Becoming Barnabas: The Ministry of Encouragement

Rating:
Summary: Great New Resource - Highly Recommend!!
Review: If you are searching for a way to rejuvenate your congregation into becoming a more "encouraging" ministry, or simply want your members to discover the ways in which they can be united, then Moots' "Becoming Barnabas" will be both a treasure and a resource. Moots uniquely uses Barnabas "The Encourager" as a model for Christians today. Moots does an outstanding job of blending practical stories (some that every churchgoer will recognize) with scriptural references. Particularly for smaller congregations, and focused toward congregational leaders (though everyone can benefit), "Becoming Barnabas" is a refreshing look at the church today and a promising glimpse of what it can be in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Never is heard a discouraging word...
Review: While the clergy person is the primary audience for this text, Robert Reber says in his foreword that this is a book that will benefit all people who live together in community as a congregation, for all are called to share in the work of ministry. I agree; many will find a refreshing spirit in Paul Moots' idea of the ministry of encouragement, the ministry of affirming gifts of each other, and sharing these talents in community.

So, just who is Barnabas? Barnabas is a relatively minor character in the book of the Acts of the Apostles (indeed, almost everyone pales into minor character-hood by comparison with Peter and Paul). Barnabas was one who encouraged others with their ministries and gifts, who did not react out of jealousy (why is my church not the biggest or best?) or personal ambition, but rather for the good of the community. Moots highlights five particular points in the story of Acts, places that have becoming meaningful to him not only in his study, but in his preaching through the texts.

Moots highlights several aspects - the first is working together in partnership, which he characterizes as 'standing with and standing aside'. (Acts 11.25-26) It was during this ministry that disciples were first called Christians. The second is a ministry of hospitality (Acts 9.26-27), sharing space, activity and spirit with those who are different. The third is ministry of courage (Acts 14.19-20) - few of us in the Western world need fear persecution for being Christian, but that is not to say that ministry does not require risk. The fourth is a ministry of reconciliation (Acts 15.37-39) - what happens when we fail, or fail to live up to expectations? Moots recounting the split between Paul and Mark, easily missed in the Acts, and their eventual reconciliation, is particularly meaningful to me, as my own church still bears a grudge against me. The final piece from Acts (4.36-37 and 11.23-24) looks at issues of authenticity in ministry - how do we know that what we are doing is what God wants us to do?

Moots points out in various places that this book is not a blueprint or a roadmap - all churches and congregations will be different, so the broad principles laid out here will be applied in different ways with differing levels of effectiveness. However, this is a solid, spiritual, biblically-based idea for drawing all people together in the service of God in God's community. The ministry is not the exclusive province of those of us ordained, but rather belongs to all the people.

Moots provides questions for individual reflection and group discussion at the conclusion of each chapter. This would make a wonderful Lenten study for a church or adult study group. Moots redefines success as not being mega-church, numbers-oriented growth and impact, but rather as deepening spirituality and faithfulness in the congregation, whatever its size, to each other and the vocation to which it is called.

This is a wonderful book.