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.
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.
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.
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. 🤷🏼♀️
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.
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.
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!