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Ken Blanchard mumbled the publishing statistics of his world-wide bestseller "The One Minute Manager" — 13 million copies or so. He wasn't impressed with himself. Thirty-one books and a long tour on the business training circuit have made Blanchard a household name. But the renowned author and speaker on leadership remains a personable and unassuming management expert. That's because the 65-year-old gives someone else the credit — Jesus Christ.

Blanchard now speaks to thousands every year and tells how he began reading the Bible for leadership principles and, to his surprise, found them in the work of Jesus. He asserts that the major concept in every bestselling leadership book published over the past decade can be illustrated with Jesus' ministry. That's why it disconcerts him that churches in particular turn to secular leadership training for their management teams.

"I don't understand why a lot of you are going outside the church for your leadership training," Blanchard told a recent conference audience. He advocates using Jesus' model not only for church leadership training, but for business training as well. "You ought to be bringing your business leaders into the church for leadership training."

This story and all the great free content on Church Central is supported by: Lead Like Jesus Celebration A movement co-founded by Ken Blanchard (One Minute Manager co-author), exists to inspire and equip leaders to lead like Jesus. Advertise on Church Central.  Click here for details.

Blanchard's Lead Like Jesus leadership training program creates a simple bridge between the church and the business world, a place an increasing number of Christians, such as Os Hillman, director of the International Coalition of Workplace Ministries, say is a new missions window — one he calls the “9 to 5 window.”

And more churches are catching on. Southeast Christian Church, a mega-congregation in Louisville, Ky., is one of many beginning to target that window for outreach. A new workplace ministry is in place there, aimed at empowering church members to take their faith with them throughout the workweek.

And Southeast offers periodic events aimed at bringing Christ to the business world, such as business lunches with Christian speakers, and coming Nov. 18, the Lead Like Jesus Celebration, which will feature Blanchard and be broadcast via satellite to other groups.

Southeast's administrator over human resources and planning, Mike Smith, said Lead Like Jesus stands out in both the church and business worlds. Before coming to work at the church, Smith spent 30 years in the human resources industry. He said he has seen many other training programs, but none that compares to Lead Like Jesus. “It's the best I've come across,” he said. “It starts with the heart of a leader.” Southeast has used the program for three years to train staff members, elders and deacons.

“We have taken the Lead Like Jesus material and it's become our leadership model,” Smith said. “We think it's a wonderful model based on biblical principles.”

Blanchard will speak at the Celebration, along with other big names in business and church circles. He said he is interested in using his celebrity and influence to promote “the greatest leader who ever lived.”

For more information, visit www.churchcentral.com/blanchard.