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Pastoral Graces: Reflections On the Care of Souls
by Lee EclovGrace is the credential that lets us park close to people's hearts.When Christ calls a pastor He instills a kind of heightened instinct for grace; what we call a shepherd's heart. However, pastors often become disoriented by leadership demands, congregational expectation, and the wounds of ministry. They forget how to use the grace of Christ in the everyday work of pastoring. Through striking word pictures and stories that resonate with every pastor, this book will reinvigorate pastors' instincts for practicing grace in the churches they shepherd. Whether you are training to be a pastor and wondering if you are called, a seasoned shepherd needing encouragement and affirmation, or simply someone who wants to encourage your pastor, you will appreciate the sage wisdom and confirmation poured out in the pages of Pastoral Graces.
Pastoral Graces: Reflections On the Care of Souls
by Lee EclovGrace is the credential that lets us park close to people's hearts.When Christ calls a pastor He instills a kind of heightened instinct for grace; what we call a shepherd's heart. However, pastors often become disoriented by leadership demands, congregational expectation, and the wounds of ministry. They forget how to use the grace of Christ in the everyday work of pastoring. Through striking word pictures and stories that resonate with every pastor, this book will reinvigorate pastors' instincts for practicing grace in the churches they shepherd. Whether you are training to be a pastor and wondering if you are called, a seasoned shepherd needing encouragement and affirmation, or simply someone who wants to encourage your pastor, you will appreciate the sage wisdom and confirmation poured out in the pages of Pastoral Graces.
Pastoral Interventions During the Pandemic: Pentecostal Perspectives on Christian Ministry in South Africa
by Mookgo Solomon Kgatle Collium BandaThis book provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the challenges faced by pastoral ministry in South African Pentecostalism as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as some interventions being made to manage these challenges. Contributors present descriptive approaches to churches’ reactions to lockdown measures, and especially the adaptations generated within Pentecostalism in South Africa. Through a variety of approaches—including pastoral care, virtual ecclesiology, social media, and missiology—contributors offer intervention techniques which can help readers to understand the unique role of Christian ministry during the pandemic, in South Africa and beyond.
Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically
by Master'S Seminary Faculty John F. MacarthurEncouraging, insightful, and challenging, Pastoral Ministry is designed for a new generation of shepherds who seek to lead with the passion of the apostles. Written by MacArthur and his colleagues at The Master's Seminary, this guide outlines the biblical priorities essential to effective ministry. Other contributors include: Richard L. Mayhue, James F. Stitzinger, Alex D. Montoya, James M. George, Irvin A. Busenitz, James E. Rosscup, Donard G. McDougall, Robert L. Thomas, David C. Deuel, George J. Zemek, and S. Lance Quinn.
Pastoral Misconduct: The American Black Church Examined
by Janelle M. Eliasson-NanniniIn the past, clergy malfeasance was mentioned only in passing by group members or adherents. The subject was invisible and those who studied it were often stigmatized as hostile to religion itself. Today clergy misconduct is acknowledged as a social problem with growing conceptual and theoretical implications. In Pastoral Misconduct, Anson Shupe and Janelle M. Eliasson-Nannini argue that the history and traditions of black pastoral leadership, coupled with the close identity of many black congregants with their pastor, congregation, and racial subculture, creates opportunity structures that facilitate predatory behavior. Familiarity and mutual identity frequently leads victims to drop their normal levels of wariness. Major denominations and minor sects have been studied, but this unique study by Shupe and Eliasson-Nannini pursues nuances of pastoral bad behavior in a new context. This book is not a tabloid treatment of the American black church. In fact, the black church becomes the vehicle for a major new sociological development: a theory of clergy misconduct in any minority religion.
The Pastoral Prophet: Meditations on the Book of Jeremiah
by Steve KruschelWhen the Lord called Jeremiah to be his prophet, he called a man grappling with insecurities and weaknesses. He made a prophet out of a struggling sinner. God strengthened Jeremiah to preach to his family who betrayed him, his king who wanted him dead, and to false prophets trying to drown out his message. His words speak to you, too.These devotions based on Jeremiah's words and experiences are meant to help encourage you as a pastor, a teacher, a church leader, and a parishioner. Watch as Jeremiah holds the mirror of God's law up to your heart and witness God's beautiful gospel message as his prophet speaks it directly to you.
