The reality of leadership and the challenge for it to be transformed by the mind of Christ
For all those in leadership roles – big or small and those who support leaders in their work
*Published 1st January 2023
THE FIRE LILY
This book is a reflection of sixty years of life, with twenty years in business and twenty years as an ordained priest. Much of this experience has been in leadership roles, with all the trials and tribulations that occur alongside such pastoral duties, not to mention a thirty-five year marriage and a joint lifetime of faith in God.
The Fire Lily tackles the nature of sharing one’s mind with Jesus, how we can bring ourselves closer to God through sacrificial servanthood, and the true nature of loving unconditionally, without judgement or exclusions. At the same time, Martin takes a compassionate look at the faults in the modern institutional Church, and how it can fail both its members and its clergy in those times that matter the most.
It is not about the ideal or model of the perfect Christian life, though there is, of course, nothing wrong with striving towards a goal. Instead, it is as much as possible about reality, and how faith really works in times of stress. Still recovering from his own ordeals, Martin’s story shows that even through breakdown and burnout, a faith in God can see you through to the other side.
Illustrations by Cris Coe
christine.coe28@yahoo.com
About the author
Martin Thrower is an experienced leader with over twenty years working in the industry of horticulture and twenty years as an ordained parish priest in the Anglican Church. He has held many senior roles in both areas, together with sitting on a wide range of groups and committees of governance. He describes himself as an agent for change, relishing the opportunity for ‘blue sky thinking’ with a passion to communicate the Christian faith in a new way particularly to those who have no faith or who want to explore faith.
He has a continual developing Christian faith, based for over fifty years in the institutional church and latterly exercising and exploring what faith means in the culture in which we now live detached, from any institution. Unconditional love, acceptance, forgiveness and grace are essential to his belief and practice.
Whilst in his last role as a church leader, which included oversight of other parish priests and their churches he was diagnosed with a mental breakdown, particularly because of burnout caused by excessive stress which resulted in disastrous consequences. Following four years of recovery and healing, Martin has currently returned to ‘his roots’ in horticulture.
Illustrations by Cris Coe
christine.coe28@yahoo.com
For all those in leadership roles – big or small and those who support leaders in their work
*Published 1st January 2023