Pastor Pastor

Feed My Sheep

Christian - Fiction
367 Pages
Reviewed on 09/27/2022
Buy on Amazon

Author Biography

When looking for a background for a novel on leaders, followers, human groups, manipulation and especially on opportunities to make a fresh start I found my background was in the Evangelical church and groups in Argentina. As I made a soul search of my good and bad experiences there I found there was abundant material that I could also relate to my life as a citizen of this country. I started without a plot in mind and found in an eerie way that the characters took life and led me down their pathways. During my review I found the story is based on parallels and contrasts, especially considering the two protagonists, pastors Terrero and Cristante. The idea of a second chance is critical, both for leaders and followers but especially for the relationship between both and this naturally extends to all human groups.
Although it would appear to be a Christian book addressed to Christians, I believe it can be just as interesting and thought-provoking for non-Christians since much of what happens in churches and religious groups has more to do with our common humanness than with faith or religion as such.

- The book was launched simultaneously in English and Spanish (Pastor Pastor - Apacienta mis ovejas)

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Pastor Pastor: Feed My Sheep is a work of fiction in the literary and cultural subgenres. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Alejandro Field. Taken from real-life experiences of being surrounded by the evangelical movement in churches in Argentina, this work is a fascinating character study of two pastors: Pedro Terrero and Juan Cristante. As we follow the two men over twenty-five years on their journey to become successful pastors, a unique insight into evangelism is gleaned and we discover a beautiful cross-section of people looking for assistance, guidance, and salvation. There are also some cautionary tales about what mistreatment and mismanagement can lead to when power is in the wrong hands.

Having never experienced anything about the world of South American evangelism, this snapshot of Argentinian life was an absolute revelation to me, and I found myself hooked much more effectively than any non-fiction work could have achieved. Author Alejandro Field has a way with the narrative that gives you a deeply personal sense of character and pathos, and I especially felt for Juan as he dealt with some particularly tricky issues, in my opinion. There’s much to celebrate culturally in this book, but there’s also a keen and critical eye that I really appreciated, which doesn’t gloss over the darker aspects and potential dangers of evangelism either. Overall, this really adds to the drama and realism of what Field brings to life, and it makes Pastor Pastor an unmissable read for those who already encounter this world and a new sensation for those who never have.

Irene Debora Owen

Anyone who’s lived in an evangelical church environment long enough will recognise (even perhaps as part of their own baggage) the life experiences, the doubts, the anxiety that Pedro and Juan (the two pastors whose stories we follow in this book) grapple with. And anyone who hasn’t, or who is not familiar with the reality and the nitty-gritty of the evangelical world, will find this book just as interesting and intriguing and even surprising, as it explores the deep existential dilemmas these two men go through, despite (or perhaps, as a result of) their positions and their seniority in their local churches.
The style of the text is entertaining and readable without being superficial and the descriptions, both of the characters and of the settings they inhabit allow the reader to visually recreate an ambience populated by actors they can recognise and to whom they can relate. As they walk the path that takes them from a place of loneliness, frustration and disappointment, Pedro and Juan live situations and interact with characters that force them, guide them, or help them to face and to work out their doubts and ambiguities, with honesty and courage.
I found the reflections presented in the appendix particularly interesting, fresh and profound. In them, the author makes the point that a believer’s search should cover three equally important dimensions, simultaneously: height, depth and direction, and he does so with great clarity and discernment.

Lucila Crena

The interweaving stories of this book will stay with you: The characters will be familiar to those who've spent years in church ministry, but Field depicts them so vividly and compassionately that, through his narration, the reader gets that rare opportunity of loving critical distance. Field never leaves the narrative frame, so the story doesn't turn moralizing. His story, rather, generates questions for the potential writing of new stories. We journey with these characters for a while, to be able to travel our own journeys with more clarity and wisdom.
I know this, especially, because this review refers to an earlier edition of the book, which has stayed with me for more than 7 years! Pastor, Pastor has been long in the making by Field, an astute observer of the church. I am so glad it is now widely available.

Edward Field

The novel, "Pastor Pastor", follows the lives of church leaders in Argentina. The leaders genuinely feel the call of God to pastor churches, yet struggle with several personal and organizational issues as they seek to build up church communities. Alejandro Field, the author, cleverly introduces insights about what makes a pastor "successful" in the way intended by God.

Norberto Saraccco

To honor and serve God is the dream of everyone who loves Jesus. How can we do this? This is the big question. Some, the least, embark on the adventure of ministry. Others live their lives, professions, and occupations with the guilt of not having put priorities in the right order. In both cases, good intentions confront the reality of life as it is. Ministry is not always the idyllic place to serve God, nor does a profession or occupation in itself displace God from center stage. Life decisions are full of contradictions. “Pastor, Pastor” shows us, in a warm and engaging way, the struggle of its characters to find their own destiny amid life's contradictions. Above the right or wrong decisions, it teaches us that God always gives us another chance.

Ruben del Ré

Through a particularly good narrative, we meet characters who represent the ideals, the heart, the greatness, the mistakes and the miseries of many who long to serve God and people. Those of us who have been in the world of evangelical churches and "ministry" for several decades will feel that we are reliving stories that happened to us, of which we were part (or suffered) in one way or another. The critical look at certain emphases and practices of recent years can help us to open our eyes to some imbalances, but with a constructive spirit, seeking to clear the way to recover the essence of life in community of the people of God.