What makes Christian ministry Christian?Theologian Andrew Purves explores at the deepest level the true and essential nature of Christian ministry. By comparison, the way ministry is often approached, in practice and in training, is severely lacking and profoundly misleading. This misapprehension explains the crisis in pastoral work we currently face. Rooting our church service in Christ's own continuing ministry, Purves provides a vision for students and practicing clergy to reclaim the vital connection between Christ and our participation in his ministry today, even if it means we have to let Christ himself put to death our own ministries to which we cling so closely.A radical appraisal for a critical malady affecting the life of the Christian church.Market/AudiencePastorsStudentsFeatures and BenefitsProvides a clear-cut analysis of the nature of ministry that gets below the superficial critiques and moves beyond simplistic techniquesA valuable resource for students starting out in Christian ministryAn encouraging and even prophetic analysis of what's gone wrong so often in our contemporary approaches to Christian ministry