Henry Cloud’s Necessary Endings should be a top shelf resource for every ministry leader. That’s because pastors and others in ministry tend to struggle when the time comes to end something. The “something” may be a program that needs to close or a staff member that isn’t meeting expectations. In any case, failure to reach an ending comes at a high cost, both personally and organizationally. 

The necessity of endings is not a new idea for me. What I particularly like about Cloud’s book is that he thoughtfully and thoroughly addresses the topic. He builds a compelling case for the importance of endings and the benefits of making these difficult decisions. He offers helpful ways to determine if an ending is really necessary. And he offers concrete steps for how to handle an ending well.

One of the book’s most powerful concepts is the characterization of people as wise, foolish, or evil. In Cloud’s framework, wisdom is not the same as intelligence. “Wisdom is a stance that people take wherein they are open to hearing the truth … Such people take feedback, correction, and training well.” Cloud later explains, “In contrast, the fool adjusts the truth so he has to do nothing different. He is never wrong; someone else is.” Cloud then explains how each of these personality types requires a different approach.

Cloud uses a variety of illustrations to show how endings apply in personal relationships, organizational decisions, employment situations, and more. You may think that endings are always cold and callous, but Cloud presents them in a way that is caring and life-giving. 

But most importantly, endings open up new possibilities for individuals and organizations. As Cloud explains, “Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be, never accomplishing all that their talents and abilities should afford them.” If you’re feeling stuck in some part of your life or ministry, is it possible that an ending is necessary?

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