After LeAnn and I emerged from Converge’s Church Planter Assessment, one of the recommendations I received was to read The Making of a Leader by Dr. J. Robert Clinton*. I was familiar with the title, and knew it to be a standard among leadership books.
But something in me was a bit hesitant to read it. I feared it wouldn’t be timely. I assumed it would be stuck in principles that may have worked in the late 80s, but would fall short of what is needed for leaders in the early part of the 21st century.
How wrong I was.
Clinton has written a masterpiece. This work is a surprising mix of analytical thinking on the subject of leadership with spot-on biblical and contemporary illustrations. Clinton is extremely thorough, looking at all phases of leadership, making this book appropriate for young ministry leaders as well as seasoned vets. (In fact, I plan to re-read this book again, going through it with my 15-year-old daughter who has displayed a lot of leadership gifts throughout her young life.) Yet, despite at times seeming like an encyclopedia on the subject of leadership (complete with a glossary!), each chapter is incredibly readable.
While I wish I could have read this book in my first full-time ministry, I’m grateful to at least read it as we pray toward starting a new church. I think the best way to gain from Clinton’s work is to read it about every 5-10 years. It is timeless enough that it will feel “contemporary” to whatever stage of leadership you find yourself.
Rating: 5 Leadership Phases out of 5
*Note: Link to NavPress is to the 2nd edition - I read the 1st edition, thus this review is based on the 1st edition of the book
