johnnyhuntJohnny Hunt is the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention and senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia.

In a new book, Building Your Leadership Resume: Developing the Legacy that Will Outlast You, Hunt provides a passionate and encouraging call for committed, consistent leadership in pursuit of intentional excellence for the glory of God.

For those of you new to Pastor Hunt, he grew up as “a shy, rebellious kid whose alcoholic father left a wife and six children to fend for themselves” and ended up, by the grace of God, going from “the poolroom to the pulpit.” Hunt is widely known as one who pours himself into others, building them into great Christian leaders who then go forth and do the same in the lives of others.

Hunt gives us forty chapters in 220 pages – leadership principles derived from his own pastoral experience and knowledge of the Word of God.  His closing chapter, “Traits of a Great Leader” includes twelve such characteristics: truthfulness and honesty, integrity, passion, care and compassion, graciousness, gratitude, generosity, forgiveness, encouragement, friendliness, influence, and leadership.

Although written by a pastor with immediate application to pastors, this book should find an audience among all sorts of leaders: parents, teachers, businessmen, etc. – anyone who desires to receive encouragement and sound practical advice in leading others for the glory of Christ.

Iron sharpens iron. Hunt’s book sharpened me.

Here is an excerpt, showing the Gospel-passion of Hunt:

“Be desperate, determined, directed. Ask yourself, “Am I dying to see a great work for God accomplished through our church and our people?” If not, then there’s not really a whole lot of point in getting everybody’s hopes up. Being about our Father’s business is not something we can play at or pretend about. If His glory and kingdom gain is not what shakes us from sleep each morning, we shouldn’t expect it to be a matter of practical importance in those we lead. When the great sixteenth-century reformer John Knox prayed, “Lord, give me Scotland or I die,” he sensed the Lord responding, “Die, John Knox, and I will give you Scotland.” This desire for the work of God must be in your gut. People will follow that kind of passion. They’ll want to be part of what you’re talking about.”

Building Your Leadership Resume: Developing the Legacy that Will Outlast You, by Johnny Hunt (B&H: 2009 / $14.99 / 223 pages).