About the Book
Whatever you may think about the 'typical' pastor, throw it out. Do they make mistakes, bad decisions, commit sin and experience severed relationships? Yes to all of those and Greg Surratt isn't perfect as he proves in the stories that have strengthened his faith. He writes that the choice to follow Christ is never clean, is often scary, is usually clothed in mystery and is always an adventure. For some people, God appears in dark, dirty, lonely, or plain odd places - he found God while under a grand piano and so began a life of sharing stories of God's endlessly creative and often surprising work and seeing God's transforming power in unexpected ways. Despite years of ministry, Greg never underestimates the power of divine/human encounters in some of the least 'churchy' places on earth. Humorous, insightful and challenging, this is a revealing and joyous look at real-life Christian living. As Greg himself affirms, if God can use his missteps and blunders, God can use anybody
About the Author :
Greg Surratt is the founding pastor of Seacoast Church (www.seacoast.org), a trendsetting, multisite church. An Oklahoma native, he lives in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, with his wife, Debbie and has four children and seven grandchildren.
Review :
" IR-REV-REND is a delightful adventure shown through a prism of honesty and conviction through which the joys of serving the Lord are made so much clearer."--Matthew Barnett, Co-founder of the Dream Center
"Blatantly honest, refreshingly authentic, and continually comedic."--Pete Wilson, founding senior pastor at Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN
"Greg Surratt is one of the great pastors in the modern day church. This book is a must read. Thanks Greg for sharing it with us all."--Jonathan Falwell, Pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
"Greg Surratt is one of the most effective pastors I've met building a church and then sending it out to minister in the community. A great model. He shares a lot of his common sense, down to earth wisdom in this book. Good advice for the church, and a good read."--Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship
"Greg Surratt is one of the most life-giving and wise leaders I know. He brings that insight and wisdom to this terrific book."--Jud Wilhite, senior pastor at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV, and author of Throw It Down
"Greg Surratt is really qualified to write this book. He is sincere, humble and without pretense."--Brady Boyd , New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Author of Fear No Evil
"Greg Surratt's stories of faith and ministry will leave you wanting more, and not just more of Greg's stories, but also more of the God behind the stories."--Larry Osborne, Author and pastor, North Coast Church, Vista, CA
"I can tell you this: Greg Surratt is one of the good guys. He communicates by telling stories--natural, unpretentious, useful parables of real faith."--Bob Buford, Founder and Chairman, Leadership Network and author of Halftime
"I get the chance to hang with a lot of Pastors and there are very few that I know who are as 'real' as Greg Surratt. You will find this book refreshingly honest and encouraging. Everyone needs an 'Ir-Rev-Rend' in their life."--Mark Batterson, pastor at National Community Church, and author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
"In a world where most people think they gain credibility by hiding their imperfections, Greg Surratt turns that myth on its head with IR-REV-REND. Hang on for the ride because there are bumps, but they are really great bumps."--Phil Cooke, Media consultant, filmmaker, and author of Jolt
"IR-REV-REND is a refreshing read. Greg Surratt's ability to tell a story is uncanny. His life-changing wisdom and sidesplitting humor will keep you captivated."--Craig Groeschel, Life Church TV
"IR-REV-REND was very entertaining and yet challenging at the same time. It draws you in and it is hard to put down."--Martha K. Fry, minister of creative arts, C3 Church
"IR-REV-REND will challenge the way you live out your faith--all while putting a grin on your face."--Ed Stetzer, vice president of research and ministry development for LifeWay Christian Resources
"IR-REV-REND will push you to a place of real, raw life-changing faith."--Steven Furtick, pastor at Elevation Church, and author of Sun Stand Still
"Oh my gosh! Put down everything else and read this book. You will laugh through it, cry through it, fly through it--you won't be able to put it down. It's delightful--vintage Surratt!"--Michael Fletcher, senior pastor, Manna Church, Fayetteville, NC
"Pastor of a successful megachurch in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Surratt has written an accessible, engaging, and down-to-earth memoir that shows him to be an adept writer of a plain-spoken, colloquial variety. Divided into chapters titled "calling," "doubt," "mistakes," "sex," and "power," each conveys a teachable moment in which an unexpected turn of events becomes an opportunity to learn what Surratt believes is a lesson from God. Typically, these involve insights about humility, discipline, or forgiveness. The book's title notwithstanding, Surratt is far from an irreverent reverend. A Pentecostal preacher's son, he has chosen a well-trod path within the evangelical non-denominational subculture, one that precludes premarital sex and sees hell as a tangible terminus for many. Perhaps what's most distinctive about Surratt is his level-headedness, his ability to own up to his emotions, and his knack for not prejudging others. Fans of his Seacoast Church, known for its 14 locations across the larger Charleston region, will appreciate his straight-talking approach."--Publishers Weekly, 2011
"The laughing brain engages more than the bored brain. Prepare to laugh, learn, and grow by reading Greg Surratt's true life tales of family, marriage, church and leadership in IR-REV-REND. I couldn't put it down."--Dave Travis, Managing Director of Leadership Network and co-author of Beyond Megachurch Myths
"There are books and there are books that matter and make a difference. This is absolutely one that matters and makes a difference."--Brent Rowan, producer, musician, composer
"This book is a lot like him: honest, funny, and entertaining, and at the same time, powerful, poignant and thought provoking."--John Siebeling, Lead Pastor, The Life Church of Memphis
"This compelling book will inspire you to live your own brand of ir-rev-rence."--Joe Champion, pastor at Celebration Church, and author of Rocked
"This is a book with long legs that people will be talking about for years."--Ron Hall, author of Same Kind of Different as Me
"To those tired of the plastic, shallow spirituality, IR-REV-REND is for you. Read it and you will be impacted in profound ways."--Darrin Patrick, Pastor of Journey Church in St. Louis and Author of Church Planter
"With a knack for storytelling and penetrating insights, this book will make you laugh, think and reflect. It doesn't hurt that it's a lot of fun to read!"--Mike Breen, 3DM Global Team Leader
