On Living with a Concern for Gospel Ministry

A must-read for all Quakers. Not since Samuel Bownas has a Quaker author written as helpfully and as feelingly about the inward and outward life of one who feels a chronic call to the service of the Gospel-- a vocational call that becomes the purpose around which the rest of one's life is organized. Whether the call involves a gift in vocal ministry, in radical hospitality, or any other religious service, both the individual carrying the gift and the meeting community which has been gifted face particular opportunities and challenges. In this lightly revised second edition, Brian Drayton describes those opportunities and challenges, illustrating both with examples of how they have been experienced and dealt with by other Quakers, both past and present. If you feel a continuing concern for some public ministry in whatever form, if your meting contains one or more Friends who feel this or who might feel this way if they were helped to name it, or it you want to understand this continuing experience in the Religious Society of Friends, On Living with a Concern for the Gospel Ministry is the book to read. -- Lloyd Lee Wilson, member of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and author of Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order and Radical Hospitality Brian Drayton weaves his personal experience as a committed minister together with scripture passages and well-chosen excerpts from the writings of earlier Friends. The result is a clear, sweet nurturing of that Light within us. The book also offers useful suggestions for addressing specific challenges encountered in ministry. Drayton speaks in particular to committed, present-day Quaker ministers and the Friends meetings that support them. However, his insights and encouragement are relevant to everyone, including those of us who feel called to God's service through spiritual gifts other than vocal ministry. This book abounds in precious gems. Many paragraphs are inspired, their words filled with the beauty of Truth. After reading through Brian's book the first time, I read it again as a devotional aid, pausing to ponder and pray whenever a passage rang for me with God's truth. I stopped often, and grew in joy. -- Susan Smith, member of Ohio Yearly Meeting and author of Unity in Business - Another Fruit Friends will welcome this second edition of Brian Drayton's important book, On Living with a Concern for Gospel Ministry. In the years since the first edition appeared, I have often profited by revisiting these valuable essays. Here Friends will find an abundance of wise counsel, encouragement, challenge, and practical advice, all grounded in Drayton's deep appreciation of Friends' tradition, especially as conveyed in the journals and writings of earlier generations. For Friends who sometimes feel a vague sense that something more might be required, Drayton's explication of what it means to carry an ongoing concern for ministry will be especially helpful in giving shape and form to what otherwise might be neglected. Our contemporary Society of Friends is in great need for some among us to answer the call to this work; this book points the way. -- Tom Gates, member of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and author of Opening the Scriptures and Members One of Another: The Dynamics of Membership in Quaker Meeting Here is a book full of wisdom and advice on how to cherish, live with, and grow