The Unity Factor (Paperback)

~ Larry W. Osborne (Author) "When I arrived at the church, I was armed with books and ideas on growth, evangelism, and reaching the community..." (more)
Key Phrases: shepherding meetings, unified leadership team, dysfunctional boards, North Coast, Peter Drucker, Lyle Schaller (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Larry writes like a wise caring mentor, sharing his profoundly simple and proven approach to getting your team to work together..." --Bobb Biehl, President, Masterplanning Group International

"The Unity Factor shares excellent principles and insights from the North Coast team that have guided this church for over 20 years..." --Dave Travis, Vice President, The Leadership Network

"This book could save your church from needless conflict and division. Listen and learn from it!" --Rick Warren, Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California

Product Description

It's No Secret Serving on a church board can be a tough assignment. Marathon business meetings and petty squabbling can quickly take a toll. But lay leaders aren't the only ones who find board meetings to be a harrowing experience. So do many pastors. Larry Osborne was no exception. Six months into a new pastorate, he found himself embroiled in controversy. Old members left as fast as new ones could be added. He and the board seldom saw eye to eye on anything. Troubled and confused, he set out to find some answers. What were the secrets of an effective leadership team? Could a pastor lead without becoming a dictator? What would it take to develop and maintain a unified board? Could it even be done? Now, many years, board meetings and hours of research later, Pastor Osborne applies tested, no-nonsense wisdom to these and other questions. Whatever your situation...whether your church is in a start-up phase, is small and struggling, or is one of a growing number of so-called mega churches, Larry has been there. As the senior pastor of North Coast Church, he's walked his congregation and board through each stage. Now, in The Unity Factor, he shows us what it takes to develop a healthy leadership team with sensible strategies and warm encouragement. Now with an additional bonus chapter "What Game Are We Playing?"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: Owl's Nest; 4th edition (August 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970818610
• ISBN-13: 978-0970818614
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #256,921 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Church Board Needs This Book: Right Now!, May 24, 2007

By	Dr. David Frisbie (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) - See all my reviews

The best book in print about how to work together in harmony, whether you are helping to lead a church, growing a business, or simply trying to understand the relationships around you on the job or at home. Extremely well written, wonderfully clear --- Larry Osborne gets to the point and shows you how Biblical, positive, spiritual leadership is meant to function. Backing it up is the author's personal experience as one of the brightest and most sought-after pastors and leaders of today's church. A must-read for key lay leaders, elder boards, pastoral staff --- and more.

Dr. David Frisbie, The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Author of 8 books, including Making a Marriage: 7 Essentials for a Strong Relationship

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!, October 10, 2005

By	Jonathan Mitchell (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Unity Factor (Paperback)

This book is a great resource to pastors and elders as well as any member of the congregation. As a lay-person myself, I found the book insightful and applicable. I recommend this book to anyone involved in a church.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars everyone on your board should read it, January 18, 2008

By	Lewis Bell (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the few books that I've ever sat down and read cover to cover in the same day. Well written; great examples. Left me with a good idea of what we were doing right and what we needed to change. This is the nitty gritty how-to's of leading a church. We're going to be using it alongside Getz's "Elders and Leaders" in our elder preparation program. I only wish I knew about it 10 years ago when I first started as a pastor.