A Pastoral Rule for Today: Reviving an Ancient Practice
by John P. Burgess Joseph D. Small Jerry AndrewsThe pastoral office has always been a difficult calling. Today, the pastor is often asked to fulfill multiple roles: preacher, teacher, therapist, administrator, CEO. How can pastors thrive amid such demands? What is needed is a contemporary pastoral rule: a pattern for ministry that both encourages pastors and enables them to focus on what is most important in their pastoral task. This book, coauthored by three experts with decades of practical experience, explains how relying on a pastoral rule has benefited communities throughout the church's history and how such rules have functioned in the lives and work of figures such as Augustine, Calvin, Wesley, and Bonhoeffer. It also provides concrete advice on how pastors can develop and keep a rule that will help both them and their congregations to flourish.
Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry
by Thomas C. OdenThis book fully integrates principles of pastoral care, leadership, and theology to restore for ministers.
Pastoral Theology and Care: Critical Trajectories in Theory and Practice
by Nancy RamsayLeading pastoral theologians explore a wide variety of themes related to pastoral practice. Pastoral Theology and Care: Critical Trajectories in Theory and Practice offers a collection of essays by leading pastoral theologians that represent emerging trajectories in the fields of pastoral theology and care. The topics explored include: qualitative research and ethnography, advances in neuroscience, care across pluralities and intersections in religion and spiritualties, the influence of neoliberal economics in socio-economic vulnerabilities, postcolonial theory and its implications, the intersections of race and religion in caring for black women, and the usefulness of intersectionality for pastoral practice. Each of the essays offers a richly illustrated review of a practice of pastoral care relationally and in the public domain. The contributions to this volume engage seven critical directions emerging in the literature of pastoral theology in the United States and internationally among pastoral and practical theologians. While coverage of these topics does not exhaust important points of activity in the field, it does represent especially promising resources for theory and practice. This important work: Offers unique coverage of new directions in the field Includes contributions from an exceptional group of experts who are noted leaders in their areas of study Introduces the newest perspectives on pastoral care and offers constructive proposals Filled with case illustrations that make chapters pedagogically useful, Pastoral Theology and Care is essential reading for faculty, seminarians and students in advanced degree programs, and pastors.
Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition
by Andrew PurvesToo often pastoral care is uninformed by historical practice and is overly influenced by psychological theory and practice, according to Andrew Purves. At least one consequence of this is that it is often disaffiliated from the church's theological heritage. <p><p> Purves examines Christian writers from the past who represent the classical tradition in pastoral theology--classical in the sense that they and their texts have shaped the minds and practices of pastors in enduring ways. He reflects on texts from Gregory Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Great, Martin Bucer, and Richard Baxter. He includes a brief biography of each author, introduces the major themes in the writer's theology, and discusses the issues arising for pastoral work.
Pastoring Men: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why Men's Discipleship Matters Now More Than Ever
by Patrick MorleyWhat would happen if every pastor in America shared the vision to disciple every man in his church—can you imagine? No man falls on purpose, yet our culture is suffering from the fallout of the "men problem." Increasingly men are living autonomous and unexamined lives, getting caught up in the frenzy of life, and becoming satisfied with tasteless and powerless Christianity. Now, more than ever, men need unapologetic guidance and strong discipleship. Here's the place to start. In Pastoring Men, Patrick Morley explains proven and practical strategies for discipleship, equipping pastors to effectively reach and disciple all of the men they shepherd. This book will teach you:The state of men in your church—how they are doing, what they want, what keeps them from getting what they want, and what they needThe essential factors for successfully discipling menA concrete, sustainable strategy to help you organize your passion for men's discipleship without a lot of new programming. Read and apply Pastoring Men and see men, their families, and your church thrive.
