I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling

by Angie Ward

You feel it, deep in your bones: God is inviting you to join Him, to participate in His redemptive work in the world. And yet, as a woman leader, you face so many potential obstacles. Lack of clarity over your unique calling. Competing time demands. Changing seasons of life. Challenges such as self-doubt, criticism, and spiritual dryness. With nearly 30 years of ministry experience, Angie Ward knows firsthand the unique challenges that women leaders face as they seek to pursue their calling.

In I Am a Leader, Angie explores the concept of "calling" as it applies specifically to women leaders--those women of influence both in Christian ministry and the broader world: What is calling? How do you discover it? And what does it look like to live out that calling practically amid a multitude of challenges?

Thoroughly researched, theologically and biblically integrated, and uniquely personal, I Am a Leader will resonate no matter where you are on the calling journey: whether you are wondering about your God-given purpose; sensing an inkling of an invitation to a particular ministry; or embarking on the path but encountering challenges.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Christian

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Stephanie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent for any woman learning to navigate her calling. As a pastors wife, I found it very relevant to my life in the ministry. Thank you Angie!

[Kadi Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angie does an amazing job describing the different aspects of calling... and in a way that is both vulnerable and equipping. I think this book will be helpful for all of us who are trying to discern who we are and what next step God is inviting us to take. Thank you for this great book!

[Polly Lott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many good books have been written on the topic of leadership among those who follow Christ, who sense in their hearts and minds a calling to lead others with both their words and life example. This book is the best I have read that is focused specifically toward women who sense God has gifted and “called” them to be leaders in their churches and communities. Speaking from her broad range of ministry experience and careful study—and also as a wife and mother, Dr. Angie Ward understands and describes so very well the challenges many women face in discovering and leaning into their leadership calling—including even recognizing it in the first place.
Whether you are confident and experienced as a leader or just beginning to explore whether God may be preparing you to lead others, you will find a new friend in this book, an author who welcomes your questions and insecurities while helping you grow your assurance and confidence in God’s direction.
Do you want to lead? Feeling discouraged or weary of trying to use the gifts God has given you? Or are you perhaps a husband married to a woman who is gifted to lead in ministry, and you want to understand and encourage her? Read this excellent book!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I have been trying to find for years! My husband and I met in college with aspirations of going into ministry. At the age of 18, we had no idea what questions would come up regarding our calling(s) and how to practically live them out. Angie Ward goes after some of the hardest questions I’ve had for the last two decades.

In the section on Calling & Marriage, she gives a glimpse of what it might be like for a couple to take turns answering their individual callings and what happens if the space to live them out at the same time doesn’t exist.

In the chapter on Calling & Seasons of Life, Ward acknowledges the tension that has occupied so much of my mind and my heart as I raise young children and yet long to pursue more formal ministry roles. Her words are encouraging and non-prescriptive.

In the part on Calling & Money….WHOA. This is a hard topic to tackle. And I really wrestled with some aspects there. But we need more of this when we consider ministry and when the money in ministry is lacking. How do we trust the Holy Spirit? Angie Ward gives some guiding principles.

Is there a part of the book I didn’t need or really enjoy? Probably the first couple chapters about defining calling and discerning a call. But that is simply because I had already considered these questions many years ago.

That means there is potentially something here for everyone! For the person hearing the word “calling” and wondering what it is—they’ll find that here! For the person who has been pursuing their calling for years but still having doubts or questions—they’ll find that here!

I highly recommend this book! You will find wisdom, support, and guidance. Angie Ward is a gifted teacher and mentor. You will want her presence in your life via these pages!

[Debbie McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I Am a Leader" is such an important read for women. I love when she says "The question is not whether you have influence; the questions are: Where do you have influence, and how are you using that influence to bring honor and glory to God?" After confirming that I am a leader, no matter how different my role as a leader may look from others, she delves into our calling as a leader. Being the only female on our ministerial staff, and my upbringing in a religious environment that squelched female leadership, I have struggled to find my voice as a female leader. Angie uses scripture to support everything she shares in the book. She encourages women to listen to God's voice more than anyone else's. She gives us the encouragement needed to accept God's calling on our lives and to do it well. I'm thankful for this book and what I've learned by reading it.
P.S. In reference to my first sentence, I think it would benefit male pastors to also read this book because their church is full of women that lead and should be encouraged to lead well.

