Edward L. Smither, Augustine as Mentor: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders. B&H Academic, 2009. 272 pages.
Born in AD 354 in North Africa, Augustine was “without a doubt the most influential African bishop of his day” (207). Through his writings, Augustine “left a legacy that impacted the church in the period following his death and even to the present” (213). Augustine’s life is well chronicled in numerous biographies such as Peter Brown’s magisterial work on Augustine or Henry Chadwick’s brief yet lucid sketch of Augustine.
AUGUSTINE: MENTOR OF PASTORS
Edward L. Smither’s more narrowly focused exploration of Augustine as mentor is illuminating addition to considering what August has to offer pastors today. Describing the theme of his book, Smither writes, “The present inquiry will consider how Augustine influenced those leaders in their training and preparation for ministry” (2). Smither notes that he intended only “to focus on Augustine’s spiritual formation of men who were spiritual mentors occupying a clerical office” (3; cf. 13). Consequently, the book “will not address how Augustine discipled the general congregation in Hippo” (3). Correspondingly, the book’s audience is “modern-day pastors and spiritual leaders who want to mentor and equip others” (2). Smither’s thesis argued
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