I recently got a book from a friend with “I thought of you when I read this book” . The Book was “Gifted to Lead The art of leading as a woman in the church” By Nancy Beach

Gifted to Lead

After having read it I recommended it to female pastors on Facebook and got a few responding as to wanting to know my thoughts on the book, so let me give a few pointers of why I liked the book

Let me be clear, its not heavy reading – which I this time really enjoyed as I could relax with the book.  I have so many heavy books on leadership strategies etc that I just cant seem to finish,  so it was nice with a  a fast read.

With warmth and humour and insights  the author describer her own journey in leadership at Willow Creek. Her open hearted sharing  resonated with me, here are some thoughts  I enjoyed about the book.

1. To read another womans honest and open journey is rare and resfreshing, especially a woman in  church leadership
I enjoyed that it wasn’t a “poor me” or “look how amazing I have it all together” book

2. Recognising some of your own challenges in a male lead church was affirming
3. Recognising not only challenges but hesitation in leadership- as you feel so out of the box sometimes- very reasuring to “not be alone” in that.
4 to see how she clearly following Gods calling into uncharted territory, and how God lead the way and made the impossible possible.

5 its not just me with these odd/ strange experiences 🙂 she was able to verbalise the experiences and her thoughts so articulate-It silenced my doubts as to there only being one type of leader in the church, and that some of the  things that I questions ( lord is it just me being awkward) was put into perspective
AND I laughed

especially on her take on women and microphones ( ill leave you to read that )
there also is a good chapter(7) in the book especially for men who are working with women or would like to understand some of what women in church leadership might be  experiencing.

let me know your thoughts…