Courageous Leadership » (Expanded)

Bill Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., and chairman of the board for the Willow Creek Association. The bestselling author of more than twenty books, including Axiom, Holy Discontent, Just Walk Across the Room, The Volunteer Revolution, Courageous Leadership, and classics such as Too Busy Not to Pray and Becoming a Contagious Christian, Hybels is known worldwide as an expert in training Christian leaders to transform individuals and their communities through the local church. Hybels received a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity College in Deerfield, Ill. He and his wife, Lynne, have two adult children and one grandson, Henry. Bill Hybels es el fundador y pastor principal de la Iglesia Comunitaria de Willow Creek en South Barrington, Illinois., y presidente de la junta de la Asociacion Willow Creek. Es autor de mas de veinte libros exitosos, entre los que se encuentran Axioma, Divina Insatisfaccion, Simplemente acercate a ellos, La revolucion de los voluntarios, Liderazgo audaz, y clasicos como Muy ocupados para no orar y Como ser un cristiano contagioso. Bill Hybels es reconocido mundialmente por capacitar a lideres cristianos en cursos de entrenamiento que buscan transformar a los individuos y sus comunidades mediante la iglesia local. Tiene un titulo en Estudios Biblicos y un doctorado honorario de Estudios Teologicos de Trinity College de Deerfield, Illinois. el y su esposa, Lynne, tienen dos hijos adultos y un nieto.

When the spiritual gift of leadership comes alive in churches everywhere, the church will become the hope of the world and a most influential force for good.

Publishers Weekly

By any standard contemporary measure, Hybels ranks among the North American Protestantism's most significant leaders. As senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., he leads an all-star team of lay and ordained people ministering to tens of thousands each week. Through his other books (among them Rediscovering Church and Descending into Greatness), and through the Willow Creek Association, he influences thousands of congregations. So his voice on the subject of leadership commands immediate attention. Fortunately, after 30 years, he's got something worthwhile to say and better yet, he says it well. Written in an easy, colorful, anecdote-sprinkled style, this is an inspiring and informative pep talk for pastors who share Hybels's conviction that when it's working right, the "local church is the hope of the world." That hope hinges, he says, on churches being led by those who "possess and deploy the spiritual gift of leadership." While not theologically deep or biblically rigorous, it is full of wise principles, useful lists and practical leadership tips. Hybels covers some of the same territory as other leadership books styles of leadership, team-building, decision-making, developing emerging leaders, etc. but he does so remarkably free of the double-talk and jargon that so often plague them. For example, he graciously disagrees with those leadership gurus who distinguish between a "vision" statement, a "mission" statement, and a "purpose" statement. What folks really need to know and remember, says Hybels, is "the main thing." This is a welcome addition to any pastor's library. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Acknowledgments 9

Introduction 11

1 The Stakes of Leadership 13

2 A Leader's Most Potent Weapon: The Power of Vision 29

3 Getting-It-Done Leadership: Turning Vision into Action 51

4 Building a Kingdom Dream Team: Communities Close to a Leader's Heart 73

5 The Resource Challenge: The Test of a Leader's Mettle 93

6 Developing Emerging Leaders: When Leaders Are at Their Best 121

7 Discovering and Developing Your Own Leadership Style: The Key to High-Impact Leading 139

8 A Leader's Sixth Sense: The Sources of Decision Making 161

9 The Art of Self-leadership: The 360-Degree Leader 181

10 A Leader's Prayer: "God, Mold and Shape Me to My Full Leadership Potential" 199

11 The Leader's Pathway: A Vital Walk with God 215

12 Developing an Enduring Spirit: Staying the Course 231

13 Refusing God Nothing: The Surrendered Spirit of the Christ-Centered Leader 255

Epilogue 273