Earlier this Spring, I was reading through one of Michael Hyatt’s blog posts and found a link to a free eBook download (It’s still available!). Ever the bookworm, I couldn’t withstand the temptation. I clicked the link, downloaded the book and got started as soon as I could.
The eBook, Fired Up or Burned Out by Michael Lee Stallard, challenged me on so many levels in how I lead Tabernacle of Praise, that I made it required reading for my elders. After some intitial grumbling over how life is too busy for another book (I had already assigned one months prior.), they reluctantly took the print out and agreed to read it when they had the chance. I’m looking forward to the discussion we are going to have and the transformation that will occur as we implement the ideas of the book into our leadership and church culture.
The premise of the book is that volunteers, employees–people–get burned out when they work in environments that are void of human connection.
In the book, Stallard proves this through numerous case studies of historical and modern leaders and the cultures they created. In the second part of the book, he shares how a leader can create a culture of connection in their organization. The third part of the book speaks to directly to the leader’s character and how that affects the culture of connection or disconnect. The fourth part is a litany of more case studies meant to be read like a devotional, one per day.
I highly recommend this book. Download it today!
Joseph,
Many thanks for your kind words about “Fired Up or Burned Out.” I discovered your comments thanks to Google Alerts. My business and ministry partner Rev. Jason Pankau taught a four hour seminar about Connection Cultures in the church that is available at no cost. You can access it at the this link:
http://www.michaelleestallard.com/connection-cultures-in-faith-communities
It might be a better option if some of your elders are not big readers.
Just fyi, in addition to our leadership training firm, we have a ministry named Life Spring Network that helps pastors and churches develop disciples who create connection cultures which we view as a Biblical imperative as described in John 17.
Blessings and best wishes,
Michael
I can’t tell you how exciting it is to hear from you! I absolutely loved the book and couldn’t put down my iPhone while reading it. I kept telling myself that I couldn’t believe that I got it for free.
Thank you so much for the extra info and links for church leaders. I will definitely check them out soon. However, one of my elders has been reading the ebook you gave away and was so moved by it that I suspect it inspired a sermon he preached. We want a culture of connection, and your book has helped make that goal a little easier to attain.