More Than Enchanting: Breaking Through Barriers to Influence Your World (Expanded)
Description
Women have always been central to the life of the church. From the early hours of the first Easter, when women were charged to announce the resurrection of Jesus, to the state of the contemporary church, where women outnumber men in pews and positions of service.
But as central as women have been, they've also found themselves regularly marginalized--and not only in the church but in the neighborhoods, cities and societies they inhabit. Sometimes they've had to endure the well-intended biases or benign neglect of the leaders of their communities; sometimes they've been sidelined by their own crises of confidence. Sometimes they've had to contend with both at once.
Women who doubt their influence, who struggle to accept their distinct strengths and talents for what they are--gifts given through them to the world--suffer for it. The church, and really all of society, suffers with them. Jo Saxton invites women to discover (or rediscover) the gifts and talents that God has vested in us, and more important, the calling he has placed on each of us to seek first the kingdom of God where we are.
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About the Author
Jo Saxton is a pastor, missional leader, speaker, and author. She is the co-host of Lead Stories podcast and is the board chair of 3D Movements. Jo previously authored High Heels and Holiness and Real God, Real Life. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband Chris and their two daughters.
Reviews
In the mid 1970s, when women were leading faithfully and effectively at Willow Creek Community Church, I knew that many people questioned our commitment to gift-based ministry. But I never imagined that many Christians would still be questioning that commitment in the twenty-first century. I'm so glad Jo Saxton chose to embrace her calling to lead--and to share her experience and wisdom in More Than Enchanting. Thoughtfully grounded in Scripture, Jo writes from both a global and personal perspective, offering inspiration as well as practical tools for women navigating the complexity of leadership in the church. I highly recommend this book!
--Lynne Hybels, advocate for global engagement, Willow Creek Community ChurchJo Saxton is a great example of a woman operating in the full power of her God-given identity and gifts. We need many more such people in the church. In writing this book, she not only pens a testimony and gives us good reasons to believe, she also inspires us to do likewise. In Jo's words, 'Women are not an afterthought in God's mind but a central part of his creative plan for the world!'
--Alan and Debra Hirsch, authors of UntamedWomen are at the heart of every movement; therefore we should take seriously the role we can play today in our families, communities, and churches. This much-needed book can be a tool to champion women in all their giftedness. Jo Saxton has established herself as a leader in a variety of contexts, and she has dedicated herself to empowering women in their leadership journeys. She is the ideal person to teach us how to lean into the influence we each have.
--Sandra Maria Van Opstal, executive pastor, author of The Next WorshipI love how Jo Saxton invites, encourages, and inspires women to use their gifts in this book. I've heard time and time again from women that they didn't realize that they had permission, or that they felt like they should let someone else do 'it, ' but the church needs all of us--both male and female--living out of the fullness of our identity in Christ.
--Lindsey Nobles, chief operating officer and strategist, IF: GatheringAs a woman in leadership, More Than Enchanting made me want to yell out, 'Somebody gets me!' Jo Saxton is a leadership coach, an encouraging mentor, a thorough theologian, and a consummate preacher. Her use of Scripture and storytelling creates a practical guide on how to navigate the challenges and triumphs of leadership. I want every woman in leadership I know to have this book!
--Amena Brown, spoken word poet, author of Breaking Old RhythmsEvery woman is a queen with her own unique kingdom of influence. Jo Saxton's compelling book not only reminds us as women to invest in our own heart of leadership but to invest in women everywhere.
--Shayne Moore, author of Refuse to Do Nothing and Global Soccer MomIn the tradition of Carolyn Custis James, Jo Saxton encourages women to live beyond cultural assumptions and churchy expectations, and to live fully into our calling. More Than Enchanting is a must-read for women--whether they are secure in their callings or just finding their feet.
--Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira, author of Grumble HallelujahSaxton has changed the conversation. She has catapulted us beyond the same tired debates, the old unanswerable questions, and past paradigms, to an unmistakable call to action. Women can no longer sit idly on the sidelines or argumentatively in the halls of debate but must step into their unique calling and work in the kingdom. This book is important for all women who influence--from the family to the marketplace to the church. It is also an important read for the men who lead them and are led by them.
--Heather Zempel, author of Community Is MessyJo Saxton is a leader, visionary, practitioner, and voice that leaders need to hear. This book is an essential resource for anyone serious about investing in the emerging generation of women leaders.
--Brad Lomenick, author and speaker
