Soul Sustenance: Renewed - A 40-Day Devotional for Healing from Church Hurt and for Loving Well in Ministry

I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect when I got the chance to review Renewed: A 40-Day Devotional for Healing from Church Hurt and for Loving Well in Ministry. I've never experienced hurt in the ministry roles I've served - at least, not significantly. However, I do know people who have, and I know that it's a very hard process to go through.

This book is written by someone who's been there, someone who's been hurt in ministry. Leigh Powers never shares details - or even generalities - about the situation, which is very appropriate for several reasons. It protects the people involved, it keeps the focus of the book on healing instead of pain, and it makes the book applicable to anyone who's been hurt for any reason. Yet, enough of her feelings come out about the past hurts that it lends a sense of experience to the book, as well as the fact that healing is a process, not just something that's an on-off switch.

The book's description says it's for women in ministry, ministry wives, and lay leaders. It does have a decidedly female bent to it, but it would be appropriate for men too, especially in families where both husband and wife have suffered hurt.

Hurt in the church is unfortunate. It should be a place of rest, a place where relationships are restored when conflicts arise. Sadly, that's not always true, because we're all human. This book can help ministry leaders pick up the pieces and be ready to move on, without holding on to baggage that can harm the next ministry.

LEIGH POWERS has been in full-time ministry for the past 15 years, and is a pastor’s wife and devoted Bible student. Leigh’s works have been published in MomSense, Just Between Us, Seek, Penned From the Heart, and at (in)courage.me. She has written over 100 Bible study lessons for publishers such as BaptistWay Press, Smyth & Helwys, and Union Gospel Press. She earned her MDiv at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.