Augustine As Mentor A Model For Preparing Spiritual Leaders

Augustine as Mentor: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders By Edward L. Smither Nashville, TN: B H Academic, 2009, 272 pp, $14.74 paperback. Edward L. Smither, a gifted writer and scholar in historical theology and intercultural studies, and professor at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, has given the present-day pastor a useful tool to aid in the area of mentoring in Augustine as Mentor. He authored this book with the intentions of helping other spiritual leaders in the area of mentoring. Whether it is mentoring others or having a mentor for themselves, there are pastors and other spiritual leaders today that are spiritually lonely in their walk with Christ, and this book is meant to be a motivational tool to prompt positive actions from these types of spiritual leaders. It is a popular believe that no man is an island. In his book, Smither builds upon this idea by talking about the ways that Augustine used mentoring to help him become more mature in Christ, as well as to help support those whom he mentored. According to Smither, there are many spiritual leaders who â€Å"are struggling in isolation without a pastor to nurture their souls† (p. v). This is more common in western societies and Smither mentions that â€Å"unless they encounter a radical change, [these leaders] will not finish the race† (p. v). The purpose of this book review is to study and analyze Augustine’s model of mentoring and discuss how it can be applied to pastoring today. The book begins with a bold