Leadership Studies Commons^™

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions, Jimmie Gibson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"A leader cannot and should not think that they know everything there is to know. Maxwell did an excellent job of showing the importance of asking questions and allowing them to be asked. i think one of the important things he brings out is that questions are just as important as the answers. he states, “By asking questions, i harness the horsepower of every member of my team, and together we pull the weight of the organizations” (p. 289)."

Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies To Help Young People Discover And Love Your Church, David Chimwaro

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the authors of Fuller youth institute have made a valuable contribution to the ongoing quest for church growth by providing not only a theoretical model for relational church growth that can “Energize [the] entire church congregation,” but also a description of a practical application of the concept. the model has been explored in the context of “six core commitments,” or strategies, “of churches that are growing young.” the profiled churches are thriving because they are attracting and engaging young people ages 15 to 29, who are growing spiritually and emotionally, which gives credence to this concept (pp. 19, 20, 23). …

What Do Pastors In German-Speaking Europe Perceive As Important Leadership Competencies In Order To Be Effective Pastoral Leaders, Thomas C. Gyuroka

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"thirty-nine of the 104 competencies from the qualitative study were rated 5.00 and above. Four of them were leadership competencies, four were management competencies, and 31 were other competencies. Few regional differences were found in the German-speaking fields except for the North German Union. Only 29.9% of the pastors rated the leadership competencies associated with the core tasks of leadership as high. in contrast they tended to attribute more importance of those competencies they used on a more frequent basis and with greater proficiency. these results suggest the need for training in actual leadership competencies."

Beyond The Barriers Of Discipline And Culture, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"culture sometimes prevents us from appreciating the very gifts offered to us, at least at first. in one place i learned a dimension of friendship that my culture does not allow me to experience easily. it happened when i was teaching Leadership Development to teachers and administrators of religious organizations in India. the first thing i noticed was their eagerness to learn in the classroom and their desire to share the beauty of their city and cultural sites with me. i enjoyed both, the classroom and the time outside the classroom. But i was unprepared for a gesture of friendship …

Love In The Ordinary: Leadership In The Gospel Of John, Alex Sosler

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Jesus did extraordinary things. the gospel of John includes seven miraculous signs that point to Jesus’ true identity as the Son of god. god incarnate is no ordinary concept. however, the first 30 or so years of his life seem rather ordinary. Just look at some of the regular patterns of his ministry as recorded in the gospels: attending weddings, hiding from crowds, going to the synagogue. At the end of his time on earth, as Jesus asks the question, “Do you love me?” he calls his followers to be ordinary in the ordinary. it is these regular moments that …

Thirsting For God, Jon L. Dybdahl, Petr Cincala

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"For a lot of people, particularly in Western culture, what is commonly seen are business and managerial forms of leadership. there is nothing wrong with that, but christian leadership is different. Leadership is something that needs to be practiced. Leadership needs to have a reflective side. A christian leader must take time to think, consider, and have a period of quietness rather than just making quick decisions. A christian leader must be reflective and learn to listen to god. this is a key part of spirituality."

Spiritual Leadership And Organizational Knowledge Processes: New Relations In The Field Of Knowledge Management, Lorena Martinez Soto

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"this paper analyzes the dynamics arising from interactions between typical elements of organizational culture such as leadership, strategic processes, and knowledge management. More specifically, it seeks to establish possible relationships between leadership based on spirituality and the processes of creating, sharing, and reusing knowledge. the goal of this analysis is to establish a link between spiritual leadership as a strategy of the study of spirituality in the workplace and knowledge management. the research is focused on the application of Louis Fry’s theory of spiritual leadership to a group of organizations made up of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in …

Creating A Spiritual Learning Space: The Changing Leadership Roles In The Life Cycle Of A Church Plant, Erich Baumgartner, Andres Flores

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

the role of a church planter is multifaceted and unique. church planters and their teams venture out as faith entrepreneurs in obedience to christ’s commission to share the gospel in every community. they have to experiment with creative ministry approaches in a particular context. then, as they find methods which meet the needs of people in that community context, experimenting gives way to more predictable ministry structures. church growth requires constant fine-tuning of leadership roles to deal with new challenges and growth pains, calling often for new skill sets that the original church planter may not possess. thus, as church …

Transparency In Leadership: The Divine Governance Challenge From The Apocalypse, Sigve K. Tonstad

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

this chapter has explored the leadership implications of the word that gives the last book of the Bible its title. the principle discovered in the nature of the book of revelation is transparent leadership. this ideology is announced in the opening word. revelation corrects religious, political, and other institutions that thrive on secrecy and concealment. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near,” says the narrator in revelation (1:3). Blessed, too, is the leader who takes revelation’s …

The Need For Spiritual Leadership, Morris Thompson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Leadership comes in different shapes and sizes within our society. Some leadership practices are characterized as good, and other forms are toxic. however, within the 21st century, spiritual leadership is necessary as christian leaders focus on growing the next generation of leaders. this article focuses on the importance of the spiritual leader within today’s society, and will first discuss the need for dedicated spiritual leaders. it will then discuss how spiritual leaders affect the spiritual growth of others. Finally, it will discuss the need for spiritual accountability."

