Dean, Jetter School of Business Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Secretary, Board of Directors Christian Business Faculty Association
Every now and then I read a book that I should have read years before. Such was the case when I read Spiritual Leadership: Principles of Excellence for Every Believer, by J. Oswald Sanders. While written primarily for missionaries, Sanders has written a classic book on leadership of Christian organizations. Sanders deals with an issue that any sincere Christian with leadership abilities has to face: is it acceptable to aspire to leadership? Sanders concludes that motivation is the issue: is our desire to serve, or are we motivated by personal needs for power or acclamation?
Sanders also makes it clear that a shortage of spiritual leadership always exists within Christianity, and therefore those whom God has given leadership gifts will find many opportunities for service. Sanders' discussion of the essential qualities of leadership is quite illuminating, as is his discussion of the perils of leadership.
I believe that every aspiring Christian leader needs to read and absorb this book; therefore, it is now a required text in my Introduction to Leadership class.
