Joyful Perseverance

Foreword

(wrote the foreword)

Thomas R. Schreiner

“What a lovely little book! I have a few books like this in my library that I return to often, so it is a delight to add to that collection this gentle encouragement to have a refreshing life, or maybe a life that is constantly being refreshed. Ajith Fernando will encourage you with his wisdom, from a lifetime on the front lines. I’m thankful for this gift to weary Christians.”

Paul E. Miller

“Joyful Perseverance is a gift that beautifully arises out of Ajith Fernando’s reflections on over forty years of Christian ministry. As it turns out, our ministries are not sustained by career advancements, titles, or platform opportunities. Rather, we persevere through union with Christ who grants us the deeper gifts of grace and gratitude in the midst of times of sorrow and lament. This book is a treasure for those who long for a ministry that is punctuated not by burnout and despair but instead by joyful perseverance in the presence of Christ.”

Timothy C. Tennent

“In Joyful Perseverance, Ajith Fernando describes what it means to live out the gospel in demanding times and dangerous places. This is a huge gift to us all. For over four decades, Fernando and I have journeyed together in ministry, which has given me the opportunity to know that what you read in this remarkable text has been tested. Fernando has been relentless in finding life and inspiration in the God he loves and serves. Now we in our own moments of trials and wanderings can join with him in discovering those sources of joy which give life to carry on.”

Brian C. Stiller

“My pastor once told me to choose a book by its author, and that advice has proved to be wise counsel. Ajith Fernando is someone I want to learn from, and in Joyful Perseverance, the allure of the subject combines with the authenticity of the author to make this book irresistible.”

Colin S. Smith

“Finishing well is perhaps the greatest desire, and the greatest challenge, in the life of any Christian leader. In Joyful Perseverance, Ajith Fernando distills over forty years of leadership experience to produce a volume of extraordinary biblical insight and practical wisdom for finishing well. Having known Fernando for over four decades as my mentor and friend, I’m thrilled that countless others can now benefit from the wisdom of a remarkable leader, whose authenticity and consistency some of us have been privileged to see up close and personally.”

Ivor Poobalan

“I love Ajith Fernando! His example of over forty years of joyful, sacrificial perseverance inspires me. God has enabled him to document his own experience of God’s grace in a way that invites readers to experience that grace afresh and to let it heal our wounds. Fernando, enabled by the Holy Spirit, sees the pastoral dimension of biblical texts that both diagnose and treat the perils that keep us from abiding in God’s grace. In addition to scriptural insights and candid recollections of his own shortcomings, Fernando, ever the reader, fills his pages with maxims and nuggets from the faithful, adding his own hard-won insights. With many words of wisdom, Fernando skillfully plies his trade as a physician of the soul and draws us back to our gracious God. Read it and rejoice; let the living Lord, our triune God, enable you to persevere.”

Greg R. Scharf

“Ajith Fernando is a remarkably gifted pastor and teacher, with considerable charisma. But what I love most in him is his deep and holy commitment to honor God. This book offers a window into his heart.”

Tim Stafford