Faith Facts

• Oklahoma Christian University President Ken Jones and leadership expert Matt Paden have released a new faith-based leadership book centered on biblical principles from the story of Esther and Mordecai
• “The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership” focuses on internal character and personal practices rather than external management techniques as the foundation of effective leadership
• The book uniquely combines a leadership fable with practical narrative chapters, offering Christian leaders in both church and marketplace settings a Scripture-based approach to everyday leadership challenges

True leadership isn’t just about managing people or running effective meetings. The most important leadership skills often have nothing to do with our outward interactions with others.

A groundbreaking new book is challenging conventional leadership wisdom by returning to timeless biblical principles. “The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership” by Matt Paden and Ken Jones offers a distinctly faith-centered approach to a topic that secular culture has tried to divorce from its spiritual roots.

Jones serves as president of Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. Paden is president of Great Days Leadership and formerly served as vice president at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Together, they’ve crafted a leadership resource that speaks directly to Christians seeking to lead with authenticity and biblical integrity.

The book opens with a compelling leadership fable featuring Clint, a college student interning at a local hospital, and Dr. Bill Jackson, the hospital’s longtime CEO. This narrative approach allows readers to experience leadership lessons through Clint’s eyes, making the principles both relatable and memorable.

The storytelling strategy proves particularly effective as readers witness how Jackson’s leadership directly impacts Clint as both a recipient of that leadership and a student learning to lead himself. This dual perspective reinforces how Christian leadership should simultaneously serve and teach those under our care.

Following the fable, Paden and Jones transition to detailed explanations of their eight Core principles. These aren’t just management tips—they’re foundational truths rooted in Scripture, specifically drawing from the biblical account of Esther and Mordecai.

The authors make a crucial distinction that many secular leadership books miss entirely: they focus on the “Leadership Core,” a set of internal ideas and personal practices that serve as the ultimate driver of a leader’s success or failure. Character comes before competence.

One chapter in particular stands out for its practical wisdom: “Leading with Your Ears.” This powerful reflection on the importance of listening in leadership reminds us that our greatest impact often comes not from what we say, but from the space we create for others to feel genuinely heard and valued.

The authors challenge readers to recognize that a failure to listen isn’t an ear issue—it’s a heart issue. This kind of honest, biblical assessment cuts through the superficial advice found in most secular leadership literature.

While some readers might wish for a mnemonic device or more structured progression to help memorize the Core principles, and perhaps more frequent connections between the fable and the teaching sections, these minor suggestions don’t diminish the book’s overall value.

What makes “The Core” particularly valuable isn’t necessarily that every idea is revolutionary or unprecedented. Rather, it’s the fresh presentation and creative packaging of timeless truths, enhanced by the authors’ compelling storytelling and refreshing vulnerability about their own leadership journeys.

This book is highly recommended for any Christian leader—whether serving in ministry or the marketplace—who wants to view everyday leadership through the lens of faith and Scripture. It’s especially valuable for those who share Paden and Jones’ foundational belief that leadership is fundamentally about “speaking up for others and working for the good of the people.”

In a culture that increasingly demands leaders compromise their values or separate their faith from their professional lives, “The Core” offers a much-needed alternative. It demonstrates that the most effective leadership flows from biblical principles that have guided God’s people for millennia.

“The Core: 8 Principles for Building Strong, Authentic Leadership” by Matt Paden and Ken Jones is published by Forefront Books, 240 pages, $28.

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