Dale Sellers - Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought Theyd Be There by Now

What people are saying about

STALLED

Ministry is challenging. If youre grieving because of loss of a dream, discouraged because of comparison, dissatisfied because of your current situation, its easy to become isolated and depressed. Dale Sellers brings encouragement, insight, and hope to the pastor whos stalled by delivering biblical wisdom, pastoral empathy, and clear-cut leadership to the real-life trenches of ministry. Read this book! Get one for that friend! Dont go through this alone!

David Chrzan, pastor, Saddleback Church

Dale Sellers tells how his desire for success stalled his life and ministry. He was trying to get another leaders results and was not leading the way God made him. Every fulfilled and effective spiritual leader I know has to work through this leadership developmental challenge. I am grateful we have Dales road map to help us through to the faithfulness, freedom, and fruitfulness on the other side.

Haydn Shaw, author of Sticking Points and Generational IQ

Discouraged. Its how every leader has felt at one point or another when we want to be somewhere were not. Dale navigated his own experiences of disappointment in himself and uncovered key truths about leadership in ministry that can anchor and guide us today.

Carey Nieuwhof, bestselling author, podcaster, speaker

This is a great leaders handbook that you could refer to over and over again. With practical and spiritual principles to apply to your everyday life, Dale offers truths on how not to get caught in the trappings of the enemy and how to propel yourself to the success the Lord has sovereignly planned for your life. A must-read for every church leader!

Kimberly Boschman, executive director of Gateway Resource Library, Gateway Church

If you had an idea about where you thought youd be in ministry by now, only to have fallen woefully short of that goal, Stalled is for you. No, its not about breaking growth barriers. Its about helping you see the value of where God has placed you so you can become effective and content there.

Karl Vaters, pastor, author of The Grasshopper Myth, Small Church Essentials and 100 Days to a Healthier Church

Dale Sellers reminds us that Gods measuring stick for success in ministry may look very different than ours. Dales honesty and insight are like medicine for the weary soul. This book will be a great help to those who are searching to keep fighting the good fight of faith and ministry.

Russ Lee, speaker, singer, songwriter, lead singer of NewSong

As leaders, we have a God-given ambition to make a difference. But for many, life and ministry havent turned out like we dreamed. This powerful book could be a breakthrough moment for you. With a blend of personal and practical, Dale Sellers will help you walk in freedom and joy in the here, rather than always chasing the illusive there.

Lance Witt, founder of Replenish Ministries

Reading this book is like sitting down with a friend who understands what youre feeling. Yet Dale doesnt leave you there; he powerfully helps you move from where you are to where you need to be with a renewed sense of passion and purpose. You need to read this book, and your church needs you to read it too.

Jill and Mark Savage, church planters, speakers, authors of No More Perfect Marriages

Dale has definitively engaged the very struggle that many church leaders everywhere are facing. Stalled gives us hope that our struggles and wounds do not have to determine the value of who we are in Christ or the worth of the work God has given us. Whether your ministry is successful or you are flailing to get your church unstuck, this book should definitely be in the hands of every pastor.

Brent J. Carter, director of business development at Faithlife Corp., makers of Logos Bible Software

I tell leaders all the time: Health comes before growth. Dale has offered a pathway in this book to the health and transformation of the pastor and then his church! Pastor, grab this book, not to transform your church, but to transform yourself.

Shawn Lovejoy, founder and CEO, CourageToLead.com

I have had the privilege of a front-row seat to seeing my friend navigate the challenging times with great integrity and then pursue his calling with great diligence. God has uniquely positioned Dale to breathe life into everyone who reads this book!

Shane Duffey, lead pastor, NewSpring Church

When you read this book, be prepared to have your soul exposed. More importantly, prepare yourself for the grace of God to bring healing.

Danny Davis, EdD, author of Rural Church Turnaround

I have a higher level of respect and trust for leaders who have endured and led through tough times. Dales one of them. Get ready. Dale doesnt hold back. You will be encouraged.

Kem Meyer, communications advocate and author of Less Chaos. Less Noise.

Stalled is not your standard platitude-filled how to book. Steering clear of even the hint of condescension, Sellers offers something richer: deep-tissue hope and encouragement.

Mark Rutland, executive director, National Institute of Christian Leadership, author of Relaunch

STALLED

Published by David C Cook

4050 Lee Vance Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

Integrity Music Limited, a Division of David C Cook

Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved; NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide; NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number 2020935431

ISBN 978-0-8307-8063-1

eISBN 978-0-8307-8067-9

2020 Dale Sellers

The Team: Michael Covington, Alice Crider, Judy Gillispie, Kayla Fenstermaker, Jon Middel, Susan Murdock

Cover Design: Jon Middel

First Edition 2020

This book is dedicated to all the pastors who thought theyd be there by now. Through these pages, may you receive a renewed sense of purpose and rekindled passion to change the world around you.

I agree with Dale. I also thought Id be there by now.

Because of that, you may just want to skip this foreword. In fact, odds are pretty good that you will skip it. Thats what I do when I read a book. I skip over the foreword because I want to get there fasterto the end of the book, that is. (My apologies to the people who have written forewords to my books.)