This Is My Story: A Story of Life, Faith, and Ministry

by Paul Beasley-Murray, Paul Goodliff (Foreword by)

Overview

This Is My Story is an unusually fascinating account of one man's life. ·It is a story of the making of a man, initially written with grandchildren in mind--"Who was my grandfather? What kind of person was he?" ·At another level it is a story of a growing faith, telling how amidst the ups and down of life he has remained a "soft-hearted" pilgrim. ·At yet another level it is a story of the making of a leader who never stopped learning how to lead, care, preach, and engage in effective mission. ·Perhaps even more significantly, it is also a story of a ministry, in which the author never lost his sense of delight and privilege in his calling to be a pastor. ·Finally, as one who has at time been at the center of controversy, it is an opportunity to tell "my side of the story." This is a book for pastors--and for any Christian--who wants the "inside story" of the pains and triumphs of a Christian leader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532647987
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	06/28/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	254
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Paul Beasley-Murray is chairman of the College of Baptist Ministers, a prolific author and popular blogger. Under his leadership his two churches were transformed into strong, vibrant, growing communities. When principal of Spurgeon’s College, student numbers doubled as new patterns of training were introduced. Married to Caroline, the 2018/2019 president of the Coroners Society of England and Wales, they have four children and seven grandchildren. See paulbeasleymurray.com.

Paul Beasley-Murray is senior minister at a thriving Baptist church in southern England. He has served as a missionary in Congo (Zaire) and as principal of Spurgeon's College in London.
Paul Goodliff is Minister of Abingdon Baptist Church, Oxfordshire, and Associate Research Fellow at Spurgeon's College, London. He has pastored churches in London and Stevenage; been General Superintendent of the Baptist Union's Central Area and its Head of Ministry. He is a visiting lecturer in various colleges, teaching ecclesiology, pastoral and sacramental theology, and the author of books on pastoral care, shame, and ministry.

Table of Contents

Foreword Paul Goodliff xi

Preface xv

1 My Parents 1

2 The Pastors Kid (1944-1950) 10

3 Tutor's Son (1950-1956) 14

4 Switzerland Breath of Fresh Air (1956-1958) 21

5 Principal's Son Narrow Place (1958-1962) 28

6 Germany and Time for God (1962-1963) 38

7 Cambridge Halcyon Days (1963-1967) 44

8 The Blossoming of Romance and the Celebrating of a Marriage (1964-1967) 54

9 Jesus Is Lord The Research Years (1967-1970) xi

10 The Heart of Africa Congo/Zaire (1970-1972) 69

11 Turning the Tide in Altrincham (1973-1986) 79

12 Principal under Pressure Spurgeon's College (1986-1992) 98

13 New Door of Opportunity Opens (1992) 128

14 Building for the Future in Chelmsford (1993-2014) 132

15 Ministry Today (1994-2018) 167

16 The College of Baptist Ministers (2014-) 173

17 New Beginnings (2014-) 179

18 Ministry Convictions: Final Reflections (2018) 192

19 This Is My Story Praising My Savior (1944-) 201

Appendices

1 My Leadership Style 203

2 Preparing Men and Women for Ministry 212

3 My Dream of a Church 218

4 Why Am a Christian 222

Bibliography 229

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Reading the life story of Paul Beasley-Murray is like reading a novel. The book takes you through the ecstasies and agonies of a man who endeavored to be faithful as a pastor, a missionary, and the leader of a theological college. You’ll give this book two thumbs up.”

—Tony Campolo, Author of Red Letter Christians: A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics



“Paul Beasley-Murray has been a significant figure in British Baptist life, and beyond, for the past fifty years. I learned much from my time ministering alongside him as assistant pastor. As always with Paul, reading about his life in his own words has been entertaining. He and I don’t agree on everything, but I count it a privilege to have known him and worked with him.”

—Glen Marshall, Co-Principal, Northern Baptist College



“This Is My Story is not only an autobiography that helps us to see the real PBM and his too often misunderstood motivation for Christ and his mission. It is also a valuable resource for pastors in practical ministry and leadership. It is a highly accessible and interesting insight into a life lived to the full, and dedicated to the good news of Jesus.”

—Anne Wilkinson-Hayes, Former Head of Mission, Baptist Union of Victoria, Australia

Editorial Reviews

Reading the life story of Paul Beasley-Murray is like reading a novel. The book takes you through the ecstasies and agonies of a man who endeavored to be faithful as a pastor, a missionary, and the leader of a theological college. You’ll give this book two thumbs up.”

—Tony Campolo, Author of Red Letter Christians: A Citizen’s Guide to Faith and Politics



“Paul Beasley-Murray has been a significant figure in British Baptist life, and beyond, for the past fifty years. I learned much from my time ministering alongside him as assistant pastor. As always with Paul, reading about his life in his own words has been entertaining. He and I don’t agree on everything, but I count it a privilege to have known him and worked with him.”

—Glen Marshall, Co-Principal, Northern Baptist College



“This Is My Story is not only an autobiography that helps us to see the real PBM and his too often misunderstood motivation for Christ and his mission. It is also a valuable resource for pastors in practical ministry and leadership. It is a highly accessible and interesting insight into a life lived to the full, and dedicated to the good news of Jesus.”

—Anne Wilkinson-Hayes, Former Head of Mission, Baptist Union of Victoria, Australia

From the Publisher