Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls: Learning the Art of Pastoral Ministry from the Church Fathers
SKU: 77295127989

Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls: Learning the Art of Pastoral Ministry from the Church Fathers

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Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls: Learning the Art of Pastoral Ministry from the Church FathersIn addition to the regular demands of preaching and shepherding, modern pastors feel undue pressure to entertain congregants and increase attendance numbers. Often, churches resort to the latest business models to keep pace. But true, life giving guidance lies in Scripture and the wisdom of those having come before us. Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls helps pastors to embrace a classic, biblical vision of ministry through the study of selected

In addition to the regular demands of preaching and shepherding, modern pastors feel undue pressure to entertain congregants and increase attendance numbers. Often, churches resort to the latest business models to keep pace. But true, life-giving guidance lies in Scripture and the wisdom of those having come before us. Ancient Wisdom for the Care of Souls helps pastors to embrace a classic, biblical vision of ministry through the study of selected pastoral virtues and early church figures. Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory the Great both referred to ministry as “the care of souls.” Calling for a “return to the sources,” professors Coleman M. Ford and Shawn J. Wilhite ponder what a scriptural vision of ministry is, how patristic voices help inform this vision, and how pastors today can cultivate this pastoral vision in their churches. Each chapter examines an important pastoral topic—such as humility, the sacraments, and contemplative theology—and brings it to life through a constructive model and profiles of early church fathers. Encouraged by the patristic wisdom of Irenaeus, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, and more, readers learn a simple and slower model for pastoring that they can emulate as they care for their communities. A slower pace of life may, in fact, help pastors cultivate the soil of souls more richly and, as a result, return to ministry as “the care of souls.”

Publisher: Crossway
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781433575495

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Coleman M. Ford (PhD, Southern Seminary) is an assistant professor of humanities at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He serves as a fellow for the Center for Pastor Theologians. He is also the codirector and research fellow for the Center for Ancient Christian Studies. He also serves as an assistant pastor. He is published in the areas of patristic theology and Christian spirituality. Shawn J. Wilhite (PhD, Durham University) is an associate professor of New Testament at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. He is also the codirector and research fellow for the Center for Ancient Christian Studies. He has published books and articles in the areas of New Testament, early Christianity, and patristic literature.

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“When Christian authors of late antiquity are read or consulted today, it usually has to do with matters of doctrine, like their superb and absolutely fundamental reflections on the Trinity, for instance. But their thoughts on piety, pastoral leadership, and soul care are also of immense value for our day. To be sure, they lived in a world quite different from ours in all kinds of ways. However, such basic issues as human pride, abuse of power, and sexual lust were as common in their world as they are in ours. And their wisdom on how to deal with these matters as well as their pungent and powerful reflections on spiritual formation are of enormous value in our bent world. This is a book to be read slowly and treasured.” Michael A. G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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SKU: 77295127989

