The Spurgeon Fellowship Journal

Book Review
Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome
by Kent and Barbara Hughes

The final question on any ordination exam, I am now convinced, ought to be whether the candidate has read Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome by Kent and Barbara Hughes. The response to this question should, in turn, play a role in determining whether or not a man passes the bar and joins the fraternity of ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, of course, I realize Paul did not impose this qualifier upon the church; nonetheless this book is a staple for any minister of the gospel.

This book was birthed out of Hughes’ experience of the “dark night of the soul.” He states: “A covert, unarticulated animosity had crept through my soul. It was hidden from all. Years of honestly cultivated Christian civility served me well – for inside I was a very angry man. The focus of my resentment was God himself, the one who had called me to this. I had given everything – all my time, all my education, years of ministry and true Christian devotion (he knew!) – and now I was failing. God was to blame” (p. 14).

The church in which Hughes served decided to plant a daughter church and appointed him the founding pastor. They did all the right things and everyone was optimistic. Friends told him “things were about to happen, and it would not be long before the new church would be larger than its mother.” Such talk enlarged the optimism and the expectation was significant numerical growth. “But to our astonishment and resounding disappointment, we didn’t. In fact, after considerable time and incredible labor, we had fewer regular attenders than during the first six months. Our church was shrinking, and the prospects looked bad – really bad” (p. 19). It was the erroneous notion that God’s blessing would be evidenced by significant numerical growth that led to Dr. Hughes’ despair. Hughes appropriately warns, “…When the persistent motif is numbers – then the siren song becomes deeply sinister. Pragmatism becomes the conductor. The audience inexorably becomes man rather than God. Subtle self-promotion becomes the driving force” (p. 29).

In light of this situation, Hughes and his wife found themselves “fiercely determined to evaluate our success from a biblical point of view” (p. 31). Divided into four parts, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome provides the tools necessary for a helpful readjustment of one’s paradigm and a timely word of encouragement. The first of these sets the scenario, which has already been discussed. The second part offers definitions of “success” in biblical terms, including faithfulness, serving, loving, believing, prayer, holiness, attitude, and finally, sweet success. The third part deals with modes of encouragement. The fourth part, entitled “Helps,” outlines how the pastor’s wife and the congregation can be instrumental in liberating the pastor from the success syndrome.

There are an abundance of valuable insights and concepts in this treasure of a book. It is packed with helpful applications derived from Scripture and words of encouragement very refreshing to the soul of a pastor. I expect to read Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome repeatedly. A unique and commendable quality is the co-authorship of Dr. and Mrs. Hughes. The opening chapters are deeply personal. Dr. Hughes describes his inner turmoil while, simultaneously, Mrs. Hughes speaks of her candid conversations with her husband. Viewing the same struggle from two distinct vantage points is tremendously helpful and insightful.

One of the most poignant statements comes from the chapter entitled “Sweet Success,” authored by Mrs. Hughes. Reflecting upon the lessons learned she explains, “We discovered that the miserable yoke of worldly success is so crushing because it is a burden that God’s servants were never meant to bear” (p. 106). This is a profound statement to hearken God’s servants back to the Lord’s words: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5, ESV). Furthermore, in summarizing lessons learned from this crucial and critical experience, she adds: “ . . . as we minister, God our Father sees us and our success in ways we cannot readily see ourselves” (p. 107). This is the contrast between the crushing burden of seeking worldly success, and the easy yoke and light burden of serving the Lord. Worldly success seeks tangible, evidentiary, visible, and immediate results. Success in the eyes of the Lord is something much different and well summarized by the Hugheses throughout this excellent work.

Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome is refreshingly honest. There is no attempt to hide behind the thin veneer of pastoral piety. I would venture to guess that the very same thoughts, or some form of them, have resonated in the mind of every pastor. Hughes tells us, “I have been there.” He does not claim to have all the answers; rather, he and his wife guide the reader in seeking the true meaning of success in ministry. The error of quantifying the success of the church in worldly terms is not only common among pastors, but also pastor’s wives, elders, deacons, and others involved in the church. As such, this is an essential read for all Christians who desire to see the church of Jesus Christ advance by means of authentic gospel ministry.

David Thommen, M.Div. student at Western Seminary, serves as Pastor of Estacada Christian Church in Estacada, OR.


