December 31, 2005 4:49 AM

Isolation | Book Review

In this book, Dr. Shelley Trebesch describes a common experience of Christian leadership, which she gives the label “isolation”. This need not refer to physical isolation — one may understand it figuratively as well. It may include “isolation, conflict, and life crises” which “deepen a leader’s relationship with God”.

Trebesch states that “more than 90% of leaders will face one or more important isolation times in their lives”. While most “do not negotiate these times very well”, she believes that “knowing about them and what God can accomplish in them” can be of great help to a leader. Essentially, the book is about perspective.

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF THE BOOK?

One of the great strengths of the book (a mere 76 pages, plus Appendix) is its description of the isolation process, and tying this in to the experience of Bible characters and well known Christian leaders.

Trebesch writes with liveliness and skill about the isolation experiences of Bible characters (Joseph, Moses, Elijah, the Israelites, Jesus, and Paul), and well known Christian leaders (Amy Carmichael, Samuel Brengle, Watchman Nee, case studies “Kathy” and “Jim”, as well as herself). She highlights key features of these isolation experiences, and points out that they are “never a waste of time”. Rather they form trust in God, bring intimacy with Him, and happen in preparation for further ministry.

As one example, we find Moses, who was a man of “arrogance and self-confidence”, set aside for forty years in the land of Midian. But after this time, we discover “a transformed Moses — from one who confidently took matters into his own hands to a reluctant leader who learns how to trust God”. His character is transformed, he is prepared for ministry, he has acquired vital knowledge of the desert, and he has an increased intimacy with God.

Trebesch suggests six pointers for such times of isolation: be honest about the situation you find yourself in, remember what God has taught you so far, be aware that God routinely deals with leaders in this way, find a discerning mentor to walk with you, listen to the voice of God, and embrace the time of isolation with “all that God has for you”.

WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES OF THE BOOK?

Trebesch uses a metaphor for the work that God does during isolation times. Her grandfather and she decided to refurbish an old chair. This chair had “layer after layer of different coloured paint”, which needed to be stripped down to the original wood. After much hard work, “finally I had reached the real wood of the chair — a beautiful oak . . . The Lord does this same type of process with us as we are in isolation.”

In keeping with this, Trebesch writes: “In actuality [leaders] become more who they truly have been created to be.” The problem with many leaders who run into trouble is that they have “forsaken their own identity”. Ministry is a reflection of “who the leader is”. One ministers “out of being”.

Ministry “out of being” would seem to suggest that I accomplish the results of ministry through God in me. By way of contrast, Trebesch rejects ministry “through doing” (one might say “by works”), which would suggest that I myself seek to accomplish the results of ministry. Yet there may be a third possibility, or a complementary one — namely ministry “by grace”, which would mean that God accomplishes works through me and around me, despite me.

I might prefer the metaphor (an Australian one) of “white-anting”. White ants eat wood hollow, so that, while it looks all right on the surface, to the touch it may crumble. Many Christian leaders reach the point where they are white-anted. There seems to be nothing left beneath the paint that may be recovered — therefore “stripping” may not seem to apply. Could it be that, ultimately, every Christian leader is inadequate to ministry, and is truly empty — yet in that situation, Christ is exalted through faith.

SYNTHESIS

All in all, the central theme of the book seemed most worthwhile, and the various analyses of isolation experiences, and the spiritual benefits which Trebesch traced through various people’s lives, were convincing. Since this book is published by a smaller publisher in California, I have included full details in the Citation of References below.

CITATION OF REFERENCES

Trebesch, Shelley. Isolation: A Place Of Tranformation In The Life Of A Leader. 2175 North Holliston Avenue, Altadena, California 91001, U.S.A.: Barnabas Publishers, 1997. Also available through Fuller Theological Seminary Bookstore. Student Price: US$8.00.

Thomas Scarborough is the minister of an Evangelical Congregational Church in Sea Point, Cape Town — by some accounts Africa’s most densely populated suburb. He is currently studying for a Master’s degree through Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena.