Just Lead!: A No Whining, No Complaining, No Nonsense Practical Guide for Women Leaders in the Church

Praise for Just Lead! "With humor, candor, and honest vulnerability, Sherry and Jenni provide practical leadership help for women to develop the skills to lead themselves and others with the character, confidence, and authenticity of a godly woman. A generation of women leaders have been waiting for this book!" —Brad Lomenick, president, Catalyst "Jenni Catron and Sherry Surratt choose transparency as their way of connecting to the hearts of women called to lead in ministry today. In Just Lead! , they reveal the script of their leadership journeys and lift you beyond the boundaries of whatever you may think leadership is or is not. It's both challenging and refreshing to be served up this brand of candid, no-nonsense wisdom. If you have the courage to soak in some serious straight talk and a willingness to let what you learn reshape your leadership style, then Just Lead! is the 'must read' for you." —Tami Heim, president and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance "If I could pick two leaders to represent the next generation of women leaders it would be Jenni Catron and Sherry Surratt. Simply put if you're a female and in leadership you need to read this book. Just Lead! is a faithful and fresh challenge that is provocative and yet massively optimistic." —Pete Wilson, lead pastor, Cross Point Church; author, Plan B and Empty Promises

About the Jossey–Bass Leadership Network Series xi Foreword, Mark Batterson xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii Introduction: Humble Beginnings and Big Lessons 1 1 ONLY THE LONELY 11 2 I’M NOT AFRAID 23 3 THE MONSTER YOU ARE AVOIDING 35 4 YOU’RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT 47 5 GROWING PAINS 59 6 MAKE UP YOUR MIND ALREADY! 71 7 GO BIG OR GO HOME 85 8 LEADING MEN 97 9 OVERCOMING THE COMMUNICATION BARRIER 115 10 PUT THE BOXING GLOVES DOWN 131 11 ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS 143 Notes 159 Resources 163 About the Authors 165 Index 167

Sherry Surratt is CEO of MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), an organization that equips and encourages moms and leaders. Prior to this she was a director of innovation at Leadership Network, where she led church teams in implementing fresh ideas in ministry and served as a pastor on staff at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Jenni Catron is executive director of Cross Point, a megachurch in Nashville, Tennessee, and founder of Cultivate Her, an organization dedicated to connecting, engaging, and inspiring young women leaders.