	Book Review Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome by Kent and Barbara Hughes The final question on any ordination exam, I am now convinced, ought to be whether the candidate has read Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome by Kent and Barbara Hughes. The response to this question should, in turn, play a role in determining whether or not a man passes the bar and joins the fraternity of ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, of course, I realize Paul did not impose this qualifier upon the church; nonetheless this book is a staple for any minister of the gospel. This book was birthed out of Hughes’ experience of the “dark night of the soul.” He states: “A covert, unarticulated animosity had crept through my soul. It was hidden from all. Years of honestly cultivated Christian civility served me well – for inside I was a very angry man. The focus of my resentment was God himself, the one who had called me to this. I had given everything – all my time, all my education, years of ministry and true Christian devotion (he knew!) – and now I was failing. God was to blame” (p. 14). The church in which Hughes served decided to plant a daughter church and appointed him the founding pastor. They did all the right things and everyone was optimistic. Friends told him “things were about to happen, and it would not be long before the new church would be larger than its mother.” Such talk enlarged the optimism and the expectation was significant numerical growth. “But to our astonishment and resounding disappointment, we didn’t. In fact, after considerable time and incredible labor, we had fewer regular attenders than during the first six months. Our church was shrinking, and the prospects looked bad – really bad” (p. 19). It was the erroneous notion that God’s blessing would be evidenced by significant numerical growth that led to Dr. Hughes’ despair. Hughes appropriately warns, “…When the persistent motif is numbers – then the siren song becomes deeply sinister. Pragmatism becomes the conductor. The audience inexorably becomes man rather than God. Subtle self-promotion becomes the driving force” (p. 29). In light of this situation, Hughes and his wife found themselves “fiercely determined to evaluate our success from a biblical point of view” (p. 31). Divided into four parts, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome provides the tools necessary for a helpful readjustment of one’s paradigm and a timely word of encouragement. The first of these sets the scenario, which has already been discussed. The second part offers definitions of “success” in biblical terms, including faithfulness, serving, loving, believing, prayer, holiness, attitude, and finally, sweet success. The third part deals with modes of encouragement. The fourth part, entitled “Helps,” outlines how the pastor’s wife and the congregation can be instrumental in liberating the pastor from the success syndrome. There are an abundance of valuable insights and concepts in this treasure of a book. It is packed with helpful applications derived from Scripture and words of encouragement very refreshing to the soul of a pastor. I expect to read Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome repeatedly. A unique and commendable quality is the co-authorship of Dr. and Mrs. Hughes. The opening chapters are deeply personal. Dr. Hughes describes his inner turmoil while, simultaneously, Mrs. Hughes speaks of her candid conversations with her husband. Viewing the same struggle from two distinct vantage points is tremendously helpful and insightful. One of the most poignant statements comes from the chapter entitled “Sweet Success,” authored by Mrs. Hughes. Reflecting upon the lessons learned she explains, “We discovered that the miserable yoke of worldly success is so crushing because it is a burden that God’s servants were never meant to bear” (p. 106). This is a profound statement to hearken God’s servants back to the Lord’s words: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5, ESV). Furthermore, in summarizing lessons learned from this crucial and critical experience, she adds: “ . . . as we minister, God our Father sees us and our success in ways we cannot readily see ourselves” (p. 107). This is the contrast between the crushing burden of seeking worldly success, and the easy yoke and light burden of serving the Lord. Worldly success seeks tangible, evidentiary, visible, and immediate results. Success in the eyes of the Lord is something much different and well summarized by the Hugheses throughout this excellent work. Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome is refreshingly honest. There is no attempt to hide behind the thin veneer of pastoral piety. I would venture to guess that the very same thoughts, or some form of them, have resonated in the mind of every pastor. Hughes tells us, “I have been there.” He does not claim to have all the answers; rather, he and his wife guide the reader in seeking the true meaning of success in ministry. The error of quantifying the success of the church in worldly terms is not only common among pastors, but also pastor’s wives, elders, deacons, and others involved in the church. As such, this is an essential read for all Christians who desire to see the church of Jesus Christ advance by means of authentic gospel ministry. David Thommen, M.Div. student at Western Seminary, serves as Pastor of Estacada Christian Church in Estacada, OR.

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