Pastoring Men: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why Men's Discipleship Matters Now More Than Ever
by Patrick MorleyWhat would happen if every pastor in America shared the vision to disciple every man in his church—can you imagine? No man falls on purpose, yet our culture is suffering from the fallout of the "men problem." Increasingly men are living autonomous and unexamined lives, getting caught up in the frenzy of life, and becoming satisfied with tasteless and powerless Christianity. Now, more than ever, men need unapologetic guidance and strong discipleship. Here's the place to start. In Pastoring Men, Patrick Morley explains proven and practical strategies for discipleship, equipping pastors to effectively reach and disciple all of the men they shepherd. This book will teach you:The state of men in your church—how they are doing, what they want, what keeps them from getting what they want, and what they needThe essential factors for successfully discipling menA concrete, sustainable strategy to help you organize your passion for men's discipleship without a lot of new programming. Read and apply Pastoring Men and see men, their families, and your church thrive.
Pastors Are People Too: What They Won't Tell You but You Need to Know
by Jimmy Dodd Larry MagnusonWhat are your top twenty expectations for your pastor? Now multiply your list by the number of people who attend church with you. Is it any wonder pastors are overwhelmed and underappreciated? They're expected to know every member by name, preach a "home run sermon" every Sunday, condemn sin without hurting anyone's feelings, and be available to serve others 24/7 while not neglecting their own family. The intensity of these expectations and lack of appreciation can and does bring the majority of pastors to a place of despair and ultimately departure from pastoral ministry. This practical field guide offers tangible ways to better understand and care for the pastor who cares so deeply about you.
The Pastor's Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters for Ministry
by Austin CartyIt&’s time to give pastors permission to read books besides the Bible. Six months into his first senior pastorate, Austin Carty sat in his office reading—not the Bible, not a commentary, not a theological tract, but a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky. As the minutes turned to hours, while he sat engrossed in this book, he noticed something: he began feeling uneasy. And then anxious. And then guilty. What would someone think if they opened the door and caught him reading fiction? For busy pastors (is there any other kind?), time spent reading feels hard to justify, especially when it&’s not for sermon prep. But what if reading felt less like a luxury and more like a vocational responsibility—a spiritual practice that bears fruit in every aspect of ministry, from preaching to pastoral care to church leadership? Austin Carty believes that this is exactly how pastors ought to think about reading. The Pastor&’s Bookshelf shows how worthwhile reading is more about formation than information and how, through reading, a pastor becomes a fuller, more enriched human being with a deeper capacity for wisdom and love, better equipped to understand and work for God&’s kingdom.
The Pastor's Family: Shepherding Your Family through the Challenges of Pastoral Ministry
by Brian Croft Cara CroftPastoral ministry is more challenging than ever with unique, complicated burdens and expectations some have not experienced in previous generations. Because of this, the number of pastors who start with a great zeal for the work, quickly crash and burn and are left with a battered faith and family. This book seeks to identify those unique challenges, diagnose the problem, propose a biblical solution, and then guide the pastor and his family to embrace these challenges while shepherding the family through them.
The Pastor's Family: The Challenges of Family Life and Pastoral Responsibilities
by Harold G Koenig Daniel L LangfordDescribing the difficulties of balancing a career and family life, The Pastor’s Family: The Challenges of Family Life and Pastoral Responsibilities is a personal narrative that discusses the all-too-familiar practice of neglecting your family for your job. Pastors will learn the importance of balancing time and attention between their families and religious careers by exploring the problems caused by one pastor’s prolonged absence from home. Containing research and first-hand experiences, The Pastor’s Family calls for a change in ministry policies that will enable pastors to devote as much time to their families as they do to their congregations.Containing stories and anecdotes from the author, his wife, and his two children, this book offers suggestions on how to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of a pastor’s family. The information and insight provided by The Pastor’s Family will also help pastors’wives realize that they are not alone in their demanding roles and will help church policymakers discover the need to improve relations between the congregation and the pastor’s family. With the hope that the universal problems of pastors’families will be revealed, the author shares with you methods that have helped bring him and his family closer together, including: understanding the expectations of the stereotypical “superpastor” and learning how to set boundaries between family life and career realizing that a pastor’s family is subject to the same problems and challenges other families face and helping your family deal with this pressure learning the various definitions of codependency and how this can attribute to the neglect of your family discussing the history of abuse of pastors’families through the Bible and famous religious figures recognizing the discrimination of a pastor’s wife and her sufferings, such as coping with her husband’s various psychological challenges and being expected to always help her husband with his career discovering how conflicts can provoke communication, release emotions, identify and clarify problems, and permit individualization understanding why people feel a loss of power or personal rejection when their requests are not grantedEmphasizing the practice of setting boundaries, The Pastor’s Family examines ways to promote assertiveness through self-talk and self-differentiation that will help you defeat codependent behavior. This will teach you that it is all right to say “no”-- that it is all right to do things for yourself. From The Pastor’s Family, you will learn how to correct the ideology that makes many pastors feel they must honor every parishioner request, despite the effect it will have on his family. Through stories of hardship and personal revelations, this book will help you realize the need for church policy reforms that will allow pastors to be looked upon as humans who have familiesbesides their parishioners.