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mavo
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
A story of art, music and writing
Format: Kindle
Like the face of heaven. That’s how I see Theo, and I hope this will be a movie. “Theo of Golden” is the debut novel by Allen Levi. He was writing as a personal challenge and just doing some scenes. He began writing in 2019-2020. He had been a songwriter and lawyer. He has no connection to Portugal, which is mentioned in the book quite a bit and led me to try Port wine. This book will lead me to do a lot of things. Theo is a supremely interesting man! More on that other familiar interesting man in a later post. The book will make you want to look at the faces of people. Use a gaze that calms and loves. Be kind and generous. Greet people. Be less fearful and exchange stories. Be attentive. Love people up close. Invest in the art of living. Be beautiful, useful and pleasurable. All which I should be doing, but will now do for Lent. Theo listened with genuine interest, adoringly, encouraging and with gratitude. Newborns look for their mother’s face, a particular gaze that calms, loves and welcomes them. Someone they recognize, run to greet and someone to bond with. Levi signs the books “With thanks for the Theo in you.” He greets kids at a high school three days a week. He reads to second graders. He doesn’t mind being around people not like him. The coffee shop setting is a real place in Columbus, Ga. It’s called Fountain City Coffee. In picking bestowals of the sketches there, Theo looked for someone lost, weary, worried or troubled that the gift would encourage or help. I got to hear him in a Zoom. A group of women from Vermont who lost their daughters came to Georgia on a pilgrimage. He was a steward of clean rivers and water and said the river still flows after death. He went through a “walking season” in losing his daughter. In a book about knowing a person, it is mentioned that a bench is a good way to do this. 7 p.m. was Theo’s meeting time with the strangers for bestowals and ended up being the time of the funeral. He also mentioned “Think Little” by Wendell Berry. Do so and if everyone does, it spreads. Levi was born in 1956. His dad is 98. His mother passed and he lost his brother, whom he called a clone of Theo, at 55. His dad was a forester, explaining his interest in nature. Springtime is an end with a future, said Theo. One character named Tony runs the Verbivore book store and has the Penny Loafers out there because they haven’t spent a penny and they majored in loafing. Theo and Tony end up having Port together and he told Theo is Viet Nam stories. The Penny Loafers were better than a room full of Senators. They lie. Tony ends up being more of a believer of Jesus at the end because he wasn’t before Theo. James Ponder has no degrees hanging in his office. Note the “ponder” mentions throughout. He is a dispenser of advice, secret keeper and agent of calm. Secretary Mrs. Gidley was suspicious of Theo at first but comes around. Ponder was Theo’s landlord and mentioned the 18-inch railing and three flights of stairs before the 86 year old decided to live there. Kendrick reminds me of the custodian who won “America’s Got Talent,” who has an ill daughter Lamisha, who wants to be a physical therapist or artist in the end. Her education will be paid for by Theo as were some of her medical bills. Maria Menendez is the daughter of the “little man” who killed Theo’s wife and daughter in an accident. Maria had cancer. I don’t want to give away too much, but Theo decided to love Asher, the sketch artist, with two hearts. And there is much more to that. Simone wears a wardrobe that honors music on stage and guests who come to listen did the same. Cello intricacies became fascinating to me and I looked up some of the music mentioned. His bow was a gift from Theo. He played Fado for Theo at his concert. It ended up being a requiem with three characters, Kendrick and Basil, the busker. Simone’s parents were there and I wasn’t clear if Theo sprang for their trip. At the end, Basil studies to get a doctorate in American literature. Katherine is the reporter who respects Theo’s wishes while many people she interviews are praise seekers and applause junkies. He was a friend, not a headline. Ellen rides a bike and I’ll just call her different. He gave her a foldable handsaw, cordless sander, drill and wood burner to make feather boxes. I have made one because of this book. She had $1,600 to her name from selling them, but gave the money to the cello fund after she and Simone were assaulted and the perpetrator was never caught. Cleave is the poisonous guy—like a snake, hemlock, black widow or “words with no wisdom guy.” All but Cleve show community in sitting on the same row or pew. They all have sparks of hope. I loved this line: We walk all roads, long and winding. Road to ruin. Easy Street. Road less traveled. I’m so mad that my notes from Chapter 10-28 somehow disappeared. I may reread. This post would be longer. I probably have a dozen favorite books and just added this one.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2026
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Walter Desmond
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Recognizing the Hearts that Burn Within Us
Format: Paperback
Yes, Theo of Golden does, at times, border on the melodramatic and the sentimental. It can be repetitive. It can take an awfully long time to make its point. And yet, the novel speaks very significantly of the need for love, compassion, generosity and forgiveness---in a world that is not always kind, in a world where many of us carry secret burdens---where sadness (mixed with intermittent joy) might be viewed as a universal human affliction. Theo of Golden is, overall, a book of glad tidings. An end with a future. Thoughtfully, warmly and intelligently written. A novel that often addresses the beauty of Art, most notably painting and music. A novel in which I learned what a fado is. In fact, I learned a lot from this novel. Unlike some readers, I did not see the book as misogynistic or xenophobic. I didn't necessarily see it as "Christian fiction"---unless you mean doing good, striving for strength of spirit and understanding the connection between "the ultimate and the proximate, the wide grace and the narrow way." Finally, I don't view the novel's conclusion as disappointing, but simply as falling action and resolution. It is, after all, a very traditionally structured work. Kudos to the author Allen Levi for having written an initially self-published book that was later picked up by a major publishing house. That is, indeed, a rarity.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
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Rafael Morales
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
better than the series
Format: Kindle
The chemistry the characters the banter the amazing direction of the story all builds up to a crescendo that simple didn’t let go! This is the first of an epic series that simply let love in its many different ways and journey transformed lives in ways that one couldn’t imagine! Beautifully worded and crafted with a creative nack to entertain and really dig this universe! Well done Miss Kennedy, well done!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
G
Verified Purchase
Giliana
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 4
Not forced or rushed
Format: Hardcover
I really liked this book. Hannah & Garrett’s story starts off like a typical smart girl tutors the jock to help him get though a class in college. But their stories are traumatic and the things that they have both had to overcome make this book so much more than your typical tutor/jock story. Garrett is sweet, cocky, funny and helps bring Hannah out of her shell in a refreshing way. Hannah is not meek or mild or quiet, she is strong because of her past but still a little unsure. Together their chemistry is hot and their relationship just sort of naturally unfolds. I really loved that it didn’t seem forced or rushed, it just happened as it should. Garrett’s story in particular hit very close for me so maybe that is why I felt connected to these characters so much. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
Kunauntubbee
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Hot, Sweet, and Real
Format: Kindle
First I love a hockey romance! Add in fake dating, he falls first, and shared trauma and you have me hooked! This has been on my TBR longer than I want to admit! With the show that came out I wanted to read this first and it did not disappoint! I loved it! Garret and Hannah together crack me up and are so cute! This book had sad, funny, serious, and spicy moments! Highly recommend! The audiobook voice actors did a good job! I would recommend reading the trigger warning page this book does talk about some issues/trama that can be triggering.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026

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