Navigating Uncharted Waters

180 days--that's the critical time every pastor has to establish their role in a new church position to onboard successfully. That first six months can make an enormous difference and give them a powerful foundation to impact the Kingdom of God in a positive way, or it can present them with growing challenges that linger for years to come.

One way or another, every church will eventually lose its pastor or minister, yet few congregations prepare for this dramatic event. The pastor's departure evokes a range of reactions and problems, but no one wants to talk about this elephant in the church boardroom.

Based on interviews with hundreds of pastors, as well as ten years of counseling ministry leaders, Dr. Cionca provides practical if's, when's, and how's to consider before changing ministries.

After 30+ years of witnessing both successful and failed ministry transitions—and navigating his own—Steve Woodworth wrote this practical guide to help others plan their successions well. Drawing from firsthand experience and interviews with ministry leaders, he shares key do’s and don’ts for incoming leaders, outgoing leaders, and transition teams alike.

If you have ever agreed to serve on a nonprofit board and then asked yourself, "What have I done?", "Am I up to this?" or "How do I prepare for the meeting?", then this is the book for you. Whether this is your first experience on a nonprofit board or you're a well-seasoned board chair looking for professional development resources, this is the one-stop shop you need.

One way or another, every church will eventually lose its pastor or minister, yet few congregations prepare for this dramatic event. The pastor's departure evokes a range of reactions and problems, but no one wants to talk about this elephant in the church boardroom.

John Pearson continues to remind board members that "There are no dysfunctional organizations, only dysfunctional boards." And this warning: the boards of faith-based nonprofit organizations have multiple challenges. Board service is not for the weak or timid! This "Governance 101" workbook, the fourth in the “4 Big Mistakes to Avoid” series, includes four additional mistakes.

This book is based on the wisdom and experience of two seasoned veterans in the Christ-centered nonprofit arena. Written in an engaging, easy-to-read and understand style, the authors provide 40 short lessons for inspiring your board in God-honoring governance. The lessons are ideal for use in board training.

180 days--that's the critical time every pastor has to establish their role in a new church position to onboard successfully. That first six months can make an enormous difference and give them a powerful foundation to impact the Kingdom of God in a positive way, or it can present them with growing challenges that linger for years to come.

Based on interviews with hundreds of pastors, as well as ten years of counseling ministry leaders, Dr. Cionca provides practical if's, when's, and how's to consider before changing ministries.

After 30+ years of witnessing both successful and failed ministry transitions—and navigating his own—Steve Woodworth wrote this practical guide to help others plan their successions well. Drawing from firsthand experience and interviews with ministry leaders, he shares key do’s and don’ts for incoming leaders, outgoing leaders, and transition teams alike.

Instead of telling us how to be successful in the traditional sense, Parker J. Palmer asks us to confront the inner emotional landscape where true calling originates. He guides us through seasons of confusion, disappointment, and transition to discover how our life itself can be a form of ministry.

Rohr focuses on how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth. He helps readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that those who have fallen, failed, or “gone down” are the only ones who understand “up.”

In this shortened version of The Message of the Psalms, Dr. Brueggemann provides an insightful perspective and a structured overview of the Psalms using three categories: orientation, disorientation, and new orientation.

This book tackles the often overlooked connection between emotional health and spiritual maturity. Peter Scazzero argues that you can't be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature, offering a pathway to transform your spirituality by integrating emotional health into your faith journey.

This book maps out the spiritual journey, providing valuable insights into the shifts, developments, and crises that shape our faith.

Mulholland outlines a holistic understanding of spiritual formation that integrates theology, psychology, and personal experience. He sets forth a process-oriented framework for how one can grow spiritually in Christ, addressing both the inner and outer dimensions of spiritual growth.

Exploring the art of spiritual waiting as a path to transformative growth, Sue Monk Kidd delves into the slow, confusing, yet fulfilling process of personal transformation. She encourages us to be patient and to find stillness in the chaos, shedding light on how waiting can become a form of spiritual discipline.

"Seasons of the Soul" by Bruce Demarest explores the spiritual journey as a cycle of seasons—each with its own challenges and opportunities for growth. Drawing on biblical context and historical theologians, the book offers practical advice for navigating these spiritual seasons, whether you're in a phase of growth or grappling with spiritual discontent.

One day in the Spring of 2017, Pastor Kyle Isabelli was brought into his supervisor’s office at his church and to his complete surprise, was told “he wasn’t a good fit” as the youth pastor of the church and was fired from his job. This sent Kyle into a process of navigating being fired, dealing directly with the pain caused by this experience, and figuring out his next steps in life and ministry.

The Wounded Pastor explores one such battle that nearly every pastor will face at least once in their ministry. This hidden danger and impending battle looming in the Evangelical world is the unjustified termination, or forced resignation, of pastors from a church.

After 30+ years of witnessing both successful and failed ministry transitions—and navigating his own—Steve Woodworth wrote this practical guide to help others plan their successions well. Drawing from firsthand experience and interviews with ministry leaders, he shares key do’s and don’ts for incoming leaders, outgoing leaders, and transition teams alike.

A firsthand account of burnout and recovery, this book offers practical insights into maintaining spiritual vitality in the midst of leadership challenges.

Walking through Psalm 23 phrase by phrase, therapist and author K.J. Ramsey stepped through her own wilderness of spiritual abuse and religious trauma, K.J. discovered that courage is not the absence of anxiety but the practice of trusting we will be held and loved no matter what.

Based on interviews with hundreds of pastors, as well as ten years of counseling ministry leaders, Dr. Cionca provides practical if's, when's, and how's to consider before changing ministries.

Ideal for anyone leading a congregation through transition, this book looks at adaptive leadership in the face of change.

"In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership" by Henri Nouwen provides a transformative look at the essence of Christian leadership. Nouwen challenges leaders to forgo the allure of power and relevance to embrace a model of compassion and vulnerability, drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus.

A touching memoir that explores the joys and struggles of vocational ministry, offering rich insights into what it means to be a pastor.

At 26, Will Guidara took over a struggling restaurant and, through bold reinvention and unforgettable hospitality, transformed Eleven Madison Park into the best in the world. With stories of surprise sledding trips and beach-themed dinners, he shows how generosity, creativity, and care can turn any business into a place of magic—for guests, teams, and beyond.