Conversations by the Sea; Reflections on Discipleship, Ministry and Mission, by Andrew Rollinson 

'Very helpful discussions are enhanced by the author's evident experience of ministry and careful inclusion of different aspects of the issues - the book is a delight and I hope it will be ready by many'

Conversations by the Sea; Reflections on Discipleship, Ministry and Mission
By Andrew Rollinson
Handsel Press
ISBN 978-1-912052-78-3
Reviewed by: Jeannie Kendall 

This book is a delight. Andrew Rollinson takes as his jumping off point John 21 (helpfully including the text at the start of the book) and in particular the conversation of Jesus with Peter. Over 14 chapters he addresses a number of issues, including disappointment (catching nothing), the unbroken net (unity), ministry starvation, failure and restoration, ending appropriately with a return to the first calling we all have to follow Jesus.

The text forms a helpful context, and there are gems of background in there, but he skilfully avoids both of the dangers he recognises at the start of the book: either straining the text or constraining the discussion. There are some wonderful quotes: one of my favourites is ‘The real legacy of any authentic Christian ministry is not a large church, a relevant church or a visionary church but rather a Christ-centred community’ (Italics his).

The very helpful discussions are enhanced by both his evident experience of ministry and careful inclusion of different aspects of the issues – for example stating that the ways of activity and contemplation should never be seen in opposition.

I found his discussion of unsafe church highly relevant and helpful, and every minister will (or certainly should) recognise the dangers of ministering from a place of depletion. Another highlight is the chapter of the necessity of self-awareness – how key this is and is in my experience not always the strongest aspect of ministers’ personalities, unlike the tendency to comparison which he also addresses. I resonated with his understanding of preaching as pastoral care too, such an important aspect about which not enough is written.

This review is longer than I usually write which says much about the riches of this book. I hope that it will be read not just by ministers in paid positions, because it is applicable to all who serve in the body of Christ in any capacity, indeed all disciples – so that covers us all!

 

Jeannie Kendall is a retired Baptist minister, a current tutor on the Pastoral Supervision course at Spurgeon’s College, and the author of Finding Our Voice and Held in Your Bottle, with a third book Heroes or Villains? released July 2023.