"A gift not just to Baptists but to the whole church"

This volume offers a distinctive free church vision for preaching, pastoral care, and leadership, attending to voices from the past four centuries as they speak about the practice of pastoral ministry.

"This book by an experienced pastor, teacher, and scholar is a wonderful gift to anyone seeking to understand the vocation of ministry in the Baptist tradition. The images of prophet, priest, and servant guide its insightful account of the call to care for and lead the people of God. The rich description is informed by rigorous biblical analysis, solid theological reflection, and diverse historical examples. This will be an important resource for years to come."
--Curtis W. Freeman, Baptist House of Studies, Duke Divinity School

"Creech gives us a pearl of great price. This book is a rich and multifaceted resource for Baptist identity and history, truth and conviction on contemporary issues in the tradition, and a theologically robust vision for the vocation of the pastor and the witness of the church. Job well done!"
--Jared E. Alcántara, Truett Theological Seminary

"Creech offers us a pastoral theology that 'brings a shepherding perspective' right out of his own shepherding experience. This winsomely written book is a rich theological resource that honors the diversity of Baptist thought in a variety of contexts, takes seriously its tradition, and points pastors to an embodied way of ministry that is as relevant today as ever. It is a gift not just to Baptists but to the whole church."
--Tod Bolsinger, Fuller Theological Seminary

"The pastoral office is multifaceted in shape and form. The one called to serve God's people is expected to be and do many things. Creech does a marvelous job of drawing attention to the many ways God uses the pastor to advance the cause of Christ in the world. The church will be blessed if it takes this book and digests it so that we might better appreciate the God who calls the pastor and the pastor who obeys the call of God."
--Ralph Douglas West, senior pastor, The Church Without Walls, Houston, Texas