Productive Leadership: A Guide for Ministry in the Small Church

Productive Leadership is a celebration of the small churches of America and the lasting legacy they have provided for the Christian landscape. Combining attributes of proven leadership with stories from the New Testament, it provides a practical guide for developing and maintaining fruitful ministry and is written for lay and clergy leaders in these small- to mid-size churches. Utilizing experiences from actual ministry situations, it uses both successes and failures to learn how to work together, taking the reader from assessing the cultural values of a church through discerning God’s vision for ministry and working together in leadership. Complete with step-by-step exercises for individuals, councils, and committees, the various chapters form a map for developing effective ministry in what often seems to be a futile mission field. Readers are invited to examine leadership qualities by identifying their own characteristics and competencies and how they are best used in working within the ministry of their local church. Well suited for individual readers, it is also a valuable resource for church councils to discover how they can best work together toward the fulfillment of their mission, making the most productive use of their time and resources. Anyone interested in the future ministry of small churches will find this book to be a valuable resource.

Roy L. Spore is a retired pastor, teacher, and local church consultant that has spent over forty-five years working with rural churches and pastors in North Texas. His background in education combines with practical experience to make him a valued mentor to many local pastors.