[DougJenk111213 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I had this book in my 20's or 30's but so thankful I read it in my late 50's. Needless to say, it is relevant for every season of life. Angie Ward made sure to be all inclusive of every woman from every walk of life, generation to generation, and in every season. I found something profoundly insightful within each chapter. I especially enjoyed reading the many brief testimonials and quotes from the many women she included in the book. It is not a scholarly or technical read, but an invitation to walk along side the other women in our lives, encouraging and learning from each other. I found it very welcoming. I strongly encourage you to read it and discover just how significant you are to God and the world around you.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Angie Ward’s “I am a Leader”. I most appreciated reading stories both from Angie’s personal experience as well as many other women who allowed her to share their journeys. It’s a good feeling to come to the realization that I am not alone.

[Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angie Ward is unafraid to tackle many of the tough topics around leadership, particularly around leadership for women. I find myself thinking about what I'm reading multiple times in a week. Whether it's the encouragement around money and how it plays into following a call, ministry and marriage (and mommying), or even the daily challenges that leading can bring, I'm re-thinking and re-orienting my ministry life because of what Ward wrote.

Ward weaves in numerous stories of women in very different ministry paths throughout the book. They are from across the country and from many stages of life. These voices encourage me on my own journey; I gleaned wisdom from women younger and older than myself.

I Am A Leader, while written for women, is beneficial for all people who are living into their call (I've read several sections out loud to my husband). It's a book I wish I had earlier in my ministry career, I'm glad I have now, and will be helpful for those along that journey, wherever it may take them.

[Timothy Koller · Rating 5 out of 5]

We need more voices like this. We need more people thinking rightly about how theology informs our living and to challenge us to live fully into what it is we say we believe.

We live out of our identity--what we believe is true about us--and this is why it is so powerful to have Ward articulate: "If you have any type of influence in any kind of relationship, you are a leader. Let that sink in for a moment. If you have influence, you are a leader." She challenges every reader to own their agency and to use that agency and influence to participate with what God is doing in the world. This book powerfully expounds upon Paul's words to the church in Corinth that we are to be Christ's ambassadors.

There are many things I like about I Am A Leader, but I'll highlight four of them. First, the writing is concise and superb. This isn't a book where it feels like someone added "filler" to reach a word count. Second, women have been overlooked in many evangelical circles for so long, and this book not only articulates a framework from which women can rightly claim their agency, but it also features dozens and dozens for women's voices from the many interviews conducted by the author. Third, this book helps the reader to appropriately locate their life and work in light of God's mission--marriage (or not), season of life, money, challenges are all viewed through a larger lens and help the reader to order their thinking in light of larger purpose. Fourth, I am so thankful I have a resource I can provide to my children as they enter their later teen years to help them consider the pathway before them.

I strongly recommend I Am A Leader for any and every Christian--male or female--so they can rightly claim their agency and use their influence for the glory of God.

[Katy Epling · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I Am a Leader" was exactly the book I needed to read right now! Reading Angie Ward's encouragement on how to discern our call AND how to navigate it through different seasons of life and situations was incredibly helpful. I found it both easy to read and challenging, which is a great (and rare) combination, and I feel better equipped to live out my call from God in the world. (And in case you're thinking, "That sounds great, but I'm not really a leader," you ARE. As she says in the book, "The question is not whether you have influence; the questions are: WHERE do you have influence, and HOW are you going to use that influence to bring glory to God?")

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for all women in ministry! It was encouraging to me as a wife, mom and volunteer leader in ministry to see that my influence as a leader doesn’t begin and end with me, but comes from God. It is up to me to seek him first for what is next in my ever-changing, ever-adventurous calling.

[Emily P · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I Am A Leader" is a book that is helpful to any woman who feels called to a leadership position in ministry. Ward's writing is peppered with sections of quotes collected from women who lead, highlighting what works and what doesn't.

Each chapter has a specific theme that is applicable to those in ministry or seeking to become involved in ministry. I wish this book had been around when I first felt the call to ministry! This book challenges the reader to self reflect and discern their next steps while giving sound advice from those who've been there, including Ward herself.

One of my favorite chapters in the book was "Calling and Seasons of Life," where the author encourages the reader to examine which stage of life they're in and apply that knowledge in how they can serve during that time. Often we forget that we are still ministering when we are raising children, keeping a home, mentoring younger women or supporting our spouses. Ministry takes many different forms throughout our lives, differing by seasons.

This is a great book for anyone who feels called to a life in ministry and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sage guide to help maneuver through the challenges, specifically those women face, in indentifying, fulfilling and living out a call on their lives. This would be even better in a group session, as I think shared experiences are at the core of this book.

