Preacher Eli Perkins never quite believed he was good enough for his job. How did that quality make you feel about him? How do you think he performed his job?

Preacher Eli Perkins never quite believed he was good enough for his job. How did that quality make you feel about him? How do you think he performed his job?

I think he was a wonderful preacher in the sense that he felt strongly about his people. He wanted to know each of them and their needs. He cared about their lives and what was happening to each of them. It was unfortunate that he did not feel he was good enough for his job. Perhaps he was comparing himself to his father and his sister never really had anything good to say, but this did not change the way I felt about this character.

A true person of faith will always have some doubt. Religion is so personal, even the Bible has many interpretations...none of them wrong. So how could a preacher know if the words he presents to his followers are the ones they need to hear? Fortunately for his peeps, his heart was in the right place.

I liked Eli. He was someone who strived to do his best and his failures made him try even harder. I think his sister was one cause of his self-doubts. He could not change her or ease her bitterness. He recognized that and saw it as his failure, which is was not. You cannot change another. I also think he measured himself by his father's shadow and did not feel he was as good. But the fact that he cared and kept trying made him even better. His motives and intent were always good. I think the people of Baines Creek were lucky to have him.

I felt that if Eli had felt the opposite, he may have thought he didn't have to do any better. I thought he performed his job to the best of his ability. I know he tried to get the domestic abuse to stop by speaking to the authorities, but I would of liked to see him take it further.

I found Eli to be one of the most likable characters in the book. He always had hope in his heart, even when reality was hitting him in the face that things were not likely to change quickly in his little part of the world. He truly loved his people and tried always to do what was best for them. He lived his faith every day and practiced what he preached.

Eli Perkins is a good man and a Godly man. In spite of a very "mean" environment, he weathered on, treating people with kindness and dignity and genuine love and concern. He was not at the center of the novel's plot development, but rather he operated behind the scenes often, taking care to ensure that others were looked after and cared for as needed. He was as self-less as someone in his situation might be, and he loved those he chose to serve without expecting any reward. An honest and God-fearing man, he accepted others without judging.

I liked Eli. He did a great job as their preacher - knowing his congregation and taking care of them, as others have said. He never thought less of anyone because of their circumstances. Believing he was never quite good enough as minister made him the best person for the job. He performed his job to the best of his abilities.

Eli didn’t go into his ministry fully certain this was a vocation he was ready for. His father influenced him mightily to attend seminary classes. Because of that desire of his father’s, that Eli continue the family tradition of the ministry, he felt this also must be his calling. The pressure may not have been too obvious but Eli hadn’t made an alternative choice either. Under such circumstances it can be assumed Eli might have believed he wasn’t “good enough.”

I would have liked to give him a boost with his self-esteem! And I did think he was actually a great minister—kind, helpful, compassionate, and having a sense of humor.

This is a sweet man that tried to see the good in everyone. It was interesting that when he attended the yearly conference he choose to spend much of the time with his friend. I wonder if that was because he knew that the topic of the workshops wouldn't be much help for him & his situation.

I agree with others that doubt & questioning are as important as believing & love. Don't we all question if what we are doing is good enough? Poor Eli had that miserable sister pulling him down, but the new teacher helped him gain confidence.

Humility is a sign that he was aware of man's position in relationship to God which proves he was the right person for the job. Sadly, humility can morph into self-doubt which can be detrimental to the effectiveness and realization of the role of Pastor. I think Eli was the right man for that sad, misbegotten place and time!

He tried his best with caring for his people by getting teachers, but he should have been more involved in reporting the abuse he was aware of.

Other than failing to report the domestic abuse, Eli tried to care for his flock. He tried to overcome his fear of inadequacy, but the doubt seemed to linger. I think he did the best he could, but he realized that years of behavior was ingrained in these people, from one generation to another, and right or wrong they were a hard group to push into change.