Running on Empty: The Gospel for Women in Ministry by Barbara Bancroft

You Are Not Fueled by Coffee, Sleep, or Approval As women, ministry pushes us to moments of insufficiency, exposes our weaknesses, and tests our patience. Some days it feels like a little more sleep, a lot more coffee, and a pat on the back might sustain us. But down deep, we know these things can never fuel our ministries. Positive without being cliché, Running on Empty presents the realities of vocational ministry with humor and hope. Author Barbara Bancroft draws from her experience as a missionary woman and pastor s wife to demonstrate how the gospel must be our message to ourselves as well as others. Along the way, she confronts the mythic ministry model of Proverbs 31 and other stereotypes and expectations that hinder women from enjoying and displaying the gospel each day. Running on Empty s down-to-earth, humorous writing style reaches out to weary women reluctant to read another book on ministry. Offering more than crisis management tips or how-tos, Running on Empty reorients women s hearts and minds to the joy of belonging to Christ and being a part of his kingdom work. Ideal for small group discussion or personal reflection, Running on Empty stretches beyond burnout prevention strategies all the way to joy and purpose in ministry.

Reviews

Barbara Bancroft urges us to live beyond the clichés we impose on ourselves in order to live in the freedom of the gospel that will set free the women and men we lead. --Bryan and Kathy Chapell Authors of Each for the Other: Marriage as It s Meant to Be

Barbara identifies the struggles of women in ministry and points to the Truth. To be comfortable in our own skin because of Jesus yes, it is possible. --Author; Ed and Sheri Welch; faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (Ed); administrator at Bridge Community Church, Glenside, PA (Sheri)

Author

Barbara Bancroft began ministry life with her husband Josiah in 1976. Since then she has worked with him in church planting, missions, and as a pastor's wife of a large church. While her husband Josiah oversees missions at Serge, Barbara mentors and encourages the many missionary women and pastors wives they meet with all over the world.