COMING IN AUGUST 2026
THEY CALL ME PASTOR
Don’s latest book, They Call Me Pastor, will be released sometime in August.
What Leaders are Saying
Pastor Don’s the real deal. Having known him for over 30 years and being a deacon at the first church he pastored, I highly recommend this book, "They Call Me Pastor," to anyone who would like a blueprint on how to navigate a church in today’s challenging times. You will enjoy reading his life experiences and the unique way he has of bringing God’s Word to life in practical ways.
Thomas J. Gallant Jr., Former Deacon, Executive Pastor and CFO, Grand Rapids, First Assembly of God
They Call Me Pastor offers a deeply authentic and spiritually grounded perspective on pastoral ministry, shaped not by theory alone but by lived experience. With clarity and humility, Don Sanderson calls leaders back to the heart of shepherding—prioritizing identity, discernment, and dependence on the Holy Spirit over strategy and performance. This book is both a timely encouragement and a practical guide for pastors navigating seasons of challenge, renewal, and faithful service. It is a meaningful contribution that will strengthen and steady those called to lead God’s people.
Alton Garrison, Global Church Health Alliance
When I was a young pastor, my dad handed me the book On Being a Servant of God by Warren Wiersbe. I read it every year for the next 20 years. They Call Me Pastor is a book I will hand to my spiritual sons. It reminds us that the church belongs to Jesus and so do his pastors. It reminds us that pastoring is a spiritual work more than an administrative assignment. And it reminds us that our call is to build people, not mega-churches. It is a book every pastor and future pastor needs to read.
Rick DuBose, Assistant General Superintendent, Assemblies of God, General Council
I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside Pastor Don and witnessing some of these stories firsthand. His integrity, humility, and shepherd’s heart made him an easy pastor to serve under and learn from. I also have the honor of hosting a podcast with him, where I’ve heard his wisdom and heart for ministry shared over the microphone, episode after episode.
Now, through this book, others will get to experience what I’ve been blessed to receive for many years. Reading They Call Me Pastor feels like sitting across the table from a trusted friend and mentor, having an honest conversation about the joy, burden, and responsibility of carrying the mantle of caring for God’s people.
Pastor Don shares the kind of wisdom that only comes from decades spent in prayer, behind the pulpit, and faithfully walking with people through every season of life. This is a necessary work that ministers and leaders will glean from for generations to come. I believe it is a must-read for anyone called to serve the Church and shepherd the people of God.
Rev. P. Kyle Popineau, Lead Pastor, Legacy Church, Tustin. (Former Assistant pastor to Don Sanderson, 2016-2018)
Sagacious acumen, timely, unpretentious, discerning, and an artful and pragmatic resource. Sanderson’s “They Call Me Pastor” is a refreshing voice with golden nuggets of health and renewal, offering that inner voice that balances my soul. You’ll want this one!
Joseph S. Girdler, D Min / Superintendent / Kentucky Assemblies of God
I was struck by the accessibility of this book—not only in its format but also in its clarity and honesty. They Call Me Pastor offers both encouragement and challenge to those who bear the weight of pastoral ministry. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience, Don Sanderson offers a thoughtful way forward for pastors navigating often lonely terrain. I first knew Don through his MA and MProf studies in revitalization, but this is not an academic “how-to” manual. It is a seasoned shepherd writing with wisdom, integrity, and genuine pastoral care.
Anne Dyer, PhD, Adjunct Supervisor, PhD faculty, Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, North Dakota.
Don Sanderson writes as a pastor who has stood in the valley and refused to mistake activity for life. They Call Me Pastor is a biblically grounded, Spirit-sensitive guide that calls pastors back to their true identity as shepherds – not managers – and charts a practical path toward genuine, sustained church health. I’m grateful for Don’s faithfulness to the SoCal Network and to the local church, and I recommend this work to every pastor who has ever quietly asked, Can these bones live?”
Rich Guerra, Superintendent, SoCal Network Assemblies of God
I count Don Sanderson not only a dear friend but also a true prophetic voice for the church today. He has written a vital field guide for those moments when ministry loses its true north. Packed with profound insight and a genuine shepherd's heart, They Call Me Pastor is an indispensable lifeline every leader must keep close at hand. It delivers a firm mandate to strip away distractions and return to the sacred core of our calling: guiding God's people with humility, leading with absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit, and keeping Jesus Christ as our ultimate goal.
Ryan Krause, Author of "Reflections From The Battlefield" and Active Duty Navy Chaplain.
You will find Don Sanderson's They Call Me Pastor to be packed full of practical lessons in revitalizing a church. While similar books with this theme tend to present how-to-do-it approaches, Pastor Don's considers the role of the heart, pastoral care, and spiritual insight---all coming from a well of experience. You won't want to miss this read! I highly recommend it."
Dr. Carolyn Tennant, speaker, author, professor in the D.Min. program at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (Evangel University).
I have known Pastor Don Sanderson for forty years. Don has always had an intense love for God and His church. In They Call Me Pastor, Don shares more than thirty years of ministry experience, wisdom, and insight that will encourage and inspire pastors and those who aspire to be pastors. Pastor Don writes with authority and compassion, making this work easy to read and easy to receive. I believe this book should be recommended reading for Bible college students across the country who desire to follow God's call into any pastoral ministry position. I highly recommend this book.
Aldon Baudoin, Associate pastor of Freedom Family Church in Chelsea, AL, and COO of Health Matters US.
It was my joy to serve as Don Sanderson’s academic supervisor during his master’s studies in England. The supervisor’s role is to guide the candidate to a successful outcome in their research. Yet, in all our time together in my small office, I learned far more from Don than he ever did from me. He has wisdom born of much learning, much experience, much pain, and an undeniable touch of God.
I am thrilled that you, too, can meet with Don in the pages that follow. This is a beautiful book. I led churches in England for twenty years and was a struggling pastor in so many ways. Reading through these chapters, Don made me feel seen, appreciated, valued, deeply understood; yes, even fathered. I am sure that you will feel the same.
Some who are extra wise have you sit at their feet, but in They Call Me Pastor, Don sits alongside you and puts his arm around you – the non-celebrity peer – whose only desire is to strengthen and cultivate genuine new hope and joy. As I read, I lie in green pastures beside still waters. You will too. Pastors need pastors, whose rod and staff will comfort them. You’ll be so glad you found this book.
Peter Cavanna, Head of Theology and Spiritual Development
Mattersey Hall College, England
I met Pastor Don in 1999 while doing a summer internship between my junior and senior years of Bible College. I had no idea those three months in Highland Park, MI, would eventually lead to a cross-country move when he brought me on staff at his new church after graduation. He has been a pastor, mentor, spiritual father, and friend.
They Call Me Pastor is not just a book he's written; it is a reflection of his personal life and ministry. I read many of the chapters through tear-filled eyes, gently reminded of the purpose of God's call on my life. This book has articulated for me many things that, to this point, have only been feelings. It has helped me see areas where I need to realign to stay the course. If you are sensing a call to ministry, are a new pastor, or have been doing this a while, you need to read They Call Me Pastor. I know that I'll be returning to these pages again soon.
T.R. Stewart, Youth/Associate Pastor Life Church Emporia, KS