The New Adapters: Shaping Ideas To Fit Your Congregation, Mark Magnusson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"At the onset of the book the author established that the “vision of a church has to fit the mission field” in which the church is located (loc. 2). this point is clear and can apply to all leaders and congregations. the way people dress, think, and act will vary from place to place. For example, a church in preparation for a wedding in a rural area which is decorated with empty shotgun shells loaded with flowers and the bride and groom using a branding iron making their mark on a prepared log is going to vary from a wedding …

Transforming Pastoral Leadership: Reimagining Congregational Relationships For Changing Contexts, Evadne Williams-Henry

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"As we go through changes, we must remember that god is in control of his church and we must always seek him for guidance and direction. this is an excellent book to help pastors who are seeking to honor god in a society that is ever changing. it helps pastors to recognize that our ultimate Leader is Jesus christ, and we should follow the example that he has set for us. i strongly recommend this book to all pastors."

The Intersection Of Leadership And Spirituality: A Qualitative Study Exploring The Thinking And Behavioral Attributes Of Leaders Who Identify As Spiritual, D. S. Goldberg

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the primary question was does spirituality influence leaders’ thinking and behaviors. the secondary questions included an exploration around ways spirituality influences thinking and behaviors. it also explored the questions as to spirituality informing the ways leaders can be challenging within their organizations, and if acknowledging one’s spirituality publically helps or hinders building effective teams. the highlights of the research include the finding that spirituality does indeed influence everything a leader does and is, whether thinking or behavior attributes, and the process of a leader’s questioning."

An Examination In The Role Of Spirituality In The Development Of The Moral Component Of Authentic Leadership Through A Sociorhetorical Analysis Of Paul's Letter To Titus, J. D. Henson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"this study examined the role of spirituality in the moral development component of authentic leadership in comparison to leadership principles found in the Epistle to titus. the study of moral development was drawn from literature on authentic leadership theory, spiritual leadership theory, and preexisting frameworks of moral agency, self-concept, and the stages of moral development. the exegetical process followed the methodology of sociorhetorical analysis and was interpreted for the moral, ethical, and leadership principles found in the pericope. the study yielded five themes of leadership from which 10 principles of leadership were discovered as found in Paul's letter to Titus. …

The Role Of Spirituality In The Leadership Style Of Organizational Leaders, A. S. Koko

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the transcendental phenomenology research design was used to investigate the essence or meaning of these leaders’ experiences regarding their spirituality and leadership style as they were currently experiencing it. the knowledge obtained from this study explained spirituality, consciousness, and cognition’s role in leadership style, which can be applied to the fields of sports, politics, organizational management, coaching, mentoring, leadership, employee recruitment, and other areas of society or within any organization where leadership performance is important. the conclusion from this study was that organizational leaders who self-identified as being spiritual demonstrated compassion when relating with their employees and others. these organizational …

Spiritual Leadership In Religious Organizations: A Grounded Theory Study, K. S. Washington

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"research has not yet identified one specific style or set of characteristics that represents overall leadership effectiveness among christian pastors. this grounded theory qualitative study examined spiritual leadership in religious organizations in order to develop a theoretical model of effective leadership for pastors...the results of this study suggested the presence of five themes related to pastoral effectiveness in non-denominational christian churches: (a) communication; (b) personal development; (c) business acumen; (d) religious practices; and (e) relationships."

Superbosses, Joseph Bates

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"there has long been a disconnect between church membership and discipleship. Superbosses provides leaders of christian churches access to a discipleship model that is proven to work. the author emphasizes the personal development of each person within the organization. As people realize their true potential, are inspired, trained, equipped, and set free to accomplish their god given purpose in life, they will grow and pursue excellence with a passion rarely seen."

Spiritual Gifts, Pastoring, And Gender: An Ongoing Dialogue, Boubakar Sanou

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"in Joel 2:28-29, god promises an innovation regarding how he will make his Spirit available in the last days ... god promises to give his Spirit and gifts without discrimination to both genders (“your sons and daughters,” and “both men and women”), young and old, from all walks of life, races, and social strata. in Acts 2:16-21, the apostle Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32 to assert that the equal filling of the Spirit for the 120 disciples (among whom were women, cf. Acts 1:14) was an element of the fulfillment of god’s promise through the prophet Joel. he also points out …

Leadership Department Newsletter: January - May 2017, Andrews University

Leadership Department Newsletter 2017

No abstract provided.

The Blessing Of Spiritual Mentoring, S. Joseph Kidder

Faculty Publications

Paul’s core argument for spiritual mentoring includes that to be effective mentors, our teaching must be backed by the witness of our own lives. We are to demonstrate all that we teach. What is laid upon us is the tremendous task of not only talking to men about Christ but showing Him to them through our lives. The experienced and exemplary Christian creates a responsible atmosphere for spiritual growth, sharing life experiences and skills and sacrificing time and energy.

