The Pursuit of Excellence Developing Your Personal Ministry

About the Book

“This book is about building Christian character and the development of one’s personal ministries, which includes integrity, commitment, dedication, and devotion. It assures believers that God will never take them any place in their ministries where they are forced to retreat.” Bishop Newman “Ministry is one of the most important assignments our Savior has commissioned to the church. Each member has an assigned purpose or call for the cause of Christ. How seriously you take that calling will determine your level of maturity as a believer. My father and I have devoted this text to helping believers achieve spiritual maturity. “Timothy Keller, in his book Ever Good Endeavor, says, ‘A story begins when something knocks life off balance. Then the progresses, of the plot “thickens,” as the protagonists struggle to restore that balance and peace while antagonistic forces block and resist them. Finally, the story ends as the struggle results in either the restoration of balance or the failure to recover it.’ That’s a good story! “As baptized believers, our lives have been knocked off balance by the wiles of the devil, and by grace, we are seeking restoration through the blood of Jesus, who was wounded for our transgression and bruised for our iniquities. Our strategy for restoration and development toward Christian maturity and Christlikeness must be based on our commitment, dedication, and devotion to the Will of God.” Pastor Israel E. Newman

About the Author

Bishop Leroy C. E. Newman has been a pastor of the Friendly Church of the Apostolic Faith and the general overseer of Friendly Church Ministries International for thirty-nine years. He holds a bachelor of science degree in sociology and a masters and PhD in the sociology of religion. He is a graduate of Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida. Born to sharecroppers, Bishop Newman worked in the farm with his grandparents, John and Rosa Lee. He is the oldest of eleven brothers and sisters. He owes his ministry development to his Aunt Millie, who introduced him to Christ. Bishop is married with three children of his own: Israel, Tramain, and Laroi. His wife, Mattie, is an accomplished soloist, who has two recordings of her own. In addition to the ministry, Bishop Newman is the vice president of educational services at Global Business Institute, where he has served for twenty-eight years. Bishop believes that commitment, dedication, and devotion turns vision into reality, and that God will never take you anywhere where you are forced to retreat.