Excellence in Leadership: Reaching Goals with Prayer, Courage and Determination

by John White

Every leader faces these problems. But as Christians, should we solve them by using the secular strategies of best-selling management books? Or is there another way?
John White says there is. Nehemiah provides the model we need for excellence in leadership. From the way he overcame obstacles, we find practical solutions for surmounting the problems we encounter. From the way he achieved his goals, we learn how to accomplish the work God has called us to. With the wisdom and biblical insight John White is known for, he shows how to be action-oriented and prayer-oriented, a firm leader and a servant, a realist and a visionary.
This book confronts the crises facing leaders today. Here White inspires and guides us in our task. A book for present and future leaders.

Genres: Leadership, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Reference, Spirituality, Nonfiction

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

John White was an Evangelical Christian author, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and a pastor of Church of the Way.

Reviews

[Lyndon]

Don't recall reading this book, but it's a Christian leadership book based on the principles found in Nehemiah. I might have used it as a resource when I preached on Nehemiah - a very popular approach to leadership and "church building" back in the 90s. Maybe it still is (using a biblical character and extrapolating principles for application today). I know as a 2nd year pastor I needed all the help I could get as those sermons were relentless in their coming around each week.

[Jeff Bjorgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years back, my parents bought this book for me. I was in my second year of college, and it was looking like I was on my way to vocational ministry. I probably lacked maturity, hadn't spent much time in leadership roles, and frankly, didn't know that much about anything. So a book titled, "Excellence in Leadership" seemed like a thoughtful gift, if not some kind of spiritual intervention for me.

I don't remember at the time thinking the book was that remarkable. John White had written a bunch of kids books that were a lot like C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles. He was Canadian, Pentecostal (or charismatic, influenced by John Wimber and the Vineyard movement), and I wasn't too sure how academic he was. For that matter, I was snobbish a bit when it came to leadership books; pastors should be shepherds first, was my thinking, leaders second.

Those two distinctives seem a bit ridiculous now. How can you shepherd people without leading them? How can you lead as a pastor without shepherding?

Fast forward 26 years. I do a sermon series on Nehemiah and reach for the small unassuming book on my shelf. What I found was gold. White wrote like a pastoral coach, with insights that are as current today as they've ever been (the book was published in 1986). His lyrical style echoes another favourite author of mine, Eugene Peterson, giving a sense that this is someone who is writing about pastoral wisdom from the trenches rather than from some ivory tower. His exegete was strong, his application even stronger, and he made this well-worn story of the Persian-turned-governor of Jerusalem and his rebuilding project come to life again for me.

So I finished the book, reflected on all the different ways that I can learn from Nehemiah's example when it comes to pastoral leadership, and fired off a text to mom and dad, thanking them for the gift that keeps on giving.

[Ghengis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapters about dealing with opposition are helpful, but Mr White seems to go off on a tangent in other chapters talking about the importance of prayer and how to deal with old age. The book is really his take on the book of Nehemiah applied to his experiences in dealing with the inter varsity Christian Fellowship and only partly about leadership. If you are looking for a book on Christian leadership there are better books out there.

[Kimi Barton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this for a class and… i really didn’t like it. It was more of his thoughts on Nehemiah (which were fine- those parts were great) but not a great book in leadership. Maybe the class discussion will change my mind. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Dr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to study Nehemiah, and I found this book on leadership based on the Book of Nehemiah a great and challenging read. Encourage you to read, review, and apply what is given.

[Luke Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple teaching on Godly leadership built on Nehemiah’s example. Nothing that will revolutionise any leadership team in originality or style, but its solid biblical principles are challenging.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

White has written an excellent book on leadership by using the biblical example of Nehemiah, whose construction of the walls of Jerusalem are chronicled in the Book of Nehemiah.
Among the important points White covers include:

1. Prayer must never be a dialog - true prayer is initiated by God and represents our response to Him.
2. Waiting on God does not we are not to work or research the solution to a problem. Good leaders do their own research.
3. Overcoming motivational roadblocks to getting things done.
4. Leadership is not status that exempts us from performing common tasks. Spirituality is no substitute for sweat.
5. Standing up to those who oppose the work God has called you to do.
6. What marks godly leaders is the willingness to deal with mistakes openly and applying the same standards to others and themselves.
7. When God has given us work to do, fear must never paralyze us.
8. True leadership must be consistent with ongoing servanthood.

Read, enjoy, and be encouraged to be a better leader!

COPIED

[Leila · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some gems of wisdom in it, but it was not easy reading. I had to read it for a class, or else I probably would have given up.

[Jt]

Amazing insights into the leadership of Nehemiah and what God was able to do through him for revival in the land of Jerusalem. Great book.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some helpful sections, but I learnt much more from the BST commentary on Nehemiah by Brown.

[Dave Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting look at Nehemiah's leadership with correlations to today.