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Malphurs, Aubrey. Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What They Don’t Teach Pastors in Seminary
     Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications

SUMMARY

     This book addresses the very foundations of a church or parachurch organization that are frequently overlooked, or taken for granted. According to Malphurs many seminary students assume their ministries will be 95 percent preaching and 5 percent ceremonies and administration. The text is arranged into four parts identifying Core Values, Mission, Vision, and Strategy as essential elements of an effective ministry. Malphurs, the chairman of the Field Education Department at Dallas Seminary, uses the Great Commission (Mat. 28:19-20) to bridge all the contextual information regarding the church’s mission. Each part is thoroughly examined both practically through the storyline of Lake Country Church and Andy Stanley, and theoretically through Malphurs’ precise process. The structure for presenting each element is a detailed definition and explanation, followed by comprehensive guidance in development and implementation. The book contains abundant examples and sample works from flourishing twenty-first century ministries, and concludes with an appendix section full of valuable resources.       

EVALUATION    
     The importance of the content of this work is unprecedented in a new century that is increasingly hostile to evangelical Christianity. In the information age there is no tolerance for tradition. George Barna in his book The Second Coming of the Church (1998), p. 8 writes, “. . . our culture completely reinvents itself every three to five years. . . .â€? A successful ministry must eliminate the time warp so common in our established churches and even some church plants.
    Ministry Nuts and Bolts is a great resource for leadership teams who are willing to address a sincere refocusing of their church’s entire ministry philosophy. The structure of the text really lends itself to be used in a team setting. Clear instructions are given for personnel, preparation and process, the “three p’s.â€? The way information and instruction flows through the book allows any church or parachurch organization to utilize this resource in a step by step application.
    Beginning with the definition and development of core values, the reader is immediately required to evaluate, understand, and articulate what principles make up the very fabric of the ministry. Effective ministries are not created by leasing space and starting a worship service. The definition and development of mission and vision, and the respective statements that accompany those elements are carefully considered. The contrast and comparison between mission and vision is the most valuable discourse in the book. Every church, and every business for the matter, should clearly understand the difference between defining what you are to be doing, and inspiring others to unite and achieve what ultimately can be done. Although concise, the topic of strategy concludes the work. Peter’s Drucker’s quote “good intentions don’t move mountains, bulldozers doâ€? (pg. 137) is one of many gems in this chapter. Strategy is broken down into six achievable steps. The book, as a whole, addresses the why, what, where, how, and to some extent, even the who of an effective ministry for Jesus Christ.
    The only obstacle to a smooth reading of the text is the laborious effort to humanize the otherwise textbook-like presentation with the struggles of Andy Stanley and the Lake Country leadership team. This book should be read by every pastor, no matter how much they think they know about the process of developing a ministry plan.

Innovators work in the environment of core values, mission, vision and strategy.