New Zealander J. Oswald Sanders (1902–1992) was a prolific author who served as the general director of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship (formerly: China Inland Mission) during the 1950s and 60s. His book about spiritual leadership, then, is not just theoretical speculation—it is the fruit of lived experience.

A few key themes continue to reappear in Spiritual Leadership. Leaders are servants who must make the most of the time they have to become more like Jesus as they lead others in humility. There is a mission to accomplish that requires leaders to take their vocation seriously. The twenty-two chapters in this book are the adapted from two message series’ Sanders delivered at Overseas Missionary Fellowship conferences. As such, don’t expect a carefully reasoned argument. What you get here are the lessons that Sanders learned as a spiritual leader.

As you might expect, some of the material reflects a different age with different concerns. For example, his chapter on “The Leader and Time” has a clear message:

A leader will seldom say, “I don’t have the time.” Such an excuse is usually the refuge of the small-minded and inefficient person. (112)

In a culture focused on self-care and burnout prevention, this sort of advice feels reckless. Furthermore, the focus on ‘efficiency’ would likely make someone like Eugene Peterson cringe! However, it’s worth reflecting on the question: are you more prone to wasting time or overwork?

One last quibble: Sanders has a penchant for proof-texting and stretching the meaning of passages. For example, he uses “the Lord is a God of judgment” (Isaiah 30:18 KJV) to say that God is “methodic and orderly” (87). Clearly, the biblical category of mishpat (judgment/justice) is broader than modernist managerial technique!

All that said, Spiritual Leadership is an excellent book for Christian leaders to read prayerfully. The heart and experience of this old missionary comes through in every chapter.

Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. 1967. Updated edn. Moody, 2007.