Courageous Leadership
August 20, 2008
My friend, Isaac Hunter, over the past year has made numerous mentions of a book by Bill Hybels that he re-reads periodically called “Courageous Leadership.” I’m very familiar with Hybels’ books, conferences and the association (Willow Creek Association) he has established to help churches. A couple years back I had the opportunity to go to a conference at his church, Willow Creek Community Church, in Barrington, Illinois, and was inspired by not only the conference but by Willow’s volunteers who served all of us attending those few days.
Isaac has highlighted things that Bill said in the book and at times mentioned how influential the book was in his own leadership. I finally relented and ordered my copy through Amazon. The day it arrived I picked it up and began reading it. I cannot count how many times I held back tears as the book laid out for me so many of my personal challenges that I’ve been trying to get a grip on as a leader. Hybels understands leadership. More importantly to me, he understands church planting and the leadership required for such a task. Willow started thirty years ago as a plant from a youth group that Bill led.
I’m babbling…If you are a leader this book is a MUST read! I’ve read several of Bill’s books including “Too Busy Not to Pray,” “Just Walk Across the Room,” and “Holy Discontent,” but this book is life changing. I have a handful of books in my library that I consider life changing books and this book now joins those on this shelf.
PLEASE, if you are a leader, grab a copy of this book. Read it. Read it again. Apply it. Your ministry is too valuable to not take it seriously.
RD
