"He sat staring blankly into space as he talked about his hollow dreams for his church. Sometimes he stuttered. Often his sermons became erratic; he forgot committee meetings and couldn't sleep.

The congregation had requested that he be removed from the church." What had happened to change this young pastor who had begun his ministry with such evangelistic zeal and enthusi asm? According to Rediger, the answer is "clergy burnout," a condition occurring in the leadership of the church and one which has significant effects on the persons involved as well as on the church as a whole. In his book he speaks about this serious condition so many pastors are experiencing, describes the waming signs, and presents practical recovery and prevention strategies. For every pastor who finds his or her energy running low, Rediger's program of physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness can help you regain your perspective on yourself as a person and on the job God has called you to do. He helps you understand the "burn-out" syndrome, provides guidelines for evaluating your own sit uation, and offers a definite course of action which will avoid the high stress factors causing this disabling condition. "Burnout" could have long-range consequences for many pastors and churches. This book may be one the the most important resources you will ever read to bring your ministry into focus. It can be a major contribution to the success and growth of a positive, productive