What does it take to prepare for and maintain an effective pastoral ministry in 21st century America? Well, a theological education isn't a bad place to start (the authors of this book are products--and fans--of seminary education)! But while we encourage pastors to get all the formal education possible, we acknowledge that much learning critical to pastoral success never took place in a classroom, but in a community of our peers. That's where our book-learning was practically enhanced by the experiential wisdom of fellow pastors who warned us away from danger and pointed us in the right direction. What our friends did for us, we hope now to do for our readers!
Hence, Hobo Pastors. This book draws its unusual title from the rail-riding "hobos" of Great Depression era America. Those inveterate travelers faced many unpredictable dangers and demands as they rode the trains from one place to another. They naturally came to rely on friends who had gone ahead and left helpful signs to guide them.
In this book, we write as a couple of veteran pastor hobos leaving helpful "signs" for our younger compadres as they ply the rails of as yet under-explored pastoral territory. Some of the signs relate to the core tasks of pastoral ministry -- preaching, funerals, and marriage counseling. Other signs address some the more jarring aspects of ministry, like change management and negotiating conflict. Many of the signs speak to the inescapable prerequisites of character-- fighting pride and pursuing humility, fighting sloth and pursuing perseverance.
With each chapter, one of us highlights a significant pastoral challenge and the other adds their two cents. We hope our readers will receive this back-and-forth dialogue as a "hobo signs" lovingly placed before you by a couple of old pastoral rail-riders!
About The Authors:
Dr. Eric Andrew McQuitty (Pastor Andy) earned his Th.M at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1987 and his D.Min in 1996. He served as Sr. Pastor at Irving Bible Church for 32 years and became Pastor Emeritus at his retirement in 2019. Andy married his wife, Alice, in 1978 and is Dad to 5 wonderful children and Pops to 6 absolutely exceptional grandchildren. Andy founded Kaleo Collective in 2022 to provide spiritual encouragement and advice on best leadership practices to pastors across the nation through ongoing Zoom communities of their peers. Andy has previously published three books: Notes from the Valley: A Spiritual Travelogue through Cancer, The Way to Brave: Shaping a David Faith in Our Goliath World, and Your Best Life Later: What Every Daughter and Son Need to Know.
Larry Parsley is a Clinical Professor of Christian Ministry and the Director of Mentoring for Baylor's Truett Seminary. He joined the faculty in the summer of 2023 after serving as senior pastor of Valley Ranch Baptist in Coppell (a suburb of Dallas) for over 23 years. He is a contributor and speaker for Mockingbird Ministries and writes for Christianity Today's Preaching Today.
You may also contact Andy and Larry at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.
