Brian Croft

From the Reformed Baptist stable, this book is written by two American pastors, both based in Louisville, Kentucky. Brian is Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church and Senior Fellow of the Mathena Centre for Church Revitalization at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jim is one of the pastors at the Reformed Baptist Church in Louisville. Both are very much involved in Practical Shepherding, a Gospel-driven resource centre for pastors and church leaders to equip them in the practical show more matters of pastoral ministry. The book has grown out of this work and is a helpful contribution to thinking about the practical side of Christian ministry in the twenty-first century. It is in four parts, alternating sections being written by the two men.
Jim starts by looking at the biblical commands to a pastor – taking heed to oneself, to doctrine, to the flock – and why these matter. Brian then contributes a section on the need for every minister to be converted and called.
In part three Jim has two chapters on the public and private means of grace. Brian’s last section deals with six important topics with regard to the pastor’s wellbeing – eating, sleeping, exercise, friendship, silence and rest (including his day off, his holidays and having sabbaticals).
I recall hearing Joel Beeke say that a pastor should read at least one of these sorts of books every year. If you are a pastor, we commend this little book for your perusal. Dr Beeke also said at that time (with tongue in cheek) that you cannot follow everything recommended in such books as there are not enough hours in the day! That is probably true of this volume, although it tries hard not to be prescriptive. Few will agree with everything that is said here but it will stimulate thought on these important subjects. It would make a great book for a ministers’ fraternal to discuss. show less

There is an urgent need for good materials on church revitalization. There have been a few people who attempted to put something together, or become the leading voice in the area. Church revitalization is an area that is growing rapidly.

Brian Croft's book "Biblical Church Revitalization" is the new bar that every book that follows will have to meet. Croft pastors Auburndale Baptist Church in Kentucky, and runs the ministry Practical Shepherding. He has been a great voice over the past few show more years in the area of pastoring. He writes about revitalization not from an academic aspect, but with the heart of pastor for a local church. His own church had been through some painful experiences, and he shares those with you as he writes. More than anything, Croft gives us just what he said he would in the title. A solid basis for "biblical church revitalization." This is not just a how to book, although it is full of practical advice. Croft writes to pastors and church leaders with honesty about the difficulties in revitalization, and the reason why we should risk it anyways: for the glory of God.

He strikes a good balance between what he calls the "two extremes of church revitalization, the Pragmatist and the Purist." Croft, as you might expect, puts a large emphasis on the role of pastoring and shepherding in revitalization. Not just preaching, but in the trench pastoring as well. Any church leader would benefit from reading this book. Below are a few quotes I pulled out.

A church is revitalized by the power of God, through the spirit of God, at work through the word of God, by means of a faithful shepherd of God.

A pastor must trust the power of the Word in preaching the Gospel to breathe life into a church.

Be careful about quickly dismissing opposition as unbelief.

The hurt and pain a previous pastor caused a congregation does not vanish when the new pastor arrives.

Churches that need revitalization need courageous pastors.

The key to survival in pastoral ministry is a pastor's diligent care for his own soul.

Statistical growth is not the objective of church revitalization, but it is an expected outcome. show less

Brian and Cara Croft are on to something.

Pastors often spend so much time shepherding others in their congregation that they fail to lead those under their own roof. In The Pastor's Family: Shepherding Your Family through the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, the Crofts offer their insights into overcoming the challenges of pastoring one's own family.

The strength of this book lies in the Croft's understanding of the issue. They get it. As a pastor and pastor's wife, they understand the show more unique pressures of ministry. They live every day in the crucible of inflated expectations and limited time. They are able to identify men from the ministry world, often those we revere, who have struggled in the area of leading their families. They clearly get the unique challenges of ministry. The fact that each write portions of the book from their unique perspective as a pastor and pastor's wife is fantastic.

The insight they offer is helpful, if sometimes vague. While the book offers some specific ideas on shepherding one's family, it speaks more in generalities when it comes to specific advice. Most pastors will read this book and nod their head, thinking, "I know what you are talking about there, brother." But, in the end, Croft offers no earth-shattering new perspectives on how to overcome the tensions that tie up most pastors. Almost all of his advice is "old hat": take your day off, use your vacation time, shelter your family from unrealistic expectations, lead family worship, etc. This simple advise is a lesson in itself, I think. Most of what we need to do to develop healthy pastors' families falls in the category "Things I already know but don't prioritize highly enough." Perhaps that is the genius of The Pastor's Family. It turns our minds back to the simple truths of Scripture. It calls us to account for the things we already know, proclaim in our pulpits, but seldom embody. In the end, there is no magic pill to swallow that gives us healthy families.

Great Quotes

"A pastor's heart is no different from any other heart. A pastor's neglect of his family cannot simply be blamed on the pressures, demands, and unrealistic expectations that have been placed on him. In the end, the struggle he faces - and the neglect of the family - has one root cause: a sinful heart" (45).

"A pastor who truly delights in his wife needs to communicate that delight to her so she feels cherished by her husband. His goal is not just to observe the letter of the law he should seek to be faithful to the intention behind these commands by cultivating a giddy delight in his wife and the intricacies of her personality. Ask God to make your wife grow more precious to you every day" (57).

"Being overlooked and feeling unimportant go hand in hand with the struggle a pastor's wife has with loneliness. Your role as a wife is lived out in the shadow of your husband. you are seen by many, yet at the same time you are invisible" (74-5).

"When a pastor's wife feels the pressure to be all things for all people in the church, one of the best ways for her husband to protect her is to advise her to say no, giving her permission to be herself and to resist the demands of others" (97).

"Like most pastors, you probably affirm the importance of shepherding the souls of your children. But the real issue isn't whether or not you affirm it; it's "Do you have a plan?" (114).

"A pastor or pastor's wife who is disenchanted about the work of ministry will inevitably raise children who become disenchanted with ministry and the church" (122). show less

Succinct, thoughtful, and practical. It encourages us to the task at hand rather than guilts us to it. I especially liked J.C. Ryle's paper included at the end for its clear-headed instruction on the place of sickness in the world: to ask us if we're ready to meet our Maker. Wonderful book.