As part of the mentoring process, Christians are to take every opportunity to teach younger people about God. This can be …

Initiating A Missional Mindset: The International Leadership Institute's Eight Core Values As Impetus For Missional Living, Kenneth R. Ott

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Using the critical Incident technique in three phases of data collection, this project identified persons whose christian beliefs and behaviors had been impacted by embracing the Values as a way of life. While the transformed beliefs and behaviors did not definitively ascribe to the definition of missional living, they demonstrated the potential of the Eight core Values as a pedagogical construct to introduce a missional mindset in Christ-followers."

Do We Need A New Approach To Christian Leadership Development?, Erich Baumgartner

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"Going back to christian leadership, there are christian leaders needed today that have the courage to reexamine the mission of God here on earth for christian organizations and churches. Such leaders often realize there is something new that is needed. the outcome, however, is not always clear, and it takes dedication of the whole team before the desired outcome appears. that is, in my opinion, one of the most important leadership qualities to which to aspire. It demands a different kind of leadership development process that is not only based on classes and books, but that is based on processes …

The Relationship Between Transformational Leadership Style And Employees' Perception Of Leadership Success In Higher Education, Tatrabian D, Jackson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"The problem addressed examined whether two merged academic institutions were successful in implementing a transformational leadership style within the united organization. Successful leadership cannot be limited to the perception of only the leader, but must include the perceptions of the follower as well....the findings highlight the potential benefits of the use of transformational leadership as an advancement of humankind and business and industry profits."

Strong And Weak: Embracing A Life Of Love, Risk, And True Flourishing, Gregory J. Bullion

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"to flourish, one must master the delicate balance of authority— defined by the author as “the capacity for meaningful action,” (loc 35)— and vulnerability, or, “exposure to meaningful risk” (loc 40). If that balance of authority becomes out of balance, we fall into the pitfalls of “exploiting” (authority without vulnerability), or “suffering” (vulnerability without authority), or worst of all, “withdrawing” (an absence of both)."

The Implementation Of An Internship Manual To Improve The Quality Of The Mentoring Relationships Of The Pastoral Internships At The Moody Bible Institute, William J. Torgesen Iii

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the researcher concluded that the Internship Manual was effective in improving the relationships, organization is critical to foster mentoring, and mentors need to invest time to lead the process. the internship manual should be modified for clarity, and an orientation class should be developed. finally, intentional efforts must be made to incorporate strategies for soul care, spiritual formation, and theological integration."

Leading Undergraduates To Become Leaders: A Case Study, Gus Gregorutti, Randy Siebold, David K. Ferguson

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

this study intends to unveil key principles that configure the Undergraduate Leadership Program (ULP) implemented at a private university in the State of Michigan, USA. through a qualitative method of case study, this paper depicts the model and how students have responded. Data were collected using a focus group and model characteristics. the results indicate that student-centered and active learning was associated with significant leadership gains among students. although some academic settings may have resistance to innovation, the program outcomes represent a promising program alternative for universities as well as non-academic trainers who desire to be intentional about developing leadership …

The Leadership Development Experiences Of Church Denomination Executives, Torrence E. Sparkman

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

Leadership development through experiences is thought to be one of the most effective approaches in the development of leaders. Exploring the types of experiences of executive church leaders adds to the body of leadership development research focused on leadership lessons, and reveals the contexts through which these experiences were formed. this study applies a phenomenological approach to capture the essence of the leadership development experiences of several bishops within a single African American denomination. Six major themes emerged as important elements of their collective experience. these findings suggest that leadership development experiences for executive church leaders should include ministry venture …

The Path Of Leadership Development, Robert E. Logan

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"If you take the time to walk yourself through this metaphor, assessing what you have in place for leadership development at each stage along the way, you can make significant improvements to your leadership development pathway. Mine the ideas and tips for each stage of the path. Pinpoint areas that are missing or need improvement. Make adjustments that will work in your ministry environment. Even seemingly small changes can make a huge difference. You can use the key questions below to begin walking yourself through the assessment of your leadership development process. You’ll be amazed at what can be accomplished."

Work With Me: How To Get People To Buy Into Your Ideas, Deeann Bragaw

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"The strengths of this book include the concept that true buy-in means people have a genuinely voluntary choice and say “yes” because they want to, not because they have to (loc 385). Real buy-in is not manipulation or coercion. Real buy-in wins devotion and energy as advocates."

Designed To Lead: The Church And Leadership Development, Shawn Ellis

Journal of Applied Christian Leadership

"the book presents biblical and practical aspects of the three c’s with suggestions on application. While the author’s biblical examples of conviction, culture and constructs are illustrative, there are few examples of present-day implementation, successful or otherwise. the authors assume that real-world expressions of these concepts are intuitive to the reader. It is surprising that research from Geiger’s company on church transformation was not used to provide an up-to-date, quantitative perspective to support the author’s positions."