Leading Through Storms: Successfully Navigating Ministry While Maintaining Your Mental Health, By Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr.

Leading Through Storms

Successfully Navigating Ministry While Maintaining Your Mental Health

by Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr.
Foreword by Walter Thomas

Leading Through Storms
paperback
  • Length: 160 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.5 in
  • Published: March 18, 2025
  • Imprint: IVP
  • Item Code: A0914
  • ISBN: 9781514009147

*affiliate partner

An Emergency Preparedness Kit for Christian Leaders

There are times when the isolation and demands of ministry can wear down even the strongest person.

When the burdens of life and ministry push you to your physical and mental breaking point, how can you lead yourself, let alone others? In Leading Through Storms, Geoffrey Dudley

  • weaves together personal narrative, biblical reflection, and leadership theories
  • teaches skills that will help leaders lean more confidently into their calling
  • focuses on how leaders can lead themselves through crises and challenges that arise throughout life

No one is immune from the storms of leadership and the brokenness they leave in their wake, but Leading Through Storms is the emergency preparedness kit that will keep you anchored.

"Leadership is mission critical, especially in a storm. My friend Bishop Geoffery Dudley draws from his vast life experiences in ministry, military, academia, and relationships in writing Leading Through Storms. No easy platitudes, only well-earned wisdom in multiple storms distilled into pragmatic, actionable steps. You'll understand yourself and your storm and come out stronger."

Sam Chand, leadership consultant and author of Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth

"Leading Through Storms is unlike any other leadership book I have read. It takes us through the trenches, walking us along the realistic path of struggle as we attempt to lead amidst challenges and uncertainty. Bishop Dudley shares from the heart while helping us to stand firm even as waves of doubt crash around us. This book is for everyone. Highly recommended."

Michael O. Emerson, Chavanne fellow in religion and public policy at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and coauthor of Divided by Faith and the Religion of Whiteness

"This is a powerful leadership book marinated in a painful personal narrative. It is well-crafted, helpful, and honest. It is also raw, compelling, and unsettling. But most of all, it is intrinsically hopeful."

Shane L. Bishop, senior pastor of Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and author of That's Good News, The Ping Life, and the Trail Guide Series

"Written with an unparalleled level of honesty, the narrative of his leadership journey is a story that will equip leaders for the storms that arise in ministry be it megachurch Visionaire or senior pastor of a storefront church."

Walter Scott Thomas, senior pastor, New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, from the foreword

"Bishop Dudley captures the essence of academia and application of leadership development theories by using his real life narrative as the lens by which Leading Through Storms causes you to view leadership. He puts the theories of leadership in the test tube of the challenges of ministry, and with each chapter, the Bunsen burner is turned up, and the reader learns how to lead him/herself and to inspire their followers to accomplish the vision of the church."

Joshua D. Henson, associate professor, chair of graduate studies, and director of the MBA program at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida

"Leading Through Storms should be required reading for leaders in ministry, especially new pastors. The challenges are written about in an authentic way that leaves you feeling like Bishop Dudley knows your story and you are not alone. His transparency and vulnerability are rare and a great encouragement."

Angela M. Tate, associate pastor at West Side Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri

"What a fantastic read on how to navigate in these challenging times. Bishop Dudley is doing a great work for the kingdom."

Kenneth Lewis, chairman of Clearinghouse Advisory Group

"It is an honor to compose this endorsement for Leading Through Storms by Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley. My acquaintance with Bishop Dudley since 1993 has profoundly influenced my family and the church my wife and I lead. Throughout the previous seventeen years, we have observed his adeptness in overcoming adversities. His candor in this book, especially regarding the challenges faced in ministry, provides essential insights for all leaders. Bishop Dudley's narrative exhibits transformational leadership and serves as an essential guide for individuals confronting the challenges of pastoral life."

Mack L. McCullough, senior pastor at Word in Season Ministries

"There are a plethora of definitions for leadership and thousands of books on shelves in major bookstores. Leading Through Storms is a great tool for leaders that are marketplace secular thinkers as well as many who are vital voices in the sacred community. The concept of the core team of our ministries that helps navigate times of uncertain 'space' moments is relevant to current times. Bishop Dudley has merged his scholarly insights and life experiences that prepare every leader for the chaos when people jump ship and to be okay to ask for help after the storm!"

Wanda Frazier-Parker, co-pastor at Truth Tabernacle Ministries

"Leading Through Storms is a love letter to every follower of Jesus who understands the call to lead sometimes requires us to lead while limping. Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr. has provided a masterful 'show and tell' guide that seamlessly weaves biblical texts, business acumen, and bold acts of faith to offer kingdom-building principles for those called to leadership in Christ's church. Bishop Dudley's transparency is rare and refreshing. The emotional vulnerability with which he shares the pinnacles and pitfalls of his church planting journey will provide encouragement to faith-walking leaders for generations to come. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has given God a 'yes,' understanding that giving up with God is never an option."

Traci D. Blackmon, founder and lead consultant at HopeBuilds, LLC

"We often define leadership as influence and leave it at that. Rarely do we go deeper into how influence is implemented and executed in the dark days of leadership. Leading Through Storms will take the reader on a journey through the emotional struggles of a modern-day Elijah. Bishop Geoffrey Dudley vulnerably shares how he led a church during seemingly insurmountable struggles and utter depression. Through leadership theory, Scripture, praxis, and self-reflection, Leading Through Storms gives readers ears to hear and eyes to see how to lead themselves and others out of the storms of life."

T.D. Jakes, founder and senior pastor at The Potter's House

"A standout book for leaders facing the paradox of working with less while aiming to achieve more, who grapple with systemic inequities and face issues requiring new frameworks and fresh thinking! Bishop Geoffrey Dudley addresses these issues with transparency and hard-fought wisdom, exploring ways to balance the demands of leadership with the need for self-care to fulfill God's mandate to love your neighbor as yourself. Reading this book will inspire you to hope again, lead differently, think creatively, and champion a style that's resilient and persevering yet compassionate to self and others."

Dana Carson, president of Kingdom Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas
More

CONTENTS

Introduction

Part 1: Before the Storm
1. Calling: How We Got Here
2. Core: The Strength of Your Leaders

Part 2: Weather Alert
3. Consecrated Courage: Prepare for the Storm
4. Construction: How to Build the Church
5. Canceled: When People Jump Ship

Part 3: In the Storm
6. Chaos: Multiple Things Can Go Wrong
7. Cash: When Money Is Not Enough
8. Community: From "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him!"

Part 4: After the Storm
9. Counseling: It's Okay to Ask for Help
10. Clarity: How We Made It Over

Notes

More

You May Also Like

Geoffrey Dudley

Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr. (PhD, Regent) is the founding and senior pastor of New Life in Christ Church, one of the fastest growing churches in the Metro East area of St. Louis, Missouri (O’Fallon, Illinois). Originally from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Dudley began ministry at the age of thirteen, was ordained by the United Holy Church of America in 1986, and is a retired Air Force chaplain and lieutenant colonel. He is also the CEO of iLead Enterprises, a leadership development platform for staff and workforce development. He and his wife, Glenda, have two adult children who are both ministry leaders.