This is such a provocative book. The premise is that we need to own some responsibility over the outcomes (not simply inputs) of our ministry. Andrew Heard challenges our idol of ‘just be faithful’ which, he says, is limiting our effectiveness in reaching the lost.
I found the tone of the book gentle but urgent.

This isn’t a how-to book, but a why-to book. Packed full of Scriptural quotations and theological reasoning, Andrew Heard models what he is advocating. This is a manifesto for theologically grounded, mission-minded and pragmatically diligent Christian ministry. Even if you might disagree with Andrew on a particular point of ecclesiological theory or ministry practice, the first-principles approach ensures its relevance and usefulness. A gospel goad to experienced ministers, and a useful training tool for leadership teams and ministry trainees.

—Mikey Lynch, Editorial Director for The Gospel Coalition Australia and AFES Hobart staff team leader.

EV is a direct reminder and demonstration of the power of Christ to work through a ministry team and grow both the number and passion of His disciples.

Very grateful to Andrew, Geoff and the team who brought it to publication. An easy read and very challenging both to lay people to follow and pastors to lead with an expectation of results.

Am sharing it with our pastoral team at an inner-Sydney Anglican church who already have a strong disciple-making focus as I believe it will both encourage existing efforts and help break through some remaining barriers.

May the Lord continue to bless your work and that of Matthias Media in publishing such excellent work.

The main point of this book is "to create a passion for growth and a heart that is willing to bear the pain of change" where "our passion for growth ... must express itself in a humble, sober and appropriate concern for numbers" but not for pride, but since the gospel / church is a lifeboat to a dying world!

Not at all pragmatic (except the last two chapters where he makes a challenging case for a 50 hour work week with one clear day of rest (starting the evening before)) but so helpful anyway. It's refreshing to read even while challenging me. Keen to see its impact in a month's time in how it has made me "change" even as a bible college student, ready for change for the rest of my ministry life.

Also helped me amidst discouragement about lack of fruit in evangelism. Thank God I am not called to be Isaiah, who preaches with no hope of a response. But the new covenant "This salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen. This is the age of reaping."

Highly recommend all Christian ministers / trainees read. Especially chapter 2, 8 & 10 (although all are very readable, doesn't take too long to read the whole book)

A powerful appeal for all of us serving Jesus to keep priorising the main thing, putting our energy our churches and our ministry structures into effective and fruitful gospel proclamation.
The deep use of scripture helps reset our priorities on the main thing, providing by example a way to pastorally use the word and prayer to push our ministries on without falling into simplistic frameworks or quick fix methods.
My e-book is well highlighted, and I look forward to being refreshed and challenged by it again in the future.