Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson

This book was such an utter surprise to me. I picked it up because 1) it was on sale and 2) who doesn't love D.A. Carson? Honestly, my expectations were minimal; the idea of a pastoral biography of a little-known pastor written by his son didn't particularly appeal to me.

Boy, was I wrong!

This book was an orchestra of grace in my heart in a season when I desperately needed it. Tom Carson is a church planter that we never heard of, but one we should know. His story represents untold thousands who labor in the vineyard of the Lord season after season with little or no accolades and minimal visible success. Honestly, he is the pastoral "everyman." I think this book ought to be required reading in every seminary; it will crush the romantic show more and unrealistic notions of rapid church growth and mega-church pastoral appointments that lurk in the corners of every seminarians' heart. Tom Carson was, in a word, faithful. What a joyful and beautiful tribute D.A. Carson offers his father. He manages to avoid hagiography, telling us about his father's struggles and personal dark night of the soul.

Thank you Dr. Carson. Your tribute to your father lifted me in a time when I desperately needed it! show less

Pastor Tom Carson served as a pastor for many years without fanfare or widespread acclaim, like 99% of the pastors who have ever served. He was a faithful servant of God and served small congregations throughout his ministry. So he was an unlikely candidate to have a biography written about him. But his son is D.A. Carson. So we have the privilege of reading this account of an ordinary pastor's life.

Given the author's relationship to his subject, I expected it to be a more warm, personal account so I was disappointed that it was a rather dry, academic book. I imagine it would be an encouragement to many pastors of small churches.

Having lived in Ottawa, I especially appreciated the background information the book offered on the situation in Quebec. It put Tom Carson's life story in perspective. As I read the book, I was touched by its honesty and humility. In a time when triumphalism reigns, it is wonderful to read of man who was found faithful even in discouraging times. I couldn't resist reading long passages of the book to my husband, also a pastor. He could hardly wait for me to finish for him to read the book as well. We have both heavily underlined and taken to heart the lessons about discouragement, fidelity to God's Word, taking a long term view of ministry, and the continuing need to pray for places where the Gospel does not flourish. We live in Brazil, show more but the truths about ministry found in this book resonate with the ministry here as well. It is a book I am grateful to have read. I also give thanks to God for men of integrity like Tom Carson. show less

Memoirs is one of the greatest books I have read. Tom was a humble servant of the living God who struggled with his own insufficiencies and his personal weakness. I was greatly encouraged by his unheralded faithfulness through decades of apparent fruitless toil. I wept as I read his writings to his late wife of fifty years, "Ah, Margaret, we will see each other again, and you will no longer remember the multitude of my failures that stand before me now, the failures for which I am deeply culpable, the unfaithfulness of my life as a pastor-missionary..."Behold, I make all things new" I shall see Him face to face." And tell the story of Grace. He will wipe away every tear, and the enormity of my sin, of my sins, he will remember no more show more forever-for the blood of Jesus, the precious blood cleanseth even me from my sins. Oh, that I might never sin again. And one day I shall not, for I shall see Him face to face, and I shall be like Him, for I shall see Him as He is. "I have but one supreme desire, That I might be like Jesus" Margaret will see me as one who is holy, pure, good, lovable." Mr. Carson, thank you for a life well lived. show less

D. A. Carson does a very good job in this biography of his father. The purpose is to encourage ordinary pastors through the retelling and analyzing of his father's life and ministry, a man who was an ordinary pastor.

Carson succeeds in his goal.

Carson's style includes historical background, journal entries, narrating as a son and as a biographer, recollections of his siblings, and a bit of editorializing.

It's a short book and an easy read that I enjoyed each time I picked it up. I moved through a chapter or two each night before bed and wasn't often tempted to put it down to get some shut-eye. In fact, I tended to skim to see if I might be able to squeeze in an extra chapter before turning in for the night.

I would have rated this book higher but it lacks clear direction. What does Don really want to communicate about his father that will impact pastors today? Many of the details may have been of interest to Don as he read his father's journal but they are not interesting to the reader. Much more could have been said about pastoring in Quebec but is not. Much more could have been said about Tom's life as an "ordinary pastor" but is not. I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. It is of some interest to those working in Quebec but not entirely and of some interest to pastors in general but again not entirely.

This is an encouragement to stay faithful in ministry. Don Carson gives an account of his father's faithful ministry in Canada during the middle of the 20th century. Carson draws extensively from his father's journal and presents a picture of a man who while far from perfect was used of God effectively. Tom Carson never had a large congregation, but was content to do his best in the field that God called him to.
I recommend this to every man that is in ministry and apt to be discouraged.