ChristianityTodayBookAwardsMeritwinner“AstheFatherhassentme,soIsendyou.“ThoseofuscalledtoChristianministryarecommissionedandsentbyJesus,justashehimselfwascalledandsentbytheFather.ThuswenaturallypatternourministriesafterChrist’sexample.ButdistinctivelyChristianserviceinvolvestheSpiritaswell,justasJesushimselfaccomplishedhisministryinthepoweroftheSpirit.ThusthewholeTrinity--Father,SonandHolySpirit--givesshapetotrulyauthenticChristianministry.ThoughasChristiansweallaffirmthedoctrineoftheTrinity,manyofusmightstruggletoexplainhowunderstandingtheTrinitycouldactuallyshapeourministry.StephenSeamandsdemonstrateshowafullyorbedtheologyoftheTrinitytransformsourperceptionandpracticeofvocationalministry.Theologicalconceptslikerelationalityandperichoresishavedirectrelevancetopastorallifeandwork,especiallyinunfoldingatrinitarianapproachtorelationships,serviceandmission.Athoroughlytrinitarianoutlookprovidesthefuelforourministry“ofJesusChrist,totheFather,throughtheHolySpirit,onbehalfofthechurchandtheworld.“Essentialreadingforpastors,parachurchworkers,counselors,missionaries,youthministersandallwhoarecalledtoanyvocationofChristianministry.
