D. A. Carson, Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson. Crossway, 2008. 160 pages.
Some pastors are extraordinary. Like Charles Spurgeon, some are famous for their eloquent preaching. Others, like John Owen, are known for their writing or theological acumen. Even on the Arabian Peninsula, where I pastor, most Christians know the names of Piper, Dever, and MacArthur. Famous pastors are nothing new. Christ’s church has always had men with extraordinary talent in the pastorate—men like Augustine, Calvin, or Lloyd-Jones. In fact, we even find “famous pastors” in the Bible. Paul sent the Corinthian church “the brother who [was] famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel” (2 Cor. 8:18).
But most of us will never be famous, extraordinary pastors.
You may recognize the name Don Carson, but do you know his father Tom? Tom was a husband, father, church-planter, and pastor in Québec, Canada. His ministry lasted from roughly 1933–1992, and he pastored during difficult days of persecution. Tom was not a famous pastor, but he was a faithful pastor. In these memoirs, Carson shares lessons we can learn from his dad’s ministry. He reminds pastors “that the God of Augustine,
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
