W e l c o m e t o
U
P u b l i s h
Welcome to this edition of the PublishU Magazine, where we celebrate authors whose books are helping shape stronger leaders, healthier organisations and more meaningfulconversations.
In this issue, we are delighted to feature John Cressman, President of EMCC and author of both Pull Up A Chair and Seat At The Table. Drawing on more than three decades of pastoral leadership and extensive experience supporting church boards across Canada and internationally, John brings wisdom, humility and practical insighttoavitallyimportantconversation.
Together, these two books offer thoughtful guidance on healthy shared leadership, helping pastors and boards work together withgreaterclarity,trustandalignment. Weareproudtosharehisvoicewithyou.
MattBird FounderofPublishU
THEPASTOR'S BLINDSPOT
InterviewwithJohnG.Cressman, EvangelicalMissionaryChurchof Canada (EMCC) President and authorofSeatAtTheTable.
John,tellusaboutyourwork.
I'm humbled to serve as the president of a denomination of churches across Canada called EvangelicalMissionaryChurchof Canada. It's a job that has variety, travel, lots of blessings, lots of interaction with pastors and what God's doing in our count
country. We have international presencein40or50countriesas globalpartnersandIinteractwith those leaders and presidents as well,soGodisgood.
You wrote a book last year. Whatwasthatfirstbookabout?
The first book, Pull Up a Chair, really focuses on the word chair. That is the chair of a church board particularly or of a nonprofit. Recognising from my experience coaching church board
boards that the majority of those leaders who land in that seat are volunteers but have never been trained or equipped to do the role. So the book surfaced from my interaction with 85+ church board chairs over a period of timetolearnwhatitmeanstodo that role well. That book has taken off in some respects and been a blessing to the body of Christ.
Andit'sledtoyoursequel,Seat
At The Table.How does that fit in?
Well, I've been a pastor for over 35 years. Iʼve been at a board table for the majority of those yearsandnow,aspresident,Istill have a national board. From my experience,I'munawarewhether I was ever equipped to take my rightfulplaceatthechurchboard tableasapastor.Thusbeganthe idea that maybe there's a book for pastors that would help them take their strategic or rightful place. Because we overstep at times and get out of sync with ourchurchboards,soIjustwant to help. I want to foster good shared leadership. That's really theprimaryreasonforthisbook.
John, you talked about pastors overstepping.Whatdoesitlook like?
One of my chapters is talking about our tendency to either overstep, understep or sidestep the board. I give personal illustrations where, in a sense, I've overstepped and began to chairtheboardortraintheboard. I have long learned that the pastorisn'tinthebestpositionto serve those roles. So I've invited ustotakeourrightfulseat,notall thosekindsofthings.
Whatisyourhopeforthesetwo booksintheworld?
I'm marvelling that the book is ending up in hands I would have never expected. And so that's a blessing. And in turn, I hope it makes my job easier because in denominational life, we get invitedinusuallywhenthingsare a mess. This is a bit of legacy leaving for me, but very practical help,whichismybent.
Itʼsabookforpastors thatwouldhelpthem taketheirstrategic orrightfulplace.
JohnG.Cressman AuthorofSeatAtTheTable
YOUHAVEA BOOKINYOUTOO
There comes a moment for many people, sometimes quietly and sometimes persistently, when a thought begins to surface…Ihaveabookinme.
It may be a story you have lived, a lesson you have learned or a message you feel called to share, something that could encourage, guide or change the life of someoneelse.Andyet,formany,itremains unwritten, held back by doubt, uncertainty ornotknowingwheretobegin.
Thetruthisthis.Youdohaveabookinyou andyouaremorecapableofwritingitthan yourealise.
Writingabookiseasierthanyouthink,but onlywhenyouknowhow.
With the right structure, support and encouragement, what once felt overwhelming becomes achievable, even enjoyable.
That is why PublishU exists, to walk with you from idea to manuscript, from manuscript to book, and from book to opportunities.
“Though I had ideas for a book, I didnʼt know where to start or if I could even doit.TheWritingMyBook course helped me move those ideas into reality. I would highly recommend this course to others who are considering how to sharetheirstories.ˮ
JedediahGorham
“The Writing My Book course provided much neededaccountabilityand structure for completing my book manuscript. Mattʼs coaching and feedback gave the right boostateachstageinthe process. Recommended forthosewhohaveabook idea and donʼt know wheretostart!ˮ
WilliamKnelsen
“IamsogladIsaidyesto this Writing My Book course, because I had a bookinmymindbutdidn't know if I could actually get it out there. I was so pleased with the whole process and have achievedmygoal!ˮ
GenevieveEpp
