Our hope is not so much the removal of our thorn but divine strength at the very time we need it.” (Page 39)
“When I’ve been significantly injured by another person, I cannot simply yank the injury from my soul and expect that all bitterness, malice, and emotion will be gone. Resentment still hides under the surface. The only way to become truly free of the offense and to forgive others is to bathe in the soothing bath of God’s forgiveness of me. When I finally fathom the extent of God’s love in Jesus Christ, forgiveness of others is a natural outflow.” (Pages 69–70)
“Quoting A. W. Tozer, the speaker said, ‘God cannot use a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.’” (Page 147)
“I’m learning more about what it means to allow God to be my defender, rather than jumping to my own defense. It’s tough to trust God with that, but doing so is part of my obedience in allowing him to work out his plan in and through my life.” (Pages 44–45)
- Title: Character Forged From Conflict
- Authors: Gary D. Preston
- Publisher: Bethany House
- Publication Date: 1999