Letters to a Young Pastor

Timothy Conversations Between Father and Son

By: Eric E. Peterson, Eugene H. Peterson

Narrated by: Eric E. Peterson

Have you ever felt in over your head? When Eric Peterson became the pastor of a brand-new church, he quickly and wisely turned to his dad for guidance. Eugene Peterson, author of more than 30 books, including his best-selling memoir The Pastor and his groundbreaking Bible The Message, here reflects on pastoral ministry in all its complexity - from relationships to administration to the sheer audacity of leading God’s people in a particular place. This is Eugene Peterson at his best - lifelong wisdom written with deep love.

As the listener, you will glimpse into the tender, witty, personal side of Eugene mentoring his own son. These intimate letters will be treasured by all and are applicable to church leaders around the globe.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2020 Eric E. Peterson (P)2020 Oasis Audio

wisdom from Eugene Peterson

Eugene Peterson writes letters to his pastor son, fairly openly sharing his disappointments and hopes as he observes the American church in his later years. it's quite good - quite Petersonian!

Refreshing

A very enjoyable read. Vulnerable, refreshing and delightful. It was nice to put a “face” to the writer of “The Message” Bible

Grounding and humbling

Eugene never desired to be a “big deal” in this world; however, he relentlessly fought to stay relational and grounded in the resurrection each and every day. There’s something to be said about a life lived with an astonishing biblical imagination, but the contentment to never strive for “success”. This book grounds me in my true identity and leaves me with an ambition to live a quiet, humble life.

This is a healing book.

This is a healing book.

In these letters from Eugene Peterson to his son Eric, I encountered a love I long to receive and extend. These letters are a balm for shepherds who have been bruised and battered--because often in the American church when you choose to be a shepherd instead of a shiny leader to follow and applaud, you get kicked, or cast out, or neglected by the very system you are giving your life to nurture. Weary shepherds, I think you'll find that the hard choices you have made to seek integrity and love will be honored and affirmed by Peterson's kind, honest words to his son.

As a therapist and author, I view all of my work as pastoral, shepherding work--the work of paying attention to people as the holy and beloved children of God they are. In this peek into Peterson's life, I felt strengthened and renewed in the necessity and goodness of my own vocation. Whether hearing him talk about his writing process (he sometimes had a meager 500 words-a-day goal too!) or hearing him describe the slowness of change in the human soul, I was refreshed for the long road of obedience and joy ahead.

As a daughter, Peterson's love and respect for his adult son filled me with hope for the way family can be. The gap between what is and what could be can be a source of envy, or it can be a holy hope. Eugene's simple, consistent love for Eric felt like a foretaste of what God is creating between parents and their children as we choose to honor those we love with sacred attention for them as beloved, holy children of the living God.

I'm so grateful to have been given a glimpse into such a beautiful relationship and to have been given even more of a vision for what the body of Christ can be on earth today.

(My only negative on the audio version is that Eric’s diction felt a little unnatural. It was distracting at first, but I got used to it. And the final minute, getting to hear Eugene read from the last letter himself—that alone is worth having the audiobook. It’s beautiful.)

Beautiful

This book came at the perfect time for me as a pastor. I highly recommend every pastor lean in to this beautiful conversation between 2 pastors, father and son.