Jimmy Dodd - Pastors Are People Too: What They Wont Tell You but You Need to Know

What people are saying about

The intersection of faith and leadership is a dangerous place! Our pastors live where kingdoms collide, and all too often they are on a solo journey. After reading Pastors Are People Too , Im now resourced and prepared to be a better layperson, a better supporter, and a much better friend. I believe God is pleased with that.

Rob McCleland, president of John Maxwell Leadership Foundation

As I have coached hundreds of pastors in the last decade and looked deeply into my own heart, I can see that pastors have a huge need: encouragement! We need people around us who we know are for us regardless of whether our sermon is great or our leadership is inspiring. We need people to say I love you because of who you are and not just what you do. Pastors Are People Too could start a revolution for leaders in local churches to love their pastors better.

Dr. Darrin Patrick, lead pastor of The Journey, St. Louis, vice president of Acts 29, and author of Church Planter and The Dudes Guide to Marriage

The American way of doing church has created immense pressure on pastors. Jimmy Dodds new book, Pastors Are People Too , is a godsend, literally, not just to pastors, but also to their spouses, elder boards, and congregations. This timely book opens up a desperately needed conversation on how to pastor and enjoy the journey!

Floyd McClung, founder of All Nations, Cape Town

Few understand the unique experience of us pastors and our loved ones like Jimmy Dodd and Larry Magnuson. Writing from the perspectives of an experienced pastor and counselor to pastors, the authors identify several unique struggles that if better known by our people would encourage them to support us well in our calling. Jimmy and Larry dont merely understand these struggles; they also give our people the understanding, opportunity, and tools they need to empower and strengthen us in our calling. Consider Pastors Are People Too your how-to manual for pastoring your pastor.

Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, and author of Jesus outside the Lines

Critical topics for all pastors, a must read for all church leadership wanting to build a healthy and effective church.

Keith Cote, vice president of Lead222, speaker, author, and coach

This book is a much-needed wake-up call to the church to care for its pastors in this age of workaholism and unending expectations on leaders. As experts at shepherding pastors, the authors share helpful stories to illustrate the incredible complexity of pastoring and provide insights on how we can champion our church leaders. This book challenges all of us to steward our lives more fully to the Lord.

Dr. Tasha D. Chapman, director of educational studies at Covenant Theological Seminary and coauthor of Resilient Ministry

When the pastor is healthy and focused, the church has far greater potential to be healthy and focused. Pastors Are People Too should be required reading for every church leader who wants to see their church thrive.

David Kinnan, lead pastor of Fountain Springs Church

Pastor Jimmy has written a beautifully simple and practical book that addresses the often-overlooked ministry of providing pastoral care for our pastors. I believe that healthy churches depend on healthy leaders who are loved and supported by their communities. This ultimately leads to a beautiful expression of the gospel in our cities all around the world. Thank you, Jimmy, for such an important work!

Kevin Palau, president of Luis Palau Association and author of Unlikely

Many of my heroes and best friends throughout life have been pastorsand I have been a pastor myself. So Im glad this book is bringing to light the challenges these servants often face, as well as equipping us with practical ways to support them and help lighten their load. I cant think of anyone more passionate about this and more qualified to bring us this message than Jimmy and Larry.

Carey Casey, CEO of National Center for Fathering

Every pastor needs an advocate, defending, protecting, and celebrating their ministry. In this book, Jimmy Dodd is urging the pastors most likely grouptheir congregationto provide what is often assumed to be happening, but more often is neglected: prayerful, practical, and proactive care of their pastor. Its not rocket science, but its amazing how even the simplest common courtesies are consistently missed by those who are faithfully served by todays pastoral leader.

Stephen Macchia, founding president of Leadership Transformations, director of the Pierce Center at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and author of Becoming a Healthy Church and Broken and Whole

Dodd brings a very unique and priceless background to this book. He has been a pastor (over twenty years) and he has counseled hundreds of pastors who were dealing with every imaginable problem from crises that destroyed their ministries to navet that portended future problems. His is a hard-won perspective that is invaluable. It says to the reader your pastor is not the exception; he will have certain problems if you and your church leadership dont champion his cause.

Jim Cavnar, president of Cross International

Finally a book that addresses the profession of pastor with dignity. This is a great weave of the personal journey of the writer as well as the many with whom the writer has served coupled with deeper understanding of the dilemmas but also the answers on moving forward. This brings life, transparency, and reality to the pages. Hope as well as directives for growth ring loud and clear. All church leaders need this for inspiration and instruction. We have greatly benefited from the ministry of PastorServe.

Jo Anne Lyon, general superintendent of the Wesleyan Church

Pastors need help, and SonScape Retreats has been helping thousands of them in powerful ways for decades. Thats why weve served on SonScapes board for a quarter century. And thats why were so excited to see Larry and Jimmys new book, which can sensitize believers to the struggles their pastors face and help them contribute to healthier pastoral lifestyles and healthier churches!

Lois and Steve Rabey, SonScape Retreats

This book is designed to help church members help their pastor. Pastors are people too. The title is true. But not everybody wants to see it that way. Many pastors and their families feel isolated and cut offboth personally and ministeriallyfrom the very supports and nourishment they give to their congregations. Asking for help is seen by too many as a sign of weakness, so those who need counseling the most avoid it. Jimmy and Larry offer a principled approach to congregational health that starts with the health of congregational leaders, especially the pastor and his family. The chapter on the wife of a pastor is worth the price of the book alone, as well as the chapter on pastors kids. This book flows out of decades of ministry to pastors and their families and is valuable for developing congregational leadership, pastors continuing their education, and training of future pastors.

Wade Mobley, pastor, president of the Free Lutheran Schools, and dean of the Association Free Lutheran Theological Seminary

Calling all sheep! You have worn your shepherds ragged and it has to stopfor their sakes and for yours. Please, please, peruse this very engaging, very important book from my friends Jimmy Dodd and Larry Magnuson. If you read it, it will help you understand your pastors and ministry leaders and what they go through every single day; if you take their words to heart, it will enable you to protect your shepherds best interests, protract their ministry tenures, and produce even healthier and more active flocks.