A Pastor's Guide to Interpersonal Communication: The Other Six Days
by Blake J. NeffImproving your powers of communication can encourage powerful communication with your parishioners. A Pastor’s Guide to Interpersonal Communication: The Other Six Days provides students preparing for the pastoral ministry with specialized training in communications that focuses on the kind of one-on-one conversations they can expect to have with their parishioners. This comprehensive book examines a variety of essential topics, including perception, self-disclosure, verbal and nonverbal messages, listening, stages of relational development, power assertiveness and dominance, conflict management, forgiveness, persuasion, dual relationships, pastoral family communication, and how to develop a communications model. Each chapter includes “Pastoral Conversations,” real-life dialogues presented for analysis; “Key Concepts” for quick student review; “Meanings Mania,” self-tests on vocabulary; and “Unleashing the Power of Interpersonal Communication,” student exercises that reinforce the practical aspects of key principles. While many pastors have a great love for the people they minister to, they have difficulty demonstrating that love because they lack the skills to develop and maintain relationships. This book explores how communication works and how to make it work for you, applying the best available interpersonal communications techniques to your relationships with the real people of the church—your parishioners. A Pastor’s Guide to Interpersonal Communication: The Other Six Days examines: how self-disclosure works and when it’s appropriate for a pastor stumbling blocks and building blocks for effective listening the differences between power, assertiveness, and dominance and when to use each conflict management styles and negotiation strategies several myths about forgiveness dual relationships and how to avoid them pitfalls to avoid in pastoral family communication and much more A Pastor’s Guide to Interpersonal Communication: The Other Six Days is an essential resource for Bible college students and for students at the pre-ministerial and seminary levels. It’s also a valuable professional tool for clergy practitioners who need help with their communication skills.
The Pastors Guide to Leading and Living
by O. S. HawkinsThe Pastor's Guide to Leading and Living is the perfect resource for both new and seasoned pastors. This book includes tips on topics like a pastor's finances, politics and the pulpit, the pastor's family, church and conflict, church administration, pastoral care, and much more. Each chapter has scripture references and space to write notes.Features include:Twenty-six chapters of vital information and advice for preachers from a trusted pastorSections to jot down notesConvenient and easy to carry anywhere a pastor may be called to serve"Dr. O. S. Hawkins combines the heart of a pastor and the skill of a great leader. In this powerful new book he provides pastors with a wealth of both spiritual and practical advice. He has distilled a lifetime of pastoral experience and reflection into one unprecedented volume. Every pastor needs this book, and should keep it within a short reach."R. Albert Mohler, Jr., PresidentThe Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryLouisville, Kentucky "Few men have moved from pastorate into denominational service and yet maintained pastoral connections and perspectives as has O.S. Hawkins. This book, The Pastor's Guide to Leading and Living, is proof enough of this affirmation. Exceptional chapters include those discussing the pastor and his preaching, his partner, his priorities, his pressures, the poor, and the prize. Although most pastors' manuals, however valuable, are not the most interesting reading, this volume is scintillating and constructive to a degree that I have seldom seen." Paige Patterson PresidentSouthwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryFort Worth, TX "My life long friend O.S. Hawkins provides one of the very best resources imaginable to guide pastors and church leaders towards excellence in ministry. His focus on authenticity and practical effective pastoral life and leadership will resonate with every servant of Christ. This book will be a model for Christian ministry for years to come." Jack GrahamPastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
The Pastor's Handbook KJV: Instructions, Forms and Helps for Conducting the Many Ceremonies a Minister is Called Upon to Direct
by Moody PublishersThe Pastor's Handbook (KJV) is intended to meet the continuing need of the Christian minister for guidance and forms as he does the work of the ministry. It seeks to offer options to suit the tastes of the pastor and congregation within the parameters of quality, beauty and dignity. To this end, numerous changes, both large and small, have been made—more selected Scriptures, new alternatives for special occasions, some significant additions and changes. At the same time, every effort has been made to keep the book concise and compact to maximize its usefulness. The formulas should be sufficient for the ordinary needs of the minister. They may be modified or supplemented by materials from the pastor's private collection or his own preparation. Some who stress liberty in prayer and preaching dislike set forms, preferring spontaneity and a free style as they worship. If the spiritual vitality of a church is maintained there need be no fear that these forms will become lifeless rituals. The use of forms should never become merely formal. And if the use of forms adds beauty and dignity to the atmosphere of sacredness, who can object? May the blessing of God attend all who glean from this manual, enabling it them to know what to say and how to say it. This is made also for allowing them to know what to do and how to do it especially as the occasion requires. Gratitude is expressed to many pastors and contributors for this volume. Includes the: worship service, baptism, communion, funerals, anointing services, healing services, membership, installation, baby and child dedication, consecration services, ceremonies for buildings and visitation.
