Ministry home

THE FAMILY LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN LEADER
By Ajith Fernando
Crossway. 223 pages. £14.40
ISBN 978 1 433 552 908

Christian leaders are called to live lives above reproach and manage their own families well as they shepherd the church they have been called to. It is a daunting but essential task.

Increasingly people in our church families have experienced broken relationships and poor role models, and they look closely at their leaders to be examples of a gospel centred family life. This gaze puts leaders under particular scrutiny, which can be hard to bear, particularly for the children.

The book does not directly address the pressures of a ministry home, although Ajith includes some brief snippets of the struggles and temptations that Christian leaders have. Rather it is a call to godly family life amidst the difficulties that all believers face. The title seems to limit its audience to those in Christian leadership, although its teaching applies to all Christian families. Perhaps it is his way to make sure Christian leaders take these principles on board themselves before they shepherd others?

Ajith writes as a Christian leader of 35 years, who is a husband, father and grandfather with much experience and a gentle wisdom to impart. He covers a lot of ground. He writes anecdotally in a way that is easily accessible, particularly for young Christian couples. It could be a book to use pastorally in marriage preparation, marriage refreshment or even parenting courses. It may not be a book dealing with the struggles of Christian leadership, but it is a reminder to both pastor and flock of the core foundations all our family lives should be built on.