Dear blogger or reviewer:
Scot McKnight (Jesus Creed) calls it “a missional view of leadership.” Skye Jethani (Senior Editor, Leadership Journal) says “we need help understanding how to lead effective, transformative change in [all our] callings. For that reason I am incredibly grateful for Spiritual Influence by Mel Lawrenz.” Mark Batterson (Pastor, National Community Church, Washington, D.C.) says “it is exciting to think about believers at every level of society rising to a new call to exercise powerful spiritual influence…. Mel Lawrenz has given us all a new baseline for leadership that is personal, wise, and spiritual.”
If you would like a complementary copy of Spiritual Influence: the Hidden Power of Leadership sent to you, just complete the following form. See information about the book below.
[gravityform id=3 name=Blogger/Reviewerapplication]
Spiritual Influence: The Hidden Power Behind Leadership by Mel Lawrenz (Zondervan, 2012). Hardcover. 212 Pages. ISBN 978-0310492702
“If you are in a position of positive influence, if you exercise leadership in any way, your faith in God gives you a power—a hidden power—that will allow you to make an enduring difference in the lives of other people and organizations. But how does that power work?”
So says Mel Lawrenz in this fresh look at leadership which offers practical and biblical guidance to believers who want to have a deep influence and who want to know: What is the proper use of authority and power? Where do good ideas come from? How can we deal with failure? What does God expect of us?
Drawing from more than thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, Lawrenz writes for Christians in any position of influence. This book provides a new baseline for 21st century Christian leadership, addressing issues such as
• building integrity
• seizing opportunities
• exploring new horizons
• speaking into crises
• receiving power
• accepting authority
• promoting truth
• managing expectations
• dealing with criticism
Using real-life examples, key Scripture passages, and history, Lawrenz shows that when believers align their responsibility to lead with the teaching of Jesus and the work of God’s Spirit, their spiritual influence will have integrity and enduring effectiveness.
From the Foreword: “Mine is a generation of Christians eager to bridge the gap between our increasingly post-Christian culture and the present reality of God’s kingdom. And we’re not simply doing it through the institutional church. I have been encouraged by faithful women and men seeking Christ’s calling in business, the arts, government, education, media, and the social sector. But we need help understanding how to lead effective, transformative change in these callings.For that reason I am incredibly grateful for Spiritual Influence. This book is not only helpful to anyone wanting to understand what is distinctive about Christian leadership, but by drawing from a wide range of historical sources it also provides the reader a sense of context and continuity within the larger community of the church.And those who thoughtfully engage this book will no doubt find themselves encouraged. Mel Lawrenz’s perspective gives us hope that the leadership pendulum which has swung from overspiritualized to despiritualized in recent generations may have finally come to rest where it has always belonged—upon Jesus Christ.”
Skye Jethani, Senior Editor, Leadership Journal
Endorsement: “It is exciting to think about believers at every level of society rising to a new call to exercise powerful spiritual influence. In his newest book, Spiritual Influence, Mel Lawrenz has given us all a new baseline for leadership that is personal, wise, and spiritual. It spans the generations and reaches across cultures. Just think what will happen if believers in positions of influence tie into the wisdom and the power that comes from God in order to bring restoration in our broken world!”
Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor, National Community Church in Washington, D.C.
“As Mel defines leadership, I would say he has a missional theory of leadership: we are given the opportunity, or calling, to aid in the influence of God — through God’s Spirit, Christ, Scripture, etc — on a person or organization.”
Scot McKnight, blog review, Jesus Creed
Review: The High Calling
Review: Jesus Creed
Review: Once Upon a Truth
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mel Lawrenz trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought-leaders. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years, having succeeded Stuart Briscoe, and now serves as Elmbrook’s minister at large. He has a Ph.D. in the history of Christian thought (Marquette University) and is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity International University. He is the author or co-author of thirteen books. More at: thebrooknetwork.org and theinfluenceproject.com