Captains Courageous
by Kevin Miller
January 1, 2003
Shortly after Imelda Marcos was found to own 3,000 pairs of shoes, Bill Hybels began a sermon on patience this way: "Bill Hybels speaking on patience is like Imelda Marcos speaking on frugality."
But it might equally be said that "Bill Hybels writing on leadership is like Tiger Woods writing on golf." In his latest book, Courageous Leadership (Zondervan, 2002), Hybels has written a manifesto on leadership, probably his most important book to date. If you believe a pastor should primarily be a shepherd or theologian, be warned: Courageous Leadership is the clearest, most forceful case yet for pastor as leader.
The classic, wry definition of a leader is "someone who has followers," and Hybels has plenty, both at the sprawling Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and in the 7,200 churches of the Willow Creek Association. Now, after surviving 30 years of church leadership, virtually all at Willow, Hybels tells us his approach. (Not to make you feel old, but the youthful architect of a "new" way of doing church has turned 50.)
In 12 chapters of take-no-prisoners passion, Hybels discusses the essentials of leadership: turning vision into action, building teams, finding resources, developing leaders, enduring. But unlike, say, Jim Collins's Good to Great, this is not a business book; it's a church book, by a church leader for church leaders. Hybels proclaims up front, "The local church is the hope of the world, and its future rests primarily in the hands of its leaders."
In a key early chapter on vision (an overworked topic in leadership books), Hybels offers a useful definition: "Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion." Then he describes in clear terms how to see, feel, own, embody, and communicate ...
Please complete one of the following:
If you're a Leadership journal subscriber...
...but have not yet registered for online access to CTLibrary.com, you can receive a full-year's access for just $29.95!
Register Here | | If you're NOT a Leadership journal print subscriber...
You're entitled to a special, introductory offer for new subscribers only! Subscribe now and receive a one-year Leadership journal print subscription and one-year access to all Leadership archives for just $39.95!
Subscribe now!
When you log in as a Leadership Journal subscriber, you'll see additional articles noted as premium content only available to CTLibrary.com members. To access the entire CTLibrary requires a CTLibrary subscription. If you would prefer this option, select the offer below that best fits your needs.
|
Like the preview? To read this complete article
and 20,536 more in the archive—JOIN NOW!
Easily find high-quality, well-researched materials that provide a Christian perspective on topics ranging from headlines to history.
Start using this invaluable tool TODAY for preparing your Bible studies, presentations, class lectures, sermons, meetings, and more.
|
It's easy and quick to join:
Brought to You by Christianity Today Int'l |  |
|
|
|
Find similar articles
E-mail this page
