Mentoring for Spiritual Growth

James Lawrence reviews this recent publication from Bible Reading Fellowship....

Tony Horsfall is clear that this book is about spiritual direction, and the focus throughout is on this practice. But there is so much good material here that it would be a pity if readership was limited to those solely interested in spiritual direction.

Each chapter offers a short, simple, sensitive reflection on an aspect of the mentoring relationship. These reflect the author's breadth of reading and personal experience as a spiritual director. Thus they offer great practical insight on 'how to mentor'.

Having read fairly extensively in this area, I think that this is among the best introductions to the subject that I have come across, characterised by a wonderful gentleness and freshness.

The book is well organised, beginnning with helpful defintions. Tony then examines his subject biblically and historically, before going on to distinguish very helpfully between the qualities / skills /tools of a mentor. He also examines the mentoring process itself.

The chapter 'Road maps and guidebooks' outlines four ways of locating where someone might be in his or her 'development journey'.

Although I don't think I am particularly suited to being a spiritual director, I have still learned a great deal from this book on the 'ministry / leadership' aspects of mentoring.

Highly recommended.

Available from your local Christian bookshop or via Bible Reading Fellowship (check a chapter extract here)

Ready to Lead

Published in January, this new book from CPAS Leadership Development Adviser Ruth Hassall is already making an impact.

Here's a link to a very enthusiastic review from the Sophia Network.

More information from the CPAS online shop. And click here for info regarding the new course Growing Leaders - Youth Edition.

Forgotten classic?

Thanks to the CL reader who recommends this once-popular Christian author....

Each of these remarkable monologues/prayers/mediations takes its jumping-off point from an easy-to-overlook aspect of everyday life:

• The Telephone
• The Swing
• At the door
• The tractor
• Prayer before a five-pound note.

Quoist's gift is to make connections between the most ordinary aspects of our life - and our life in relationship with God. Quoist comments:

If only we knew how to look at life as God sees it, we should realize that nothing is secular in the world, but that everything contributes to the building of the kingdom of God.

Published in the 1950s, Quoist's books were tremendously popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The remain fresh and challenging today.

And they are still in print!

Worship changes lives!

CPAS Ministry Consultant for Ireland Paul Hoey give this new book the big thumbs-up.

‘A publication on behalf of the Liturgical Commission’? I confess to a prejudice that suggested something potentially worthy but dull. How wrong can you be?

The book is short – just 48 pages – with big print and lots of images that themselves convey something of the mystery and wonder of worship. I read it through in about 20 minutes. Does that mean it’s superficial? Not at all. There is lots here to challenge and provoke even the most seasoned worshipper to rethink what we do under the heading of worship and why we do it.

The book could be equally helpful to the new worshipper and to those who just turn up on a Sunday and go through the motions, as well as setting an agenda to any church group involved in a root and branch review of worship. In its short space it manages to address such issues as the words we use in worship, the nature of remembering, the expression of community, sacred space and symbol, dimensions of prayer, the richness of praise offered through music and much more. Each section could open up a valuable discussion.

There are helpful questions, such as, ‘What headline would you write about worship in your church that compels the reader to read on?’

The weakness is that only a few such questions are contained within the text of the book itself, limiting its potential as a study resource. More are promised on the accompanying website.

I like where the book ends. It reminds us that worship is not just about withdrawal to recharge our spiritual batteries; at its best it is something that sends us out revitalised to engage in God’s mission in the world.

Worship changes lives? It would have been good to hear some stories of how that change happened for different people in different settings. But this book inspires us
to believe that indeed it can be so - even in our own little patch of the kingdom of God – and even in my own life.

£4.99 - available from Church House Publishing. But if at all possible, please support your local Christian bookshop!

Looking for the FREE CHOCOLATE option? So sorry. The free chocolate has been claimed.

Do nowt!

That good friend of CL, Steve Tilley has written an excellent commentary on this new-ish book from Bishop Stephen Cottrell.

Click here to find it.

The book is available via Church House Publishing - but if you decide to buy, do please make your local Christian bookshop your first port of call.

Seale of approval

Subscriber the Rev William Seale gives this book an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

The author has the ability to place the difficult issues of life and faith in their true context. The worldly items and aspirations that we all treasure so much are clearly described for what they really are - temporary and shallow. A thought-provoking book that certainly helps one put things into their true perspective.

When the Game is Over it All Goes Back in the Box
John Ortberg
Zondervan

Thinking of buying this book? Why not support your local Christian bookshop?