What do you think?
Rate this book
You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone: The Power of Sharing Leadership
Build a Collaborative and Sustainable Ministry StructureThe work of the church is more than any one person can handle, and God never intended for one pastor to do all a church's ministry alone.Discover a communal and biblical model of missional leadership in You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone. In this book, E. K. Strawser seeks to recover the shared leadership model of the early church, offering a practical and inclusive alternative to hierarchical and patriarchal church leadership structures. This book invites pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders to rethink how leadership can empower the entire body of Christ. By identifying the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers, this book provides a vision for leadership that fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and spiritual flourishing.In this book, StrawserExplores how shared leadership can be integrated into the structure of a church;Expands on the fivefold diversity of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers;Highlights how different gifts and leadership styles suit various aspects of ministry;Expands ministry beyond paid staff, promoting inclusivity regardless of gender, race, or culture;Addresses real-life power dynamics and temptations leaders face; andOffers practical, sustainable structures to multiply leaders for the benefit of the entire community.This book argues that for the church to truly reflect the fullness of Christ, it must embrace the sharing of power. If you're ready to reimagine ministry and build mature leadership in your church, start with You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2025
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 8, 2025
Perhaps there’s no getting beyond the inherent internal contradiction of “Christian leadership”.
“Leadership” has become quite the buzzword in conservative Christendom writ large; there’s a whole industry devoted to encouraging Christians toward various leadership principles, most of which seem suspiciously similar to what is playing out in boardrooms and houses of power throughout the land.
In You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone: The Power of Sharing Leadership (galley received as part of early review program), E. K. Strawser suggests a different model of leadership than is found in most similar resources.
The author advocates for what she calls the APEST model, based on Ephesians 4:12: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. The author lays out what each kind of leader would be like, drawing on types and characteristics rather than concepts of formal office, considering each in terms of different types of gifting and skills.
The author also considers the difficulties which often arise while also offering a strong critique of patriarchal and complementarian philosophies of leadership and authority. The author grounds her appeal in the witness of the more collaborative nature of leadership manifest within the New Testament and according to her own personal experiences.
In terms of the discourse regarding leadership, this book presents very different models and paradigms than can be found elsewhere; the APEST model arguably has much more going for it than the standard “CEO” pastor model prevalent in most of conservative Christendom writ large.
Yet the book is still making much about leadership. The author is well aware of, and quoted and discussed, Matthew 20:25-28 and its critique of the leadership models of the day. Can we take some lessons from an APEST model but not make it all about leadership in all instances? God has certainly placed His people in the Body of Christ to be able to equip fellow Christians; some may have skills in discerning the skills of others and encouraging them to use them; others will have skills in discerning what needs to be critiqued and challenged; others will have a heart to take the Word out; some will have the skill sets to guide others in the Way; some are able to well teach the Gospel. Do they all need leadership positions for this to take place?
And yet, in practical terms, any collaborative effort of people will require some point person or people and appropriate guidance and direction. And so we remain left with the internal contradiction of “Christian leadership” and try to find the best way forward.
Nevertheless, this book provides a lot of food for thought and some more creative ways of considering how God has equipped the Body for all its parts to function well.
“Leadership” has become quite the buzzword in conservative Christendom writ large; there’s a whole industry devoted to encouraging Christians toward various leadership principles, most of which seem suspiciously similar to what is playing out in boardrooms and houses of power throughout the land.
In You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone: The Power of Sharing Leadership (galley received as part of early review program), E. K. Strawser suggests a different model of leadership than is found in most similar resources.
The author advocates for what she calls the APEST model, based on Ephesians 4:12: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. The author lays out what each kind of leader would be like, drawing on types and characteristics rather than concepts of formal office, considering each in terms of different types of gifting and skills.
The author also considers the difficulties which often arise while also offering a strong critique of patriarchal and complementarian philosophies of leadership and authority. The author grounds her appeal in the witness of the more collaborative nature of leadership manifest within the New Testament and according to her own personal experiences.
In terms of the discourse regarding leadership, this book presents very different models and paradigms than can be found elsewhere; the APEST model arguably has much more going for it than the standard “CEO” pastor model prevalent in most of conservative Christendom writ large.
Yet the book is still making much about leadership. The author is well aware of, and quoted and discussed, Matthew 20:25-28 and its critique of the leadership models of the day. Can we take some lessons from an APEST model but not make it all about leadership in all instances? God has certainly placed His people in the Body of Christ to be able to equip fellow Christians; some may have skills in discerning the skills of others and encouraging them to use them; others will have skills in discerning what needs to be critiqued and challenged; others will have a heart to take the Word out; some will have the skill sets to guide others in the Way; some are able to well teach the Gospel. Do they all need leadership positions for this to take place?
And yet, in practical terms, any collaborative effort of people will require some point person or people and appropriate guidance and direction. And so we remain left with the internal contradiction of “Christian leadership” and try to find the best way forward.
Nevertheless, this book provides a lot of food for thought and some more creative ways of considering how God has equipped the Body for all its parts to function well.
October 10, 2025
"You Were Never Meant To Lead Alone" is a great read for anyone in some kind of ministry leadership role. While targeted towards Christian ministry, the principles in this book may also be applied to other forms of leadership.
Around 190 pages, the author makes many great points, including:
- Ways the church selects a pastor can often contradict Christ's characteristics and the way He operated.
- The importance of leaders practicing self-examination.
- Types of pressure a church can apply on a pastor.
- Importance of the 4 H's (humility, honor, hospitality, hope) in leadership.
- Issues for considering shared leadership over hierarchical leadership.
- Benefits of sharing power.
- How to start sharing power.
- How to sustain shared leadership once it has started.
Great read: easy to read and understand, great notes section for further study, full of helpful charts, and well-organized. Recommended.
I was given a review copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
Around 190 pages, the author makes many great points, including:
- Ways the church selects a pastor can often contradict Christ's characteristics and the way He operated.
- The importance of leaders practicing self-examination.
- Types of pressure a church can apply on a pastor.
- Importance of the 4 H's (humility, honor, hospitality, hope) in leadership.
- Issues for considering shared leadership over hierarchical leadership.
- Benefits of sharing power.
- How to start sharing power.
- How to sustain shared leadership once it has started.
Great read: easy to read and understand, great notes section for further study, full of helpful charts, and well-organized. Recommended.
I was given a review copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
March 6, 2025
I had the chance to read an early version of this book to endorse it! Here are my thoughts: As a local church pastor, I want to finish well. I don't want to end up being a curmudgeonly old man who holds a grudge against the church and everyone who "wronged me." Neither do I want my wife and children to feel that way toward me or the church. So, pick up this book and allow Eun to be your guide away from that future. She will expose your assumptions and pastorally point you toward a beautiful kingdom vision of what sharing leadership in the church can look like.
October 30, 2025
This is a thoughtful exploration of ways to rethink power and agency in a church context. It offer some practical suggestions for adopting healthy leadership practices by breaking out of traditional leadership models, recognizing maturity in potential leaders, and intentionally seeking a diversity of gifts in the leaders of our communities.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews