BOOK REVIEW
Strengthening The Soul Of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry
Author: Ruth Haley Barton
Seeking God in the crucible of ministry is one of numerous books written by Ruth Haley Barton. She holds a Doctor of Divinity from Northern Seminary and her calling and passion for teaching and writing is on strengthening the souls of pastors and Christian leaders and the congregations and organizations they serve.
I first came to love her writings as a grad student at Northwest Nazarene University, where I received my master’s degree in Spiritual Formation. My current appointment at the College for Officer’s Training has afforded me the opportunity to introduce Ruth Haley Barton’s books to our cadets, and most in particular the book I am reviewing.
Using the life of Moses, Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership, explores topics such as discerning God’s will together, leading from your authentic self, facing the loneliness of leadership and cultivating spiritual community. At the end of each chapter a spiritual practice is given so that the reader can get a hands-on experience of what the chapter is trying to teach. I appreciate this aspect of Ruth’s book because it allows me as the reader time to disseminate and mull over what I have read in the chapter. It also allows me as the reader to retain some pertinent Biblical truth.
Matthew 16:26 “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (NLT)
If you need a book to encourage and fortify your soul and your leadership, then this is a must read for you. I will leave you with these words from Ruth Haley Barton: “Those who are looking to us for spiritual sustenance need us first and foremost to be spiritual seekers ourselves.”
