In my study and observations of leadership in the Church worldwide, we have a leadership disease of epidemic proportions.  Whether it be the Latino dictator, Asian Feudal kingpin, African Chieftain, Communist boss or Western CEO, we have brought the power leadership model of the culture around us right into the Church.  But Jesus said, “It shall not be so among you.  Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant ….”  We need to re-calibrate our thinking about leadership in the Church.

Rardin’s book forcefully brings forth the Biblical basis for a different kind of leadership – a Kingdom leadership suitable for pastors and ministry leaders alike. He brings fresh ways to think and analyze our own leadership models and practical diagrams to help us move from the ineffective cultural leadership models around us to a supernatural leadership modeled by Jesus and the early Church. I highly recommend The Servant’s Guide to Leadership.
-Stacy T. Rinehart, CEO, MentorLink.org
Raleigh, NC
Author: UPSIDE DOWN: The Paradox Of Servant Leadership

Let me say first how much I have enjoyed your book!!.. I am now 55 and perhaps am at the "height" of my leadership influence but have never felt that I've come across anything like Sander's Spiritual Leadership since I first read it in the early seventies. Until now. Thank you so much. I appreciate your liberal use of Scripture, your attitude toward those you probably disagree with as well as your thoughtful and thorough treatment of the subject. Besides, I found myself deeply touched by the Good Shepherd as I read. The part on pre-redeemed default settings was a bright, if uncomfortable, light.
-Gord Martin, Pastor, Lakeshore Bible Chapel & Director of Vision Ministries Canada - Waterloo Ontario

The SSLI process went very smoothly. I'm impressed. I've briefly reviewed the results and they seem accurate and insightful. I am going to go over it with my board and senior staff to identify some areas of growth. I may also have other senior staff go through it. I have also recommended your book and evaluation to several others, especially when it would be helpful to obtain an objective evaluation of a pastor's leadership style. I think we will recommend this often in the days ahead. Thanks for your excellent work. It is a blessing to the church.
-Ken Sande, Peacemaker Ministries

I read your book several days ago. I like it! I appreciate your tone, heart for our Lord, thorough commitment to the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures, and hard work in putting your volume together. It was a massive job! God used it to encourage me. Thank you for thinking through and assembling a model that is balanced, biblical, and complete.
-Bud Hopkins, Dean and Professor, Emeritus, Moody Graduate School

Your book is wonderful! I read it all the way through and am going through it again. Yesterday, I had an encounter with three of my VPs dealing with an issue of conflict of authority. God brought to my mind the principle of biblical leadership servanthood. It resolved the issue beautifully.
-Executive Vice President, Global Missions Agency

Thanks, Richard, for your sound biblical, systematic treatment of a subject so important to the Christian leaders of our generation. Your book is a "must" and I'm going to recommend it to Bob Biehl for his Leadership Academy.
-Tom Stebbins, Evangelism Explosion

I received not long ago a copy of your book, The Servant's Guide to Leadership. I was so impressed after reading it that I asked all of my Vice President's to order a copy. In fact I am asking our book store on campus to order books so that our student leaders can get a good start on the real meaning of leadership. So I just wanted to say thanks for writing this great book. It has helped change my own thinking on Leadership and has already greatly impacted our campus.
-Don Young, President Toccoa Falls College

Your Book is a real challenge BUT is telling me what my heart has thought for some time and where my heart has been trying to take my head. You write in a way that just shines a bright light into the darkness.
-Bill Manley, missionary

The absolutely solid Biblical support for your leadership philosophy is encouraging and challenging.
-Director, Christian Camp

I have really reflected a lot on your book and have made an attempt to bring it to the conscience side of my mind, and then implement it in my own practices…I am convinced that this is a huge blind spot in the church. I believe strongly in what you are doing and also believe that the Lord has given you incredible insight in this area. I am certain that your ministry is producing more fruit than you may even be aware of. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless your efforts.
-Lay Leader

"Remarkable! From a man who trained leaders for decades in the business world comes a most penetrating biblical exposition of a servant leader's heart attitudes, motives and behavior. Open your heart and let God speak to you through this important reminder of what God's Word teaches about leadership!"

Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia, President
Vision New England
Acton, MA

"Rich Rardin is one of my heroes.  Seldom, in over thirty years of ministry in Christ's church, have I seen someone lead so effectively.  Rich is a master at casting vision and managing change, as well as caring for people. In this book you will find yourself wrestling in fresh ways with both the biblical text and an original paradigm on servant leadership."

Joel Eidsness, Senior pastor
Walnut Hill Community Church
Bethel, CT

In this fresh look at leadership in the church, we find solid Biblical principles matched by practical and personal application.  Scripture is not the usual skimpy proof-texting to buttress the author’s own convictions but is front and center in every chapter.  And the points, the principles, and the passion come clearly from the Word.

The author indicates his careful research with references to other leadership books, then comes up with his own conclusions.  He presents these with helpful language and easy-to-understand diagrams.  The book builds chapter by chapter, and by the time the last page is read, the reader has an excellent approach to evaluate and correct his leadership.

The best parts of the book deal with the leader’s heart and motivations.  Rardin hammers home the truth that external behavior must come from internal beliefs—so, it’s all about the heart.  In the concluding pages we are encouraged to take specific steps to deal with the issues of the heart, and then to apply the principles to personal leadership style.

This book would serve well the leadership of any local church, and could easily be used as an eight-month study—a chapter a month.  It could also be very helpful for the non-western church where leadership models frequently take a non-biblical top-down approach.

Woody Phillips, President
United World Mission,
Charlotte, NC

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