By Rodetta Cook

Rodetta Cook has been a pastor’s wife for over 40 years. She and her husband, Ron, have actively served the Lord together in ministry during the entire time and are co-founders of Care for Pastors. She understands the expectations, loneliness and how hard it is to find balance in ministry as a pastor’s wife. Rodetta also leads the pastor’s wives initiative at Care for Pastors called The Confidante and ministers to hundreds of wives each week. She strives to share blogs with other pastors’ wives that will help them in their ministry walk.

Posted by Rodetta Cook

Topics: For Pastors' Wives · Resources for Pastors' Wives

Pastor Abusers: When Sheep Attack Their Shepherd

Monday, July 23, 2018

Today I would like to recommend a book that was recently recommended to me and I believe it will be very helpful to you no matter where you find yourself in your ministry journey. It is called, Pastor Abusers: When Sheep Attack Their Shepherd.

I always remember Dr. Jerry Falwell’s statement: “You are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or getting ready to go into a storm.” And this is so true in our ministry lives. It is always helpful when we can find resources to encourage us in and through those storms, and I believe this book will be an encouragement to you.

Here is a description of the book:

Who are the pastor abusers? They are mean-spirited church members who criticize and bully their pastor with the goal of forcing him out of the church.

While most church members are supportive of their minister, pastor abusers are usually only a small group, and are often running the church. Can anything be done to stop them? What can a pastor do when he is under attack? What are the minister’s options after being fired or forced out of the church?

Pastor Abusers: When Sheep Attack Their Shepherd is a survival manual for pastors, explaining what is happening behind the scenes and the driving forces behind the attacks. Over 30 abused pastors were interviewed and their quotes are listed in every chapter.

Helpful advice is given, telling pastors how to respond to the harassment. This book lists the pastor’s four options after leaving the church, along with a listing of ministry and secular job websites.

READER COMMENTS: A reader in Idaho: Your book describes exactly what is happening in our church. You can rename the book with our church name in front of Pastor Abusers. A pastor in Maryland: A must read for every pastor and should be required reading for seminary students. An anonymous pastor: The information in Pastor Abusers was extremely helpful as we trudged through the most difficult, painful experience of our lives.

As a pastor’s wife, it is very difficult to see our pastor husbands being attacked and abused because we have to watch in silence. I believe this book is something for you and your husband to encourage you that you aren’t the only one going through an attack or have gone through an attack. And that God will fight your battle for you!

Satan would love nothing more than to see these church “bullies” destroy the pastoral family, but let’s be determined to allow God fight our battles and win!

We are here to come alongside you on your ministry journey. Please let us know how we can help.