You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone

The work of the church is more than any one person can handle, and God never intended for one pastor to do all a church's ministry alone.

Discover a communal and biblical model of missional leadership in You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone. In this book, E. K. Strawser seeks to recover the shared leadership model of the early church, offering a practical and inclusive alternative to hierarchical and patriarchal church leadership structures. This book invites pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders to rethink how leadership can empower the entire body of Christ. By identifying the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers, this book provides a vision for leadership that fosters collaboration, inclusivity, and spiritual flourishing.

In this book, Strawser explores how shared leadership can be integrated into the structure of a church; expands on the fivefold diversity of leadership: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers; highlights how different gifts and leadership styles suit various aspects of ministry; expands ministry beyond paid staff, promoting inclusivity regardless of gender, race, or culture; addresses real-life power dynamics and temptations leaders face; and offers practical, sustainable structures to multiply leaders for the benefit of the entire community.