Ordinary Leadership Assignment
Michael Simmons
LEAD 520: Biblical Foundations of Leadership (B02)
June 30, 2025
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 1
Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….2
Life of Leaders……………………………………………………………………………………4
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...7
Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………9
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 2
Introduction
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor is a book written by D.A. Carson in 2008. The book is a
true account of the life of D.A. Carson’s father, Pastor Tom Carson. The book is a compilation of
pastor Carson’s letters, journals, and writings that describe Pastor Carson’s pastoral journey. The
book highlights the many challenges of ministry along with Pastor Carson’s own personal
challenges. The title may be misleading because pastor Carson was anything but “ordinary”.
What defines the term “ordinary leadership”? One definition example found on the
Calvin Theological Seminary website describes ordinary leadership as preaching and teaching
the good news of God’s story to all, and instructing and guiding believers. These roles are a
crucial part of the pastoral leadership of a church.”1 There are other definitions that define
ordinary Christian leadership, but this definition is most fitting.
Tom Carson was an ordinary pastor but from the beginning he set an example from the
start of his ministry at a young age and ended up taking him on a journey from English speaking
Ottawa, Canada to French speaking Quebec, Canada at a time when Catholicism was the only
denomination accepted by the citizens. To make matters worse, this form of Catholicism taught
would be considered “medieval” by today’s standards.2 It wasn’t until the 1960’s did the Vatican
have influence on Quebec’s Catholic reformation.
Pastor Carson showed perseverance by facing many challenges as a Christian Baptist
pastor. For pastor Carson to be successful at planting Baptist churches in French speaking
Quebec, first, he had to learn the language. There were very few English-speaking churches at
that time. The predominate language was French.
Pastor Carson also led ministries in Montreal, initially facing significant resistance.
Because most of the French-Canadian Catholics at that time did not have access to French
1 Calvinseminary.edu, What effective leadership looks like.
2 Carson (2008) Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson, 21
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 3
translated Bibles, Tom printed out “little blue slips” and would go door to door handing them
out. The slips explained how a person could get a free Bible if they simply wrote a letter to the
address provided requesting one. Some of the letters Pastor Carson received were unpleasant,
to say the least. The French speaking people of that time had a devout loyalty to their priests and
resisted change preached by pastor Carson and other Gospels claiming that salvation only
comes through Jesus Christ, not priests.
Later, pastor Carson went on to start a church in the small French-speaking town of
Drummondville with limited funds and financial pushback from the Toronto Baptist Union.
Using his own money and donations from other churches, pastor Carson was able to bring the
Gospel to thousands at a time when many Baptists converts were being ostracized by their
communities and Baptists ministers were being thrown in jail.3
Pastor Carson kept a detailed journal of his daily activities. Through his daily grind of
being a husband and father, ministry preparations, and pastoral duties, he managed to find time
to log his daily events in his journal. In his journal he once wrote “I propose to write carefully,
regularly, and fully so that my life may be weighed in the balance of my own consciousness and
conscience, and by God’s grace I may eliminate the many pockets of weakness that are sapping
my spiritual strength, and undermining my ministry, and let me say it- destroying souls. God
help me”.4
Pastor Carson eventually left the small church in Drummondville. He had a feeling that
Drummondville did not allow him the freedom to allow his strengths to work.5 He felt like his
resignation was part of the fulfillment of his vow to God. He eventually took a job with the
federal government as a French/ English translator. He remained with the Canadian Civil service
3 Ibid., 63 4
Ibid., 75-76 5
Ibid., 93
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until he reached retirement age. Pastor Carson continued ministry on weekends at his local
church but not fulltime ministry. He also helped Christian leaders with translation and language
issues. He also began serving on the board at Brookdale Farm, a Christian orphanage. He served
on this board until he died.4 Pastor Carson preached at many different churches, some English
some French. Pastor Carson used his gifts of ministry and prayer to work with many up coming
pastors and Christians within the Church’s. As the number of Baptists churches grew in the
French areas of Canada, much credit is owed to pastor Tom Carson for his steadfast dedication
and ministry.
This story relates to this course of learning in many ways. It shows that not all leaders
become famous or complete some great mission that goes down in history as something
spectacular. Most people have never heard of pastor Tom Carson. He was not special nor did he
possess any great power. He did not cast out demons or perform miracles in front of people.
What he did was demonstrate leadership through his ministry and his dedication to the Lord’s
work. He never wavered.
Pastor Carson was a great example of a biblical leader. Even though he was not well
known as Billy Graham or Charles Spurgeon, he never wavered from his duties as a shepherd of
his flock. He loved God and he loved his God given assignment of ministry. He embodied the
term serving the servant.
Life of leader’s review
After review of the book Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor (2008), there are many
instances that are relatable to the other materials studied in this course. For example, in his
ministry pastor Carson always used theology of the cross as the basis for his Christian
leadership.
4 Ibid., 100
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Just like Martin Luther, pastor Carson believed that Christian living flowed from the
cross.5 In one instance, pastor Carson very quickly and quietly rebuked a young unqualified
pastor at the Montclair church for teaching the Gospels wrong.6 He was a protector over the
word of God.
Pastor Carson’s call to ministry in the French towns can be compared to Adoniram
Judson’s call to missionary work. Pastor Carson did not speak, read, or write French. Adoniram
Judson learned to learn to read and speak the Burmese languages as well. Pastor Carson faced
obstacles such as finances and a general rebuke from the locals. Like Judson, he would not be
discouraged or quit. Like Judson, within years of his ministry, he was reading, writing, speaking,
and even translating scripture so it would be available to all people.
