Book review: New Life in the Wasteland by Dr. Douglas Kelly

New Life in the Wasteland: 2 Corinthians on the cost of Christian ministry
by Dr. Douglas Kelly (Fearn, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2003.)

Reviewed by Rev. Kenneth McMullen, June 2011

This small book by Doug Kelly was published in 2003, but has not received nearly the attention that it deserves, perhaps due to the smaller publisher. This is one book on pastoral ministry though that every pastor ought to have, much along the lines of William Still’s The Work of the Pastor (Rev. Still was an influence on Dr. Kelly and is one of three men mentioned in the dedication).

The chapters of the book were originally thirteen lectures from 2 Corinthians given all across Scotland to pastors, and meant to encourage and instruct them for ministry. Most of the book of 2 Corinthians is covered, though not all (chapters 6, 7, 9, and 11 are skipped). While most chapters of the book deal with half or all of a chapter, chapter 11 of the book deals only with 2 Cor. 8:9, which indeed a pastor could meditate on for a lifetime and still not fully mine all of its implications for ministry.

Do not read this thinking it will be a commentary, for that was not its design, but neither think it to be along the lines of the trendy fluff-books on ministry that clutter so many Christian bookstores. Dr. Kelly’s scholarship is combined with his years of ministry experience in a way that students will recognize from his classroom immediately, for it truly is the distillation of a pastor-scholar’s heart.

On just the second page, the reader’s attention is grabbed when he says, “Often when the church seems buried and things seem most discouraging, God is working profoundly beneath the surface; I do not doubt that is happening in our culture in more respects than we may know today. …we need to consider the duties and possibilities of Christian ministry in what so many people call the ‘post-Christian culture.’” (10) He goes on to concisely but ably define the challenges of ministry in current Western culture.

Dr. Kelly does not minimize the cost of the calling of ministry, for the scriptures certainly do not do so. In fact, he points to several benefits of suffering for Christ, such as “suffering with and for Christ has a way of killing our self-centered thinking and leaving room for us to trust God who raises the dead.” (29). He goes on to deal with a pastor’s responsibility, integrity, and proper handling of the Word, as well as how to handle criticism.

If you are a pastor, you absolutely need this book on your shelves. This is one that demands more than one reading as well, and I do not often say that about books. It would certainly be beneficial to the elders of the church as well, but it’s main audience is currently serving pastors. Pastoral ministry books that are truly rooted in Scripture and sound theology are rare. This is gold that has been refined, and you will be blessed and encouraged by it.