Emboldened

"With grace and honesty, Tara Beth Leach unpacks her journey of becoming a woman senior pastor in a prominent evangelical church. In doing so, she blazes a trail for us all, both men and women, in empowering women for ministry. Robust in its theology, practical in its wisdom, Emboldened tells us why God's mission demands nothing less of us in these times: women and men together leading God's church."

- David Fitch, Northern Seminary, author of Faithful Presence

"A double shot of spiritual espresso to awaken, encourage, and embolden every woman in the kingdom of God."

- Frank Viola, author of From Eternity to Here and God's Favorite Place on Earth

"It's time for the church to expand its imagination to include the strengths that women bring to the table as senior leaders, and Tara Beth Leach helps us do just that in this engaging book. Finally we have a primer for women in pastoral ministry that is both practical and theological. Emboldened is unflinching in naming the challenges that keep women sidelined in the church while at the same time inspiring those willing to brave those challenges. This will be the first book I recommend to women considering vocational ministry."

- Gail Wallace, cofounder, The Junia Project

"One day, Lord willing, the American church will look back in disbelief at our failure to see the emboldening of women as essential to living faithfully under the rule and reign of God. This book, however, presents the opportunity to bring us much nearer to that day. I commend it strongly to all, but especially to my fellow brothers in Christ; may we heed this vision as a fresh, kingdom-oriented call to 'biblical manhood.'"

- JR Rozko, codirector, Missio Alliance

"Pastor Tara Beth Leach has produced an inspiring writing to embolden those who are called for ministry. For women called to vocational ministry the pathway is not easy, but Leach reminds us that the call cannot be ignored. This is the mission of God, and in the words of Pastor Tara Beth, 'I get to do this.' This book is a vital new resource for the church. It's for all women who are called to ministry and for those who will embolden others who have been called."

- Carla Sunberg, general superintendent, Church of the Nazarene

"Emboldened is a clarion call of instruction and inspiration to not settle for fifty percent participation, but for the church to engage one hundred percent of its people in the mission. My friend Tara Beth Leach is an important young voice that offers the church of Jesus a much better vision of the future. If you want to be challenged, inspired, or catch a glimpse of the church's tomorrow, read Emboldened."

- Dave Ferguson, visionary leader of NewThing, author of Finding Your Way Back to God and Starting Over

"Tara Beth has chosen the right word to describe not only women who have gone before us, what God is doing among women today, but also what especially church leaders need to be doing today: embolden the woman as a way of letting the gifts of God be given to the people of God."

- from the foreword by Scot McKnight, Northern Seminary

"We both believe that if we are to be the transformational movement that Jesus intended us to be, we are going to have to activate the God-given agency of women in the organized church and beyond. Until that happens, the body of Christ will continue to limp along. Tara Beth's new book is a loving invitation for the church to take women seriously enough to empower them for the frontline of leadership and mission. Viva!"

- Deb Hirsch and Alan Hirsch, authors and leaders in the missional church movement

"Tara Beth Leach perfectly articulates the ache I feel for the day when the church will embolden men and women to serve God in all spheres of ministry without gender qualifiers. It's a passionate call for revolutionary change in our churches, but it's also a warmly written guide, full of very practical advice, useful steps, and stories to sustain you in that journey. Please read this book. Please."

- Michael Frost, Morling College, Sydney

"Over the years, I've heard the keepers of patriarchy shriek and howl over the imagined ills of what they deem the 'feminization of the church.' But if the 'feminization of the church' means more pastors like Tara Beth Leach, I'm all for it! I fervently hope that Emboldened will help pave the way for many more women in pastoral ministry."

- Brian Zahnd, lead pastor, Word of Life Church, St. Joseph, Missouri, author of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

"Women who are called to ministry need a pastor—to tell them they're not alone, that they can do this. They need a voice to speak truth over their calling and identity. In Tara Beth Leach they find such a voice. Her warm, pastoral authority twice blesses her readers, both as recipients of her care and as they watch her model what ministry can be."

- Mandy Smith, pastor, author of The Vulnerable Pastor

"Emboldened is the book you need to give to every woman who is called into ministry. Thorough, hopeful, pragmatic, and bold, I hope it becomes required reading for every student of Scripture and discipleship because this is equal parts roadmap and encouragement. Tara Beth has given us the missing piece of the puzzle for churches who want to empower women to lead and step out in faithfulness to their calling and giftedness for the sake of the gospel."

- Sarah Bessey, author of Jesus Feminist and Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith

"It's easy for a church to say they affirm women in ministry. It's much harder, as gifted and called women know all too well, to be a church that actually equips and empowers women to be who God created and called them to be. With pastoral wisdom, Tara Beth Leach encourages women who have been sidelined by churches who made promises that remain unkept. With prophetic vision, she illustrates a path forward for these churches that we might practice what we preach. And she does it all by weaving her own story—told with raw vulnerability—into the story of Scripture and the story of the church, which has from the beginning been shaped by the voices of our spiritual mothers as much as our spiritual fathers. She offers this as a precious gift to all of us, men and women, that the church of Jesus might more perfectly show the world what it looks like when God's kingdom comes here on earth as it is in heaven."

- JR. Forasteros, pastor, author of Empathy for the Devil

"Very few issues are as potentially divisive and hurtful as the gender issue for leaders, teachers, and pastors in the local church. The pathway for many has been lonely and discouraging. Tara Beth Leach steps into this hard place with a strong, wise, and gracious voice. This book is an enormous gift to men and women trying to figure out how to honor God and one another in the ways we guide, shape, and care for the bride of Christ. I can't wait to share this book to embolden the leaders I'm coaching!"

- Nancy Beach, leadership coach, Slingshot Group, author of Gifted to Lead