The New Pastor’s Handbook: Help and encouragement for the first years of ministry
Jason Helopoulos
Baker Books, 2015

The release of ‘The New Pastor’s Handbook’ after I had been a new pastor for about 3 weeks seemed like near perfect timing. Don’t go rigidly by the title though. Some of it, such as that on considering calls, would have been useful before this point, and most of it will be perennially relevant. The beauty of this book is the 48 small chapters of a page or two each, making it ideal to read one or two a day. None of it is rocket science but it’s all very helpful and Helopoulos is wise, winsome and caring. Occasionally, it’s quite American-centric, for example the assumption that you’ll have staff members or the statement that ‘Most men graduating from seminary desire an assistant pastorate’. However even chapters which don’t directly apply (as on ‘Youth Ministry’ or ‘Candidating’) contain useful principles that can be applied in other different contexts. Helopoulos shares his regrets so we can learn from them – such as not taking enough time before changing things so children were present at worship services. I found this to be a hopeful, helpful and realistic book which I plan to return to. Helopoulos concludes with a call to perseverance as ‘many leave well before their time’. He is convinced however that ‘the pastorate remains a lifelong calling for most of us’ – and this book will encourage us along that road.

Thanks to Baker Books for providing a review copy.