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Character Matters

I am finishing up a manuscript that I am writing with my friend, Dr. Norman Blackaby. We have facilitated a PhD seminar for three different cohorts at Dallas Baptist University called Biblical Servant Leadership. As part of the work in the seminar we ask the candidates to write case studies on biblical servant leaders in order to discover that leader's strengths and weaknesses as he or she led. We also look for principles and practices we can apply to current leadership theory and practice.

As we guided the seminar we observed the importance of character as a person called by God led and how character squarely centered on his or her relationship with God. Outward appearance, skills, and personality were not enough to lead effectively under God's guidance. Character matters. We also observed that not much had been written about character in leadership studies. So, we decided we would address the need and write something of our own.

As we began to talk to the publisher about the direction we would write, we came to the conclusion that character is an issue that applies to people in all walks of life. Yes, character directly affects one as a leader--you don't have to look far to read or hear about a leader who had failed because of character issues--but character plays a major role in our effectiveness as a Christ-follower, no matter where God has placed us.

So, we widened our scope of readers and write how God develops character and about the difference godly character makes in a person's life and others whether the person is a leader or not. We use biblical case studies, which lets the reader interact with the biblical material. We apply what we observe in the case studies to everyday situations and offer the reader ways to allow God to develop his or her character.

We share our own case studies of people like Hannah, Boaz and Ruth, Jonah, Mary and Martha, Barnabas, and Stephen. We write about Moses, Joseph, Peter and Paul, and Jesus, who models for us how to develop character in others and the difference a relationship with him makes in our character as we serve others in his name.

I'm excited about the project, and I pray Legacy Church and  Christians everywhere will benefit from our work. Pray for us as we finish things up and go through the editing and publishing process.

What have you read on character that may help us? Would love to hear from you, and we'll let you know when the book is available to purchase.