Church Revitalization Book Review: Smooth Sailing, How to Avoid Storms in Your Ministry

Jerry Wilkins is one of us, having served as the associational missionary for the Tuscaloosa County Baptist Association for 28 years. During that time, Jerry developed a reputation for excellence in leadership and ministry, one who defined and practiced the A-B-Cs for church health. 

Like the biblical book of Proverbs, Jerry’s book is filled with salient points of wisdom: 60 in all. Gleaning from his experience of working with 80 churches and 400 ministers, Jerry has near-Solomonic advice, do’s and don’ts of effective leadership. Church revitalization is dependent on leadership: both clergy and lay.

Some examples of the words of wisdom:

  • Storm 7: Balance: “A minister must lead his church forward in all the church’s ministries, not just the one the minister enjoys most.”
  • Storm 9: Criticism: “Criticism is part of the ministry … Look at criticism as helpful … Thank the one who criticizes you.”
  • Storm 14: Vision: “Many leaders slide into a ‘reactive’ leadership role rather than a proactive role, simply because of the fear of failure.”
  • Storm 33: 47,000 Words a Day: “Too much talking could be the thunder that precedes a storm …Some ministers just talk way too much.”

This is just a sample of the words of wisdom that can make for an effective ministry and a healthy church: 60 storms and far more than 60 ways to navigate away from shipwreck and toward church revitalization.


State Missionary Dale Huff serves as director of the Office of LeaderCare & Church Administration. He may be contacted at 334-613-2316, [email protected].

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