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<p>About Leadership Network ix</p> <p>Foreword xi</p> <p>Introduction: Off-Road Disciplines xiii</p> <p><b>Part One: Personal Disciplines</b></p> <p>1. Death: The Discipline of Personal Transformation 3</p> <p>2. Truth: The Discipline of Sacred Realism 15</p> <p>3. Perspective: The Discipline of POV 27</p> <p>4. Learning: The Discipline of Reverse Mentoring 41</p> <p>5. Witness: The Discipline of Spiritual Friendship 55</p> <p>6. Humility: The Discipline of Decreasing 71</p> <p><b>Part Two: Organizational Disciplines</b></p> <p>7. Assessment: The Discipline of Missional Efficiency 87</p> <p>8. Harmony: The Discipline of Blending Differences 99</p> <p>9. Reflection: The Discipline of Discernment 123</p> <p>10. Opportunity: The Discipline of Making Room 139</p> <p>11. Sacrifice: The Discipline of Surrendering 157</p> <p>Preferences</p> <p>12. Legacy: The Discipline of Passing the Baton 173</p> <p>Epilogue: Three Coffee Houses 185</p> <p>Notes 187</p> <p>Acknowledgments 203</p> <p>The Author 205</p> <p>Index 207</p>

<p><strong>Earl Creps (Springfield, MO)</strong> is a popular speaker and leader who regularly connects with a wide variety of audiences in venues across the U.S.--postmodern/emergent groups, laypeople and leaders in Protestant denominations, college students and youth groups, and missionary organizations. He is also Director and Associate Professor of Leadership and Spiritual Renewal at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO. He has been a pastor, ministries consultant, and seminary professor. In 2003 he received a grant from the Louisville Institute to study postmodern Pentacostals. He is the author of numerous articles, as well as a chapter in Mike Yaconelli's STORIES OF EMERGENCE.

<p><b>PRAISE FOR <i>OFF-ROAD Disciplines</i></b> <p>"This is one of the most exciting books I have read in years. It shifts our focus from doing church to being church and promises to be a standard reference in all future discussions of missional leadership."<br> <b>—Leonard Sweet,</b> Drew University, George Fox University; author, <i>Out of the Question . . . Into the Mystery: Getting Lost in the GodLife Relationship</i> <p>"If you are trying to figure out what is going on in contemporary culture, you've got to read <i>Off-Road Disciplines</i>. Creps not only knows what is going on today, he teaches us how to engage today's people as well. The chapter on 'reverse mentoring' is worth the price of the book. No one can be effective in ministry today without the skills and attitudes associated with listening and conversation. <i>Off-Road Disciplines</i> gives us the map and points us in the right direction."<br> <b>—Todd Hunter,</b> national director, Alpha USA, former national director, Vineyard USA <p>"No matter how hard the leadership industry tries to refine the key ingredient in effectiveness, a transformed leader is always the precursor to a transformed church or organization. Because Earl Creps actually listens to the hearts of emerging leaders, he has discovered spiritual pathways that are being more traveled these days. Here's a leadership book that actually believes substance trumps style!" <br><b>—Byron D. Klaus,</b> president, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary <p>"Earl Creps has written a deeply personal and challenging book—one that caused me to think about my own spiritual journey. Too many of us have made spiritual formation a series of activities and programs; Earl takes us off the map of common practice and into the places where the Spirit is at work. It reminds us that true spiritual formation pervades our lives and the ministries we serve, providing a helpful balance of being and doing. It will be a great encouragement to all who read it."<br> <b>—Ed Stetzer,</b> author, <i>Breaking the Missional Code</i>

"This is one of the most exciting books I have read in years. It shifts our focus from doing church to being church and promises to be a standard reference in all future discussions of missional leadership."<br /> —Leonard Sweet, Drew University, George Fox University; author, <i>Out of theQuestion . . . Into the Mystery: Getting Lost in the GodLife Relationship</i> <p>"If you are trying to figure out what is going on in contemporary culture, you've got to read <i>Off-Road Disciplines</i>. Creps not only knows what is going on today, he teaches us how to engage today's people as well. The chapter on "reverse mentoring" is worth the price of the book. No one can be effective in ministry today without the skills and attitudes associated with listening and conversation. Off-Road Disciplines gives us the map and points us in the right direction."<br /> —Todd Hunter, national director, Alpha USA, former national director, Vineyard USA</p> <p>"No matter how hard the leadership industry tries to refine the key ingredient in effectiveness, a transformed leader is always the precursor to a transformed church or organization. Because Earl Creps actually listens to the hearts of emerging leaders, he has discovered spiritual pathways that are being more traveled these days. Here's a leadership book that actually believes substance trumps style!"<br /> —Byron D. Klaus, president, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary</p> <p>"Earl Creps has written a deeply personal and challenging book—one that caused me to think about my own spiritual journey. Too many of us have made spiritual formation a series of activities and programs; Earl takes us off the map of common practice and into the places where the Spirit is at work. It reminds us that true spiritual formation pervades our lives and the ministries we serve, providing a helpful balance of being and doing. It will be a great encouragement to all who read it."<br /> —Ed Stetzer, author, <i>Breaking the Missional Code</i></p>

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