About the Author

David McKenna served as president of Spring Arbor University, Seattle Pacific University, and Asbury Theological Seminary. At the age of eighty-five he continues to write a book a year, including The Communicator's Commentary on Isaiah, Job, and Mark; Retirement Is Not for Sissies; Christ-Centered Leadership: The Incarnational Difference; and When God Laughs with Us: The Lighter Side of Leadership. David and his wife, Jan, celebrate sixty-five years of marriage in 2015.

Reviews

""He's done it again. David McKenna has penned yet another compelling work that leaders of every stripe need to read and re-read. For all who wish to seal the investment, effort, and influence of your leadership years against the tarnish and corrosion of a poorly-handled transition, this book is for you."" --Jodi Detrick, former columnist, The Seattle Times, Seattle, WA ""McKenna does a masterful job of placing the concept of succession planning squarely where it belongs--as a priority for any leader and manager of an organization seeking to not only improve operations and performance but to sustain its mission. I know I would have benefited by having the tools and concepts articulated by McKenna at my fingertips as I entered various leadership roles."" --Dan Martin, President, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA ""After serving more than one hundred man-years on boards, I confess that kingdom resources are consistently wasted by the lack of leadership succession planning, poorly executed leadership transitions, and mistakes in leadership choices. David McKenna clearly articulates the succession challenge facing ministries and beautifully provides a pathway to provide God-honoring leadership continuity."" --Dan Busby, President, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Winchester, VA INSIDE BOOK: ""This book feels like what Dave McKenna would say to each of us if we had the privilege of having him coach us in the prime of our ministry leadership."" --R. Blake Wood, Lead Pastor, First Free Methodist Church, Seattle, WA ""I followed David as president of Asbury Seminary. No stone was left unturned in his work for an effective succession. This book is a proven, practiced witness and I am the grateful recipient of the incarnation of this witness."" --Maxie Dunnam, Chancellor, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY ""Dave, my friend and presidential predecessor, shares deeply from his own experiences in life and from a wealth of godly wisdom. It is with joy that I commend this book to those who need strengthening in their leadership, as well as to those who need to prepare their hearts and minds to become leaders."" --David Le Shana, President emeritus, George Fox University, Newberg, OR ""A great blend of sound leadership theory fleshed out with wonderful practical examples from his decades of leadership experience in a broad arena of educational, civic, and church environments."" --Alvin Austin, President emeritus, LeTourneau University, Longview, TX ""David McKenna has invested his life in Christian higher education and in the lives of hundreds of young leaders. His book is filled with tremendous insights from a servant leader who has blessed so many with encouragement and friendship."" --David Goodnight, Chair, Friends of Immanuel University, Seattle, WA ""What a privilege to learn from the convictions, paradigms, and disciplines that enabled David McKenna's remarkable career of contribution to Christian higher education. His insights are invaluable to building one's effectiveness as a leader and planning for the hand off to the next runner in an institution's relay race to the future."" --Kimberly Rupert, Provost, Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI ""In developing nations, spiritual leadership is in jeopardy--most everybody is either stricken with the succession phobia or has not cared enough to embrace its values. This remarkable book, not only written skillfully, has a rare mix of redemptive insights, practical wisdom, and a deep sense that cries for the need of a Jesus-style leadership legacy. Dave's heuristic approach portends new hope for the future."" --Joab Lohara, founding President, Immanuel University, Nacharam, Telangana, India