I was an early reader, thanks to the author and NavPress Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[Mary Henton]

Angie Ward's I Am a Leader is a must-read for any woman and every woman, regardless of vocational or volunteer title, age, and relationship status. The book is rich in wisdom and experience: Angie's own, other women, and respected authors on the topic. The illustrations unveil thematic nuances often disregarded in discussions about women in leadership.

The book addresses the sometimes thorny topics of calling and authority, calling and marriage, calling and the seasons of life, calling and money. Angie unwraps language to gently provoke new perspectives on these and other themes.

Some of my favorite quotations:
"The essence of leadership is influence in relationship, regardless of a particular title or role in a particular context."
"Calling is really just following Jesus into whatever he is asking you to do in that season of life."
"The crucible of our formation is in the monotony of our daily routines."
"While the actual calling of a person in the Bible is usually described (or read" as a singular event, that event was just one point in a greater process."
"A life of leadership begins with the little things."

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this thoughtful book. I've had encouragers in my life, telling me I'm a leader for a long time, but I've refused that role until recently. Angie's book has served as a gentle, encouraging guide as I explore what it means to be a leader as a woman, how my gifts and dreams are part of my calling as a woman leader, and how to navigate life while embracing my role as a leader. The thoughts from other women dispersed throughout the book assure me that I'm not alone in the journey.

[Lyle Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 50 years in "ministry " it's refreshing to see a book about women in ministry from a woman in ministry. Her perceptions and experience give validity to the Scriptural references Angie Ward shares so well. I highly recommend this book for a good Biblical direction for women in ministry AND women praying about their "calling" in ministry.

[Heather McKinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Angie Ward starts a needed conversation by writing this book. It explores so many aspects of being a woman AND being called including what this means in the myriad of life’s seasons. I highly recommend this book for women who have a feeling they should step into something more and men who would like to support their endeavors.

[Ellie Jean]

I don't tend to think of myself as a leader. But this book is still for me and it's for you too. Practical, useful skills to lead you and to a better understanding of calling. Specifically geared to woman, too.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you see the title of this book, "I Am a Leader," and think it isn't pertinent because you don't see yourself as a leader, I strongly urge you to think again, read the book, and realize that, according to Dr. Angie Ward, "If you have influence, you are a leader." Whether you are seeking where and how God is calling you or you have been settled comfortably in your calling for sometime now or you sense God preparing you for something brand new, "I Am a Leader" will be a great resource and guide for you. The overall message of the book is excellent, and I appreciate some particular aspects of the book. Dr. Ward did a great job of weaving her own story throughout. She opens up and shares deeply, but she uses her story to illustrate, not to make her story the story. She also uses Scripture throughout the book in a way that is completely relevant to the topics she shares. And the topics she talks about are all relevant to issues women have when it comes to their calling! And finally, she has done a great amount of research, from reading books and articles to interviewing about 50 women in various roles and types of leadership and ministry. She shares much wisdom from all of these resources.

[Cassia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The question is not whether you have influence. The questions are WHERE do you have influence, and HOW are you going to use that influence to bring honor and glory to God?” That statement from Dr. Angie Ward’s book really jolted me from my narrow concept of leadership. I feel like she’s telling me and every woman who can get their hands on this book, “Face it, sister, God has called you to be a leader. You get to start right where you are even while He develops you for bigger purposes.” I loved that she defines what it means to be "called" and how to prioritize our primary calling to honor and glorify God with our secondary calling(s)--the specific, God-directed ways we walk out our earthly purpose. Most useful, though, are all the practical chapters such as Calling and Marriage, Calling and Seasons of Life, and even Calling and Money. I've never read a book that takes into consideration the unique challenges and responsibilities that leaders who happen to be women often face and offers solid advice on how to navigate them. Key book for any woman in leadership (whether in vocational ministry or any woman who has come to realize her value as a leader and influencer in a corporate environment, volunteer organization, family, or neighborhood) and for anyone, male or female, who wants to help women embrace their callings and grow as leaders.