The Pastor's Handbook KJV: Instructions, Forms and Helps for Conducting the Many Ceremonies a Minister is Called Upon to Direct
by Moody PublishersThe Pastor's Handbook (KJV) is intended to meet the continuing need of the Christian minister for guidance and forms as he does the work of the ministry. It seeks to offer options to suit the tastes of the pastor and congregation within the parameters of quality, beauty and dignity. To this end, numerous changes, both large and small, have been made—more selected Scriptures, new alternatives for special occasions, some significant additions and changes. At the same time, every effort has been made to keep the book concise and compact to maximize its usefulness. The formulas should be sufficient for the ordinary needs of the minister. They may be modified or supplemented by materials from the pastor's private collection or his own preparation. Some who stress liberty in prayer and preaching dislike set forms, preferring spontaneity and a free style as they worship. If the spiritual vitality of a church is maintained there need be no fear that these forms will become lifeless rituals. The use of forms should never become merely formal. And if the use of forms adds beauty and dignity to the atmosphere of sacredness, who can object? May the blessing of God attend all who glean from this manual, enabling it them to know what to say and how to say it. This is made also for allowing them to know what to do and how to do it especially as the occasion requires. Gratitude is expressed to many pastors and contributors for this volume. Includes the: worship service, baptism, communion, funerals, anointing services, healing services, membership, installation, baby and child dedication, consecration services, ceremonies for buildings and visitation.
The Pastor's Handbook NIV: Instructions, Forms and Helps for Conducting the Many Ceremonies a Minister is Called Upon to Direct
by Moody PublishersThe Pastor's Handbook (NIV) is intended to meet the continuing need of the Christian minister for guidance and forms as he does the work of the ministry. It seeks to offer options to suit the tastes of the pastor and congregation within the parameters of quality, beauty and dignity. To this end, numerous changes, both large and small, have been made—more selected Scriptures, new alternatives for special occasions, some significant additions and changes. At the same time, every effort has been made to keep the book concise and compact to maximize its usefulness. The formulas should be sufficient for the ordinary needs of the minister. They may be modified or supplemented by materials from the pastor's private collection or his own preparation. Some who stress liberty in prayer and preaching dislike set forms, preferring spontaneity and a free style as they worship. If the spiritual vitality of a church is maintained there need be no fear that these forms will become lifeless rituals. The use of forms should never become merely formal. And if the use of forms adds beauty and dignity to the atmosphere of sacredness, who can object? May the blessing of God attend all who glean from this manual, enabling it them to know what to say and how to say it. This is made also for allowing them to know what to do and how to do it especially as the occasion requires. Gratitude is expressed to many pastors and contributors for this volume. Includes the: worship service, baptism, communion, funerals, anointing services, healing services, membership, installation, baby and child dedication, consecration services, ceremonies for buildings and visitation.
The Pastor's Handbook NIV: Instructions, Forms and Helps for Conducting the Many Ceremonies a Minister is Called Upon to Direct
by Moody PublishersThe Pastor's Handbook (NIV) is intended to meet the continuing need of the Christian minister for guidance and forms as he does the work of the ministry. It seeks to offer options to suit the tastes of the pastor and congregation within the parameters of quality, beauty and dignity. To this end, numerous changes, both large and small, have been made—more selected Scriptures, new alternatives for special occasions, some significant additions and changes. At the same time, every effort has been made to keep the book concise and compact to maximize its usefulness. The formulas should be sufficient for the ordinary needs of the minister. They may be modified or supplemented by materials from the pastor's private collection or his own preparation. Some who stress liberty in prayer and preaching dislike set forms, preferring spontaneity and a free style as they worship. If the spiritual vitality of a church is maintained there need be no fear that these forms will become lifeless rituals. The use of forms should never become merely formal. And if the use of forms adds beauty and dignity to the atmosphere of sacredness, who can object? May the blessing of God attend all who glean from this manual, enabling it them to know what to say and how to say it. This is made also for allowing them to know what to do and how to do it especially as the occasion requires. Gratitude is expressed to many pastors and contributors for this volume. Includes the: worship service, baptism, communion, funerals, anointing services, healing services, membership, installation, baby and child dedication, consecration services, ceremonies for buildings and visitation.
The Pastor's Husband
by Tiffany L. Warren"I just love her work." --Victoria Christopher Murray"When I read a Tiffany L. Warren novel I know I'm going to get two things--a riveting story and a faith boost!" --ReShonda Tate BillingsleyFelicia Caldwell has a great job, a healthy bank account, and stunning good looks. But she longs for a husband and family to go along with it. So when charismatic superstar pastor Nya Hempstead declares that partnership is on its way, Felicia is elated--until her life becomes filled with more curses than blessings. Five years later, someone has to pay--and that someone is Nya. Soon, Felicia is moving to Dallas and joins the church led by Nya and her co-pastor husband, Gregory...In the eyes of the public, Nya and Gregory have the perfect life. But their marriage is feeling the strain of Nya's success. While she's hitting the talk show circuit and the bestseller list, Gregory is fading into the background. It's no surprise he enjoys the fawning attention of new church member, Felicia. Little does he know her intentions are far from pure. And as she infiltrates the pastors' lives it will take a team of prayer warriors and heavenly intervention to save their relationship--and their ministry. Along the way, will they remember the mission they started with?Praise for Tiffany L. Warren's The Favorite Son"Filled with love, betrayal, heartbreak and forgiveness." --Kimberla Lawson Roby"Drama swirls throughout Warren's inspirational story." --Library Journal, starred review
The Pastor's Kid
by Barnabas PiperThe Only One Facing As Much Pressure As the Pastor is ... The Pastor's Kid Dad may be following God's call, but the Pastor's kids (PKs) are just following mom and dad. Often to devastating results. Barnabas Piper - son of Pastor and bestselling author John Piper - has experienced the challenges of being a PK first-hand. With empathy, humor, and personal stories, he addresses the pervasive assumptions, identity issues and accelerated scrutiny PKs face. But more than just stating the problems - he shares the one thing a PK needs above all else (as do their pastor/father and church) is to live in true freedom and wholeness.
The Pastor's Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds
by Brian Croft H. B. Charles Jr.Every pastor struggles with demands for his time, and how to determine priorities in ministry. Some choose to respond to the most urgent needs, while others seek a more balanced and intentional approach. But what determines these priorities? Where should a busy pastor look for wisdom in making decisions? In the Pastor’s Ministry, pastor and author Brian Croft looks to the Scriptures to determine the top ten priorities for a faithful pastoral ministry. These biblically rooted responsibilities help pastors determine how to spend their time and with greater discernment respond to the demands of the church. Each of these priorities is rooted in a direct command of God’s Word, including: Guarding the Truth Preaching and Teaching the Word Praying for the Flock Setting an Example Visiting the Sick Comforting the Grieving Caring for Widows Confronting Sin Encouraging the Faint-Hearted Identifying and Training Other Leaders To be successful and faithful in pastoral ministry, every pastor needs to understand these core callings and make them part of his regular practice. These ten responsibilities guide how a pastor schedules his time, helping him to lay the foundation for a biblically faithful ministry in his church.