ReLeader: How To Fix What You Didn't Break

by Jon Chasteen

ReLeading is for the courageous. —Craig Groeschel We've all seen organizations falter and ministries collapse. As the rubble piles high, most people run away, while only a select few run toward the wreckage. These brave souls are ReLeaders—gifted rebuilders called to restore what is broken. In ReLeader, Jon Chasteen equips releaders with a biblical framework and practical insights to successfully ReLead teams, departments, and organizations back to health. Drawing from his experiences revitalizing a church, a university, and more, Jon provides wisdom and encouragement for the unique challenges ReLeaders face. This book will teach How to rebuild a foundation of trustWays to persevere through conflicts and challenges Why investing in culture and accountability safeguards the futureHow to finish strong and reinforce the transformationFor pastors inheriting troubled churches, executives stepping into turnarounds, or anyone spearheading change, ReLeader is an indispensable guidebook.

With God's help, you can rebuild it, even if you didn't break it.

Genres: Leadership

208 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2024

Reviews

[Austin Weece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Helpful in a season of transition to process things happening in my context.

[Hannah Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Chasteen is very clearly writing specifically to people who are taking over something, in general this book holds great leadership principles. I find often that leadership books sometimes feel very repetitive and what could’ve been said succinctly, gets drawn out and pulverized. This never felt that way. There was a clear direction, with clear points, Scripture to back up what was said. I had never thought of the term “re-leader” before but found it very valuable, especially pursuing ministry full time and recognizing that will be my role and so much of this applicable. I really enjoyed this book, was challenged by it, and found it very thought provoking!

[Allen Speer · Rating 5 out of 5]

ReLeaders are different than leaders.

No disrespect to leaders in general—but it takes something extra to run toward the fire when everyone else is running away. That’s what a ReLeader does. They step into situations they didn’t create, inherit problems they didn’t cause, and accept responsibility for outcomes they didn’t initiate.

Dr. Jon Chasteen writes from experience. He knows what it means to walk into a ministry context that needs restoration, clarity, and courage. He understands the emotional tension of fixing what you didn’t break. And he doesn’t romanticize it. He tells the truth about it.

This was my second time reading ReLeader—and honestly, it felt even more powerful the second time. (Re-reading ReLeader… see what I did there?) What stood out to me most was realizing how many of my own ministry philosophies and leadership instincts have been shaped by this book. That alone made revisiting it a treasure.

One of the most impactful ideas for me was the concept of building walls around what is sacred. If something truly matters—vision, culture, calling, health—then it’s worth protecting. Not everything needs to be defended. But what is holy? What is mission-critical? Those things deserve intentional boundaries.

If you are involved in a church, ministry, or Christian nonprofit—and especially if you’ve been called to rebuild, restore, or reposition something—this book is worth your time. It’s not theoretical. It’s practical, pastoral, and battle-tested.

There are books you read once and move on from.
And then there are books that quietly shape you.

For me, ReLeader is the latter.

I’m grateful a friend recommended it to me, and I pray it impacts someone else the way it has impacted me.

[Robert Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The algorithm recommended this book, so I gave it a try. At the beginning, I thought, "Oh great, another Biblical leadership book on the lessons from Ezra and Nehemiah." I've read half a dozen such books. But Chasteen took a different approach. Balancing his real life experience in ministry and academic leadership, he applied the lessons of Ezra and Nehemiah in a specific situation--broken situations that you didn't break. It's a subtle shift but refreshing.

He termed this re-leadering, and gives a multi-step framework to relead, each beginning with "re." His writing was straightforward, actionable, and even humble. I would have loved more details on the messes he inherited, but he gave enough details to give an idea of the magnitude of the problems without giving salacious details.

He also is not a "one trick pony," successfully righting flailing organizations in multiple fields--a church, and a school. I enjoyed the book and will look into more by this author.

[Stephany Parkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Excellent read! My husband could have written this book. We have lived it. Several times. 😛 My husband IS a ReLeader for sure. Although this is written about “releading” a church after a failed ministry it is definitely applicable to companies, jobs, marriages, relationships, etc.

[Hailey Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are in a any type of leadership role or have a desire for one I cannot recommend this book enough. This book gave me such a new perspective in leading.