Over the past few weeks, Xulon Press has participated in several events that were focused on reaching out to and connecting with pastors and church leaders. These events have given us the opportunity to hear the heart of church leaders and the ability to see how we can partner with them, accomplishing their goals for both their ministry and their book. Before I became the Sales Manager at Xulon Press, I was a church planter and a pastor for almost 20 years. I know firsthand what it is like to lead a congregation and yet still yearn to do more. I have always been convinced that God uses the messages and writings of pastors to help lead and direct Christians all around the world. Spending the last few weeks with these pastors showed me a couple of powerful points about the influence of books in ministry and the Kingdom of God:
- Books are being used to encourage, inspire and direct church leaders and pastors all around the world. One pastor I talked to referenced five different books that had directly impacted his walk with Christ and the ministry that he was leading. It is so apparent that books are still feeding the body of Christ and its leaders with much-needed instruction and inspiration. Some of the books these pastors mentioned were books I had never even heard of! I kept thinking, “I wonder if that author even knows that he influenced this leader’s life and ministry?”
- Books are expanding the ministry and reach of many church leaders and pastors today. There were several pastors that I met who had already self-published books with Xulon Press. Many of them shared that since self-publishing, they have seen their ministry and impact within God’s Kingdom grow. One pastor shared that his walk with Christ was changed deeply, simply due to the time he spent writing. He said it best: “You can’t write a book for God without it changing you first.”
- Books are being used by pastors and leaders to pass on a spiritual legacy to the next generation. One of the lead speakers said that he felt the books he was writing would be used to minister to the next generation. Whether the book contained a message to help future leaders avoid the pitfalls he had personally experienced or just provided another voice of inspiration, he believed the books he was writing would live on after he was gone.
- Books are being used to bless, inspire, instruct and even correct the Body of Christ. There will never be, nor should there ever be, any substitute for the Bible. The Bible is the inspired word of God and there is nothing that we could ever write that could ever come close. With that said, God still uses the writings of His servants to help others learn to trust and follow Him. My own library at home is full of the writings of Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray and many more. I personally have been mentored by a lot of men and women whom I have never met. How? By reading their testimonies and stories. Books are still one of the most significant ways that Christians are inspired and taught how to follow Christ.
- Most pastors never dreamed they’d be an author—until they wrote their first book. I spoke with many pastors over the past few weeks who never thought they would write a book. Whether it was fear of failure, lack of time or just doubt, these pastors never thought they would be published. I met a pastor last week who had several books available at one of the conference tables at an event; he said that it took encouragement and a challenge from his wife to start the process. I hear stories like his all the time: “I would like to write a book but I don’t know if I can.” Did you know that most books written by pastors were actually birthed in a sermon before becoming a book? At Xulon Press, we’re expanding our services to help pastors and speakers turn their most inspiring messages into books for people to read.
I believe the best is yet to come as we work to help Christian authors and pastors reach the world with their work and their message. You never know how God will use your book, but know this: “A book can impact 10,000 lives, or it can impact one person who impacts 10,000 lives.” Either way, to touch the first life it must be written. Let us help you to do that this year.
