Jere Patzer writes as the president of the North Pacific Union. His book is addressed to the leaders of the Adventist Church, particularly–as it seems—to leaders at the administrative levels. Nevertheless, it also speaks to pastors and church members in any leadership position within their local congregations. The author shares with us his passion for this church, its message, and its mission, a passion which is contagious. In ten chapters he deals with topics such as the qualities of leaders, basic principles of leadership, time management, and handling criticism.

The first chapter is the longest and perhaps the most crucial one. From the beginning he states his thesis: “I believe God raised up our prophetic church by inspiring its theology, which drives its mission, made possible by its organization” (p. 14). Presenting theology, mission, and organization as a triangle, whose “elements are intrinsically linked” (p. 14) he goes on to elaborate briefly on all three, however, spending ten pages on theology alone. “God gave us a unique, unified, and precious theology” (p. 24). It is built on the solid foundation of the inspired Word of God and affirmed by the writings of Ellen White. Our doctrines are not only defensible but form an integrated message. The author addresses some of the currently debated issues such as the creation account, the universal flood, our eschatology, and our ecclesiology before going on to the organization and mission of the church. He is not blind to the church’s shortcomings but challenges us to proceed from the unchanged message and to reach out to the people of the world in creative ways, thereby becoming the leaders that God wants us to be.