A Christian leader lacking theological knowledge may face significant failures. Applying
biblical principles necessitates a strong understanding of scripture, which the Bible emphasizes
as crucial. Jesus used scripture as His defense when He faced temptation from Satan in the
wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11, NKJV, Biblica Inc.) In the book of Hosea, it says “My people are
destroyed for lack of Knowledge”. (Hosea 4:6) In pastor Carson’s journal, he kept a record of the
many hours that spent in prayer and scripture study. He was a true student of the Bible.
In Christian fashion, Tom showed contentment throughout his life. He did not spend
years in a prison cell like Deitrich Bonhoeffer, but just like Bonhoeffer, pastor Carson looked for
every opportunity to advance the gospel.7 Tom lived on low salaries. Sometimes he would
surrender his salary for the church. He was content and always knew that God would provide for
him and his family.
5 Nichols, 2013, Bonhoeffer on the Christian life: from the cross, for the world. 26
6 Carson (2008) Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson, 104
7 Nichols, 2013, Bonhoeffer on the Christian life: from the cross, for the world. 37
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 6
Pastor Carson was a devout student of the word of God. Tom spent many hours reading
the word of God. He studied the Bible in English. He studied the Bible in French. Because of his
writing and journals, Pastor Carson kept a log of the many hours he spent reading the word. His
love for the word can be compared to the great theologian John Calvin. John Calvin believed
that the study of scripture must consume a person’s life.8 Pastor Carson was committed to
scripture.
Pastor Carson showed a devoted spirit. Despite many setbacks, discouragement, and
personal trials pastor Carson remained committed to serving God and his people. Even when his
wife’s Alzheimer’s battle began to incapacitate her, Tom would care for his wife and still make
time for the ministry.
If there were any weaknesses that could be mentioned, the one weakness (or possibly
strength) that stood out was pastor Carsons divine ability to turn the other cheek. Even though
this is a command from God, it seemed as though pastor Carson’s lack of self-defense when he
was being wronged by others would allow people to take advantage of him. He would just let
things go. Even when his daughter was being beat up by the local French kid, he warned his
daughter to not fight back. “Mum quietly told her only daughter that should this happen again,
she was to roll her hand into a fist and hit her tormenter once, as hard as she could, and then
come in and tell Mum. She did this. The problem was instantly solved.”9 D.A. Carson, pastor
Carson’s son writes that he believed that his dad may have suffered from a form of depression,
but this was never proven. 10 D.A. Carson writes “Tom’s style was to be astonishingly
nonconfrontational about most things” (Carson, 2008, p.106). However, if anyone mishandled
or spoke wrongly of scripture, pastor Carson would quickly confront them. Pastor Carson knew
8 Petersen, 2008, 25 surprising marriages: how great Christians struggled to make their marriages work, 497
9 Carson (2008) Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson, 70
10 Ibid., 76
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 7
the words of the Apostle Paul very well when he said to “test the spirits and see if they are from
God” (1 John 4:1). Pastor Carson would let many things by without recourse, but he would not
allow anyone get away with misrepresenting the Holy Spirit are teaching contrary to biblical
doctrine. For he knew that he had to protect his flock.
Pastor Carson had a very strong dedication to his prayer life. In one instance, pastor
Carson’s son went looking for him after the church sermon. He located pastor Carson in a back
room with the door slightly ajar. He saw pastor Carson on his knees praying intensely with tears
streaming down his face.11 There is another man who prayed this way. His name is Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
D. A. Carson wrote this book, solely from his own experiences and using his father's
writings and journals. Pastor Tom Carson was a man who loved to teach the Scriptures in an
honest, dependable, and morally upright manner. He was a man who loved the Bible and Jesus
This is simply who he was. He was an ordinary pastor. He knew how important it was to preach
good doctrine. He was a man who knew what it meant to work hard and make sacrifices to
follow his vocation and be a good father and husband. Additionally, the story portrays a
Christian leader who was unable to fully appreciate the results of his own ministry due to
deeply held concerns about his capacity as a pastor. He was hard on himself. He was his biggest
critic
This book presents a portrait of Tom Carson that is particularly striking in two ways.
First, his modesty: He doesn't seem to have ever had a higher opinion of himself than he should
have, and he didn't become upset when successive ministers succeeded him. He minimized
even his contribution to the founding of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in
Canada; his son Don didn't even know about it until he was enrolled in seminary.
11 Ibid., 80
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Secondly, his faithfulness. He really loved people well and served with faithfulness. There
have been many famous historical Christian leaders that are more popular and have
accomplished the nearly impossible, but pastor Carson was no different. God used this ordinary
pastor to perform extraordinary duties. This is another example of how God uses the least likely
people for His ministry.
Bibliography
Calvinseminary.edu, What effective leadership looks like.
https://calvinseminary.edu/resources/what-effective-pastoral-leadership-looks-like/
Carson, D. A. Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson, Crossway,
2008. ProQuest Ebook Central,
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=348702.
Nichols, S. J. (2013). Bonhoeffer on the Christian life: from the cross, for the world. Crossway.
ORDINARY LEADERSHIP 9
Petersen, W. J. (2008). 25 surprising marriages: how great Christians struggled to make their
marriages work. Masthof Press.
