InvestorDictionary.com
HomeDictionaryCategoriesBooks
Search for Terms:  
Browse by Category:  
Browse:  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  # 
  Search:       

Listening and Caring Skills in Ministry: A Guide for Pastors, Counselors, and Small Groups

by John S. Savage

List Price:$17.00
Amazon Price:$11.56 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
You Save:$5.44 (32%)
Average Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Lowest New Price:$10.22
Availablitiy:Usually ships in 24 hours

Buy Now!


Editorial Reviews
Product Description
John Savage offers nine specific, definable, and teachable techniques to improve communication. He delineates his own proven successful program of training in the non-profit/business arena for listening skills, and also includes exercises and examples of techniques taken from congregational situations.


All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:4 out of 5 stars
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsHelpful tool for pastoral newcomers, 2008-08-02
In general, research showed that (besides reading, writing, and speaking) listening is used the most on daily communication. But even though most of us spend the majority of our day listening, it is the communication activity that receives the least instruction in school, seminary, or at university. Listening not only communicates importance and respect it is also a very important skill for pastoral caregivers. JOHN SAVAGE's book Listening & Caring Skills demonstrates that listening and other caring skills can be learned and they can be perfected.

JOHN SAVAGE's book is divided into three main parts: (1) "Basic listening skills for ministry", (2) "Hearing the story", and (3) "Advanced listening skills for ministry". After studying the eleven chapters of the book I come to the result that I benefit mostly from the first two parts of the book. Part three includes issues for future or more advanced learning experiences.

Trough studying JOHN SAVAGE's book I learned about the gap that might be created in interpersonal communications and how this cap can be closed. I learned the skills of paraphrasing, asking productive questions, and how to make a perception check. In general, I have to be careful not to enter a conversation with preconceived ideas about the other person or his topic of discussion. Once I have a preconceived idea in mind, it's almost impossible to hear what the other person is really saying, because my preconceptions act as a filter, and I might only hear what supports my preconceptions. My developments in these areas are shown in my verbatim, verbatim alternative, and case study. I also became more and more aware of my own feelings and emotions. I understood the nature of emotions and how better to manage them.

I benefited a lot from chapter 3 and 7 of the book about behavior descriptions and expression of feelings. I experienced these skills as very helpful in situations of silence. It was a way to express my observations or feelings and to check back if my perceptions correspond with the patient's situation. In most cases it was a way to continue the conversation with the patient - sometimes on a deeper level.
As a foreign student (German) the first seven chapters were also very helpful for me because they really offered some concrete instructions how to try the skills (e.g. perception check: stem + feeling word(s) + context + question).

Chapter 5 (= fogging) and 6 (= negative inquiry) represented more general communication skills. They were helpful during our group discussions and covenant group. I benefit from chapter 8 (= story listening) and chapter 9 (= story polarization listening) during our story theology seminar and especially while I was reflecting my own case study about a cancer patient with chemotherapy.

Finally, I can really recommend JOHN SAVAGE's book Listening & Caring Skills for newcomers in pastoral ministry. You will benefit from this book in every area of pastoral care. It supported me a lot in reaching my learning goals and I am thankful that my CPE supervisor recommended this book to me.



2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1 out of 5 starsNot the best book on the shelf, 2008-02-20
I used this book in a Course of Study class at Claremont School of Theology. However, I have taught most or all of the precepts that Mr. Savage would have you think are his own but have been in numerous other books and publications since I was in graduate school in the middle 70's. While the ideas are good, his presentation leaves many holes in the concepts and is not nearly as thorough as it should be. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is serious about counseling at anytime. There are many, many books on the market that are much better.


3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsVery helpful and practical for pastoral ministry!, 2006-11-09
I used this book while on Clinical Pastoral Education and serving as a chaplain in a hospital. It was VERY helpful in teaching me skills and techniques for active listening. So often, when having a conversation, my emotions and thoughts tend to guide and influence our talk, but this book helps one to listen not only to the words of the other, but to their feelings, and also to recognize the feelings that are stirring within yourself, to most effectively identify the emotions and needs of the other.

I also purchased this for my dad who is a Stephen Minister and he has scoured it over and over finding very helpful advice in his ministry.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in counseling or pastoral studies!!!


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 starsThis book is for everyone who wants better listening skills, 2006-03-08
This book is not just for Pastors, Counselors and Small Groups. Skills learned from this book are for all of us who want to improve and getting better at communication in our daily lives. I highly recommend attending the Listening Lab based on this book if there is one available in your town, churches or support group, especially for extravert folks since we are apt to talk more than to listen. Mr. John Savage is a loving, compassionate teacher, and his teaching, on listening skills, is God's gift to all of us. Thank you Mr. Savage for imparting your wonderful skills and knowledge.

I have the privilege of listening to Mr. John "Tim" Savage teaching and meeting him in person, and I am looking forward to more blessed opportunities to listen to Mr. Savage's teaching in the years to come. THANK YOU!



9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4 out of 5 starsListening for the Story, 2003-01-08
I keep returning to the skills I learned from this book, especially listening for metaphors in stories and dealing with criticism or hostile comments. The advice is applicable to counselors from a wide variety of religious traditions.




Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Store Categories
Accounting
Bonds
Commodities
Economics
Finance & Investing
Financial Store
Futures
Insurance
Mutual Funds
Options
Real Estate
Retirement Planning
Stock Market
Taxes
Technical Analysis
Trading

Related Products



Browse:  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  # 
The Financial Ad Trader
Copyright © 2008 InvestorDictionary.com - All rights reserved.