Synopsis Christ-Centered Leadership at Work by : Rick Sessoms, PhD
Jim DeVries, a successful entrepreneur, and Rick Sessoms, an acknowledged leadership educator, join together to challenge existing and potential leaders to impact our culture for Christ. By encouraging others to accept a call to serve in the workplace, they can serve as salt and light starting each Monday, affecting all areas of culture. Jim and Rick begin by showing how mistaken beliefs have devalued everyday work as a means of serving God. While telling the stories of their journey to become leaders, they provide living examples of how God developed them into successful leaders. They share their mistakes, the obstacles they faced, and the valley and mountaintop experiences God shepherded them through. All leading to a new understanding of God's view of success and significance. They give examples of building a healthy culture within an organization and common mistakes that a leader will make to damage it.Don't expect a book that teaches techniques to help you climb the ladder of success. Instead, it shows how you can develop as a genuine leader interested in helping your followers develop as new leaders. You will learn that others will gladly follow you not because you are perfect but because you strive to keep your beliefs, words, and actions in harmony. The book has four parts: God's call to work and leadership; One Leader's Journey; Creating a healthy culture; and Caution and encouragement. Three additional sections are: Learning to communicate responsibly, Learning from Jesus, the master communicator, and Learning effective lay leadership in the church. About the AuthorsJim DeVriesJim graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for Sarns Inc., now a part of Terumo Medical Corporation, Baxter Laboratories, and Medtronic Incorporated. Jim is an entrepreneur, inventor, and sculptor, who founded DLP, Inc. He received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1992, presented jointly by Ernst and Young, Inc. Magazine, and Merrill Lynch. A doctor of Letters from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2005 and the University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Alumni Merit Award in 2012. Rick SessomsRick is the founder and CEO of Freedom to Lead International(R), a non-profit entity that uses story, images, and music to cultivate Christ-centered leaders. He has been a missionary, pastor, and educator and has coached leaders and provided consultation for ministry organizations throughout the Americas, Africa, Europe, North Asia, South Asia, and Oceania. Rick has an MDiv, a DMin, and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership. He formerly served as chair of the Lausanne Leadership Development Working Group. Rick and his wife, Tina, have two grown children.