Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong and we'll take a look.
Thanks – we got it. We'll review and follow up if needed.
Some pastors burn out dramatically. Others just keep running-from meeting to meeting, crisis to sermon, never quite catching their breath. The work is never done. There are always more people to see and sermons to plan. The danger is that in the middle of it all, we lose ourselves.
In The Present Pastor, pastor and author James Williams invites his fellow pastors and church leaders to stop. Not to quit ministry, but to remember what called us here in the first place-not a stage, but a relationship. Not performance, but presence.
With unflinching honesty and deep pastoral care, James shares how the wounds of his own story-a Southern gothic childhood marked by addiction and violence, the sudden death of his sister moments before he preached, and the relentless pressure to perform in a growing church-shaped the way he led. Until a staff member asked the question that changed everything: "Do you know how exhausting it is to work for someone who never seems tired?"
This book was written for pastors-but not just senior pastors. If you're carrying the weight of ministry, this is for you.
Rooted in Scripture and contemplative wisdom, The Present Pastor guides readers to:
- Recognize the performance trap that substitutes polish for presence
- Name the wounds and trauma we've carried into ministry without addressing
- Understand how our refusal to be vulnerable keeps others from being real
- Embrace the paradox that weakness, not strength, is what people need most from us
- Learn what it means to lead like Jesus-who never hurried, never performed, and was always present
James Williams
Dr James Williams is a Senior Lecturer in Education in the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex. James initially studied Geology at the University of London and subsequently trained as a science teacher. He taught secondary science in North London (Enfield), South London (Croydon) and Surrey. He has been involved in initial teacher education and training for over twenty years and also teaches on various undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes.
His research interests currently entail understanding the place and teaching of ′The Nature of Science′ and ′The Scientific Method′ in the school curriculum. In particular, what do teachers understand about these concepts and ideas? Linked to this work he also researches the teaching of evolution in science and the place of creationism in a school based context. He has published a number of successful textbooks in science for Key Stage 3 children as well as authoring articles in international education journals and a book on teaching the nature of science.More by James Williams
Why Readwise Books?
Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →