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Well-Intentioned Dragons: Ministering to Problem People in the Church | 
 enlarge | Author: Marshall, Shelley
Publisher: Bethany House
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $9.20
You Save: $5.79 (39%)
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Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 240937
Media: Paperback
Pages: 153
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5
ISBN: 1556615159
Dewey Decimal Number: 250
EAN: 9781556615153
ASIN: 1556615159
Publication Date: July 1, 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Every church has them sincere, well-meaning Christians who leave ulcers, strained relationships, and hard feelings in their wake. They don't intend to be difficult; they don't consciously plot destruction or breed discontent among the members. But they often do undermine the ministry of the church and make pastors question their calling.
Well-Intentioned Dragons guides those on church staffs in facing the strenuous task of dealing with difficult people even ministering while under attack. Based on real-life stories of battle-scarred veterans, Marshall Shelley presents a clear picture of God's love for those on both sides of the problem. He describes tested strategies to communicate that love and turn dissidents into disciples. Here is a book that will not only help pastors and church leaders preserve their sanity (and maybe their jobs); it will help them minister more effectively, even to those who make life difficult.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Well Intended Dragons: Ministering to Problem People in the Church September 21, 2007
Sherry Jones (Markham, IL, USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I liked this book. It really showed how church folk act in the church. I was shocked to read some of the testimonies of the pastors, but I believe every word they said because I have seen some church folk and had to deal with some church folk like those the pastors in the book had to deal with. This book is very interesting and I would highly recommend it.
A very good book indeed. March 16, 2006
Dennis E. Rhoads (Hattiesburg MS USA)
This book will help not only the pastor but the leadership of the church to better understand and then deal with "Well Intetioned Dragons" that all churches seem to have. The visual is not the problem. I would recommend it.
Pastor Rhoads
 A Ten Star Book for Every Christian Leader August 5, 2004
Roy Ingle (Augusta, GA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Every Christian leader must deal with those in the Church who simply believe God has called them to clean up the Church or be the believer who fights changes. Every pastor I know of (including myself) has had to deal with angry, bitter members who seem to fight with every person in the Church and fight any changes the church wants to make even if the changes are for the good of the church (such as evangelism of minorities). This book offers insights into these well intentioned dragons.
The book explores various accounts of pastors and church leaders in their almost daily struggles with dragons. These dragons have ruined pastors lives without knowing it and many have ruined entire ministries. Some of the stories end with a truce but many end with pastors leaving the church and the dragons continuing to tear down lives.
Over all, this book is great. It offers practical advice on how to deal with dragons and when is it time to go. The book is not a cure for dragons (I know because I gave this book to a dragon and he simply said, "Yes, we need to watch out for these types of people in the church") but it does give a leader comfort to know that their battle is not alone and that many other leaders are in the same struggle with well intentioned dragons.
Must-Read Classic on Church Conflict! May 30, 2004
David R. Bess (Charleston, WV)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I read this book when it was first published years ago, and have just finished reading it again. After twenty years of pastoral ministry, I find the conflict stories of well-intentioned dragons to ring true with my own experience. I can also see how the insights gained from reading this book the first time have helped me in dealing with many difficult church members I have encountered.Shelley's theme is found in one of his introductory remarks:
"The rest of this book deals with various kinds of dragons, their tactics, and the ways to handle them. But from the beginning a premise stands clear: the goal in handling dragons is not to destroy them, not merely to disassociate, but to make them disciples. Even when that seems an unlikely prospect" (p. 34). This book is directed towards pastors, but contains helpful lessons for all church leaders. I can't think of a better, more insightful title on church conflict. This one is essential reading for everyone who even occasionally has to respond to conflict within a congregation.
Excellent Case Studies February 2, 2001
Ethan E. Brown (Agawam, MA USA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Shelly's book ought to be assigned reading for anyone considering ministry or church leadership. The reality of conflict in churches is too often treated as a family secret of which Christians should be ashamed. Ministers who go into ministry unprepared for the difficult behavior may be devastated by it. Shelly's book shows you how truly bizarre and painful church conflicts can be. Furthermore, most church conflict resources are focused on problem driven conflict, rather than personality driven conflict. These types of conflicts call for different approaches and skills. If there is a weakness in Shelly's book, it is that it offers fewer solutions than might be desired. However, the vividness and reality of the situations, and the strength of the writing more than make up for this. A good companion book would be: Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behavior by Arthur Paul Boers.
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