The last couple of weeks I’ve had the opportunity to read my Pastor, Brian Bloye, and his wife Amy’s first book; “It’s Personal.”
Brian and Amy tell the story of planting a church in a very candid way. After over 14 years of Pastoring the same church, and one that has grown to nearly 5,000 people every week, it would be easy to share all the highs and victories that come with a startup. Brian is too honest to do that. I’ve been around a lot of leaders in my life both in business and in church. Brian remains the most humble and authentic leader I’ve ever encountered. In this book he remains that by sharing many of the ministry challenges he has encountered. Beyond that, Brian and Amy go to the next level by sharing how planting a church has impacted their marriage, their finances, their parenting, and general sanity.
If you are praying about starting a church, reading this book is a MUST! I’d like to tell you this is just a book about Church Planting, but I can’t do that. Because Brian and Amy are willing to weave in the behind the scenes, real world challenges, the book becomes about anyone who is striving to lead, to entrepreneur, to Parent, to love their spouse, and still keep your character intact.
My wife and I were a part of Brian and Amy’s launch team in 1997. I am three months shy of my own 15 year journey of being a part of this church and their leadership. I knew most of the stories, and have heard a lot of the advice and insights in my years hanging out with these guys. Even for someone like me this was a great book to read. I love the format. From the moment you start reading you feel like you are sitting down and just having a ‘Personal’ conversation. One moment they are talking to each other, and the next they are talking to the reader with interactive ease.
When you get the opportunity to sit down with someone who has been where you want to go in life and leadership you do that. You’d be crazy not to! This book gives you the opportunity to do that very thing.
You can download it on Kindle by going here; It’s Personal: Surviving and Thriving on the Journey of Church Planting (Exponential Series)
If you live in Northwest Atlanta and attend West Ridge Church you can pick one up at one of our locations this Sunday, April 29th. All the proceeds from sales go to fund wells in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
It’s still personal,
Paul

