Ten days after the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers, I stood at Ground Zero and tried to take in the aftermath of one horrific day.The thoughts of that made me cry out to God, No way! There’s just no way evil can be that deep and that dark! But strangely, while the ashes smoldered around me, and the grief of it overwhelmed me, a profound hope rose in my heart--the local church is the hope of the world.There were many people and organizations helping out after the disaster. But a work of a deeper kind was happening behind the scenes in downtown Manhattan. The most important work of all was being done by pastors and church members, volunteers of churches, ordinary Christ followers. They were in the middle of all the misery, addressing the concerns of the soul.It was happening 24 hours a day. That was the untold media story. So many other organizations met the external needs of people, but it was the church that reached out to care for the inner needs of their fellow human beings. The church became the physicians for the souls of people. That experience underscored, yet again, the convictions that have been forming in Bill Hybels for the past 30 years--that the church has an unique mission to fulfill on planet Earth. And that the future of our society depends on whether or not church leaders understand that and focus the vision of local churches accordingly.Where Bill’s heart beats the fastest is with leaders in local churches. He believes to the core of his being that local church leaders have the potential to be the most influential force in the world. If they "get it," churches will be the redemption centers for change that Jesus imagined them being.So that’s Bill’s hope--that the spiritual gift of leadership will come alive in churches everywhere and, as a result, the church will become the force in the world against which the gates of hell cannot prevail.
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"Again: love love love. This book is great because it's flat-out about Christian leadership. John C Maxwell is fantastic, but you have to apply his principles in a biblical way. Hybels spells it out for you. This book seriously challenged me to nurture my gift of leadership. "
— Shanti (5 out of 5 stars)
" Excellent book by Hybels on leadership. One of the most inspiring books I have read as a pastor. "
— Tj, 2/17/2014" Good overview of what it takes to be a leader in a church setting. I read this mostly in Finnish, and unfortunately the translation was pretty bad. "
— Aronkai, 2/12/2014" Though not a Christian, I always learn from Bill Hybels' teachings on leadership. This book is no exception. Lots of good ideas, stories to which I can relate, and useful suggestions for challenging oneself to reach leadership potential. "
— Eric, 1/28/2014" I like Hybels, but this book is light weight "
— Geoffrey, 1/28/2014" I was so moved by this book, I wrote a letter to the author, but I probably sent it to the wrong address. (just a po box address in small print on the back of the book) It's highly recommended for any current and prospective church leaders. "
— Tommy, 1/18/2014" Awesome book on taking the right 'risks' to lead! "
— Greg, 1/13/2014" A must read for leaders, regardless of the type of organization, but especially leaders in the church. Hybels' principles are clear, forthright, transparent, and time-tested. Get.This.Book! "
— Tony, 12/31/2013" Hybles lives and breaths passion for the local church. Courageous Leadership is one of the best leadership books I've read. The many topics are each handled practically and passionately. Highly recommended for pastors and Christian leaders. "
— Thomas, 12/23/2013" A great read on church leadership for lay-leaders as well as pastors! "
— Sam, 12/22/2013" A must read for any pastor. One of my top ten of all times. Read it several times over and remarkably applicable every time to each season of ministry and life. "
— Ray, 12/19/2013" The last few chapters were better than the rest because he used good teaching from other books about self leadership and individual connections with God and how we differ. The other principles were nothing new too me and there were way too many personal examples about willow and himself "
— Linda, 11/4/2013" very good. I love Bill's revelation of the local church. He speaks about the Bride with a passion that makes you look at your own love for the church in a new way! "
— Garrett, 10/31/2013" Really enjoyed this, provides not just some sound leadership principles but also a glimpse into the man behind Willow Creek. "
— Lyn, 7/17/2013" Again: love love love. This book is great because it's flat-out about Christian leadership. John C Maxwell is fantastic, but you have to apply his principles in a biblical way. Hybels spells it out for you. This book seriously challenged me to nurture my gift of leadership. "
— Shanti, 6/23/2013" Very good for those in leadership!! "
— Amanda, 5/19/2013" This book was really helpful in understanding how fundamentally important it is to achieve balance; and explained a lot of great things about leadership. "
— Cindy, 5/19/2013" This is a great book about the awesome responsibility of the church, and about the way leaders should lead. This book helped navigate a crossroad in my life. "
— Jason, 5/16/2013" Great book - written by a great pastor who loves the church! "
— David, 1/9/2013" The local church is where the power of God is best manifested. Hybels does not disappoint in this book - very well read and worth your time. "
— Gary, 12/26/2012" Great book on different types of leadership styles--opened my eyes to see that all leaders don't look the same "
— Angel, 10/4/2012" To lead like Hybels suggests would transform organizations, churches and governments. "
— David, 8/28/2012" Great book on leadership. "
— Tim, 3/27/2012" a book about having vision and being able to make others walk in that vision. "
— Thiofhitshithu, 3/16/2012" Good Book. Easy Read. Helpful "
— Patricia, 3/3/2012" Reading for CLT @ church. "
— Jillian, 2/8/2012" In some ways, I found this a bit formulaic. Don't get me wrong, Hybels makes a lot of sense, but I also got the feeling that this was more about how Hybels does things than how Scripture instructs us. "
— Walt, 12/1/2011" No other book has influenced my thinking so much as this one. I consider this book part sharing his story, but at the same time teaching lifetime principles for leadership and life. This is Bill Hybels at his best!!! "
— Alberto, 9/18/2011" Awesome book on taking the right 'risks' to lead! "
— Greg, 6/4/2011" Hybles lives and breaths passion for the local church. Courageous Leadership is one of the best leadership books I've read. The many topics are each handled practically and passionately. Highly recommended for pastors and Christian leaders. "
— Thomas, 7/21/2010" This book was really helpful in understanding how fundamentally important it is to achieve balance; and explained a lot of great things about leadership. "
— Cindy, 4/5/2009" To lead like Hybels suggests would transform organizations, churches and governments. "
— David, 3/5/2009" Excellent book by Hybels on leadership. One of the most inspiring books I have read as a pastor. "
— Tj, 12/30/2008" This is a great book about the awesome responsibility of the church, and about the way leaders should lead. This book helped navigate a crossroad in my life. "
— Jason, 12/9/2008" No other book has influenced my thinking so much as this one. I consider this book part sharing his story, but at the same time teaching lifetime principles for leadership and life. This is Bill Hybels at his best!!! "
— Alberto, 7/3/2008Bill Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. Willow Creek’s pioneering ministries have made it one of the most attended churches in North America with an outreach that extends worldwide. Hybels has authored more than 20 books, including Fit to Be Tied, Rediscovering Church (with his wife Lynne), Too Busy Not to Pray, Courageous Leadership, Just Walk Across the Room, and Holy Discontent.
Tom Casaletto is an audiobook narrator whose readings include A Kingdom Called Desire by Rick McKinley, Spiritual Rhythm by Mark Buchanan, Night over Water by Ken Follett, and numerous others.