[Mary Elsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you been sensing a call to impact your sphere of influence? In the new book, “I Am A Leader” by Angie Ward, women are encouraged to act on their gifts, experiences, and passions. Using Scripture to support her work, the author asks women “Where do you have influence, and how are you using that influence to bring honor and glory to God?” Filled with practical insights on how stepping into a leadership role will impact your finances, marriage, and season of life, this book shares stories of how other women have sought balance and clarity. If you are looking for encouragement to know you are not alone on the road of leadership, I would highly recommend this book. While primarily geared toward women, men in leadership roles would benefit from reading this book to gain insights and understand the struggles faced by women in the church today.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a woman, with influence in any sector or sphere of ministry, and in any stage of life, you need to read this book! Dr. Angie Ward addresses what can for many be a "loaded topic" - women in ministry - and does so with grace, without ostracizing one side or another, and yet manages to challenge those of us on either side of the complementarian/egalitarian aisle. I appreciated her openness with her own struggles as a "leader, who just happens to be a woman," and her vulnerability and passion to help others on their journey was an encouragement. The quotes from a wide variety of women in leadership was a wonderful addition. While I am glad she addresses the single woman and recognizes their value, I would have liked to have seen a bit more space for this often-underappreciated group of women. A great read!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One's calling is a mystery to most. And for women, well sometimes it's complicated. In "I Am a Leader," Angie Ward takes a behind the scenes look at what a calling is and what it means for us as women. Intertwined with her own transparent experiences are those of women leaders in ministry from all backgrounds in life. The challenges presented are real, the advice practical. Jesus taught on counting the cost of following Him, but many of us forget this important step before launching out into the great unknown of our callings. This is an excellent resource for those just coming into their callings or for those overwhelmed by their callings. The more we understand that we are not alone in figuring out or sustaining our callings, the better off we are in the long run!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I dig through my own personal issues with leadership and women and the role of both in the life of the church, "I Am A Leader" couldn't come at a better time. What is my role? What should I do? What CAN I do?

"I Am a Leader" is about realizing that you already are - a leader who just happens to be a woman - and not what other people think you should be. Everything you need to be used by God for the Kingdom is already in you - it's about finding and celebrating that.

"I Am a Leader" is full of honest insight and advice, while never condemning women like me - women who are still finding their voice and their path. At the same time, Dr. Angie Ward never says it will be an easy road - just that it's one worth walking. Calling is beyond what is comfortable, but it is about where God wants you and where you're willing to go on that journey.

[Michael Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be easy to read, engaging, informative, and eye opening. As a dude who spent years in ministry leadership and debating how women and the extent to which women are biblically permitted to exercise leadership within the church it was important to read a book from a women IN ministry leadership. I think women will find it refreshing and encouraging. I believe men will find it revealing.

It’s filled with stories of the authors life, research of the experience of other female leaders, biblical support and honest experiences.

Pick up a copy, grab a cup of coffee and settle in. You’ll be glad you did.

[Atlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be buying several copies of "I am a Leader" by Dr. Angie Ward to hand out!
This book needs to be in the hand of every Christian female and every male who has or wants women on their team. Angie does an incredible job debunking the myth that leadership is only a few chosen people. Almost everyone functions as a leader in some capacity.
Throughout the book you will learn and hear from other women about the difference between your primary calling (always to Christ) and secondary calling which can be in the home, church, workforce, etc.
This book has something for everyone. Lets celebrate together the JOY of our calling!

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated Dr Angie Ward’s honest sharing of her experience as a woman leader in the church. There are certainly some dynamics unique to female leadership that are refreshing to read from another woman’s perspective. While I think it’s a book that would be helpful for those early in their leadership journey, I was surprised to read a significant amount that addresses those who have been in ministry for decades. I really appreciated her description of ministry and seasons. I have also thought of ministry for myself in seasons and I was glad to read her description through research of the dynamics of these seasons and key targets for each one.

[Denise Totten · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a woman ministry leader I can't tell you how relevant this book was to me. It caused me to reflect, evaluate, and see the joy of my calling!

"God wants to shape you through the discipleship process more than he needs to use you for a particular task elsewhere in the world." page 91

Many things in the book moved me to contemplate. I am grateful for the opportunity to have read this.

Much like how you feel when your favorite movie comes to an end I found myself not wanting this book to conclude.

[Michaela True · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is amazing! Ward does a great job of continually coming back to God’s truth while respectfully raising up the leadership qualities of women and their potential in the Church and other ministries. Was easy and encouraging for me to read and understand. Four stars because at times stances were a little too egalitarian for me (but just slightly, not too bad). Overall a great and informative read for preparing for ministering to women.

[Emily Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important things to know in ministry is that you are not alone. Ward's winsome book speaks to women in ministry and leadership with the reassurance of journeying together in the (sometimes) lonely waters of leadership. Scripture, testimony, anecdotes, and leadership principles intertwine to produce this encouraging and challenging book. Ward isn't scared to discuss the tough and real topics of women of all ages and life stages who are also in ministry and leadership. Definitely worth the read.

[Mandee Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book!!! Angie takes leadership and calling in a new and exciting way!! My husband and I have been looking to take on additional leadership roles within our church and this book came at the perfect time as we’re delving into these new roles. Her story and message will be encouraging to all!! I’d highly recommend to everyone!!!