"This is my second read through this incredible book. I know it sounds strange to say a book about suffering was “fun� to read, but this one is. Kreeft is such a vivacious, creative writer, that even his prose about suffering exudes joy. As is fitting, for the Christian has learned the cruciform art of rejoicing in suffering, for in it we are in Christ. And where Christ is, there is joy. "

"This book was very disappointing given just how excellent Witmer is in his other, related book, The Shepherd Leader. Some quick points explaining my rating:

-This book is written for large (mega-churches), with little to almost nothing relevant to small or smaller churches.
-The ecclesiology of this book is an absolute mess, ranging from confusing to infuriating. This was particularly disappointing because I was expecting a book written in the Reformed/confessional tradition, but it was anything but.
-There is no clear distinction or understanding between the difference between elders and deacons. All throughout, elders are tasked with responsibilities and duties of deacons. There is little to nothing said about raising up, installing, and equipping deacons. The ideal 'shepherd' in this book is basically responsible for everything, in some sense. It's almost as if deacons don't exist.
-The model of ministry here assumes/employs a host of quasi-shepherds: Unordained, unofficial men and women undertaking many tasks that are the duties of qualified, ordained, installed pastors/shepherds. Much of the ministry model here ends up placing unordained men and women as the de facto pastor of people. Sure, some of this is the result of having too many people to shepherd (this is a mega-church handbook, after all), but surely there is another way.
-Expanding on this last point, the book supports women serving as pastors --No, not officially (de jure), but de facto. The book advocates giving women a shepherding title and even reciting vows in public worship for their duties/responsibilities in such a shepherding role. What else do you call this? This is an unfortunate, but clever way in which to practice and advocate the ordination of women while escaping the official censure/backlash that comes from actually admitting it. There are much better and more biblical resources out there for how to shepherd women and utilize the gifts of women for intentional shepherding in the local church.
-The authors assume a particular interpretation and application of Ephesians 4:12 ("equip the saints") that is outside of the reformed tradition, which I assumed was the theological standpoint of this book. This probably explains why the book basically advocates for hosts of unordained men and women to do the ground zero work of shepherding.

All that being said, the chapters by Witmer are actually very good, as well as the thesis (intentional shepherding) that he advocates. I also found the chapter on church planting to be largely helpful as well. Nevertheless, I'd steer clear of this one.
"