About
Apostle Gabe is challenging us to 12 months of reading as the Leadership Team at Encounter. This initiative is designed to foster both personal and corporate growth, encouraging us to mature as leaders in faith and community. Each month, we’ll dive into a selected book that challenges and strengthens our understanding of effective, impactful leadership. Together, we’ll be learning and applying principles that will shape our church and our lives for lasting impact.
December 2024 - Church Growth Foundations
- Book: Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren
- Focus: Principles of building a healthy church, focusing on purpose and growth strategies.
January 2025 - Vision & Strategic Leadership
- Book: Visioneering by Andy Stanley
- Focus: Developing and implementing a compelling vision, mission, and goals for church growth.
February 2025 - Team Building & Collaboration
- Book: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
- Focus: Building cohesive and effective ministry teams, addressing common dysfunctions and solutions.
March 2025 - Leadership Character
- Book: Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
- Focus: Exploring the character and qualities essential for Christian leaders.
April 2025 - Pastoral Theology
- Book: The Pastor as Public Theologian by Kevin J. Vanhoozer
- Focus: Understanding the pastoral role as a theological calling, not just a functional role.
May 2025 - Conflict Resolution and Communication
- Book: Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, et al.
- Focus: Effective communication and conflict resolution, critical for maintaining unity and trust.
June 2025 - Personal Development and Integrity
- Book: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
- Focus: Balancing emotional health with spiritual maturity, critical for personal and professional growth.
July 2025 - Servant Leadership
- Book: The Servant by James C. Hunter
- Focus: The core principles of servant leadership, aligning with Christ-like leadership qualities.
August 2025 - Discipleship and Mentorship
- Book: The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman
- Focus: Jesus’ model for discipleship and how it can be applied to mentoring others in ministry.
September 2025 - Church Culture and Mission
- Book: Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger
- Focus: Adapting church culture and mission in a rapidly changing world while staying true to foundational beliefs.
October 2025 - Theology and Doctrine
- Book: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem (selected chapters)
- Focus: Grounding leaders in key Christian doctrines, equipping them to answer complex theological questions.
November 2025 - Empowering Leaders for the Future
- Book: Building Leaders: Blueprints for Developing Leadership at Every Level of Your Church by Aubrey Malphurs and Will Mancini
- Focus: Strategies for identifying, mentoring, and developing future leaders within the church.