Spiritual Leadership: Developing Qualities Worth Following (Paperback or Softback)

If leaders in Jesus’ church take his word seriously, we will continually offer ourselves as a countervailing constraint against a culture of ever-increasing consumerism and individualism. As we navigate these complexities, it is essential to ground our leadership in the timeless truths of the gospel. But that’s going to take a whole lot of love and courage. This book aims to equip you with the scriptural conviction and practical tools necessary to lead with grace, humility, and clarity. The church needs more servant leaders—for youth groups, small groups, family dynamics, ministry staff, diaconates, and elderships. Anyone aspiring to this noble service will find vital truths for your call in these pages.

As you embark on this journey through the principles and practices of effective church leadership, remember that you are part of a larger story—one that spans generations and is written by the hands of countless faithful servants before you. Their legacy, and now yours, is to uphold the integrity of the church, to preach the gospel with clarity and conviction, and to shepherd God’s people with love and diligence.

Mike Fontenot is uniquely fit for this task. He has weathered storms yet remains steadfast, refusing to be “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.” As Mike has held fast to the word of truth, he has helped generations of leaders on every inhabited continent to do the same. I count myself among them. He taught me to love Jesus, love his word, and love his church.

May this book inspire you, equip you, and remind you of the high calling you have received. As we turn the pages together, let us recommit ourselves to lead with the passion of Peter, the focus of Paul, and the servant heart of Jesus Christ.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, with an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, Mike Fontenot served in the fulltime ministry for forty-seven years. In 1981, Mike and Teresa, with their three children, planted a church in Sydney, Australia. They subsequently planted other churches in Australia and in New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Mike has served in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom as an evangelist and an elder.