The Spiritually Healthy Leader: Finding Freedom from Self-Sabotage

“I wish I had read this book years ago when I was in a public spiritual leadership role. I did not know how spiritually unhealthy I was. I would have told you that Jesus was my security, but deep down, it wasn’t true. I looked for security in marriages. After four, I realized that was not it—but it was costly. If only someone had told me the truth, like Dave Wiedis has in this book, it could have saved a lot of heartache and damage. Quick! Buy this book and apply its principles before you, too, create damage with your ruling passion.”
Ruth Graham, Author of Transforming Loneliness and Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself

“In The Spiritually Healthy Leader, our trusted friend and colleague Dave Wiedis uses his extraordinary gifts and personal, legal, and counseling experience to provide invaluable, life-changing insights about the problems that cause so much pain and drag so many leaders down. This book exposes the root causes for these patterns of self-defeat and illuminates the path to true freedom in Christ. Every Christian leader, including legislators and public servants, will benefit from the sound biblical principles that are presented in this gold mine of wisdom. We highly recommend it.”
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Kelly Johnson, Licensed Pastoral Counselor

“Dave Wiedis offers safe and candid medicine for the heart of the servant leader. A good read and great gift for the called and chosen.”
Dr. Alveda King, Speak for Life

“Dave Wiedis’s The Spiritually Healthy Leader is the transparent account of his personal spiritual growth and the fruit of his many years of serving leaders, so that men and women might be authentic in ministry and deeply Christ-centered. Pastors, scholars, Sunday school teachers, and Christians leading in the home will be challenged, encouraged, and enriched by this thoughtful, tender illumination of the throne room of the soul.”
Dr. Peter A. Lillback, President, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia

“It’s a sad irony that Christian leaders are some of the most vulnerable and yet least aware of ruling passions. The Spiritually Healthy Leader provides a biblically based, practical approach to identifying ruling passions and embracing the powerful love of Jesus. As both a professional counselor and pastor, I know the value of this self-examination, both for ministry leaders and those they serve, and highly recommend this book.”
Winston T. Smith, Rector, St. Anne's Church Abington

“Dave Wiedis’s The Spiritually Healthy Leader uncovers the hidden struggles of ministry, offering profound biblical wisdom and practical insight to help leaders overcome and find freedom from self-sabotage in Christ. A must-read for those seeking to lead with authenticity and lasting impact.”
Tim Clinton, President and CEO, American Association of Christian Counselors

“Dave Wiedis has developed something remarkably special in The Spiritually Healthy Leader. With the tender and compassionate heart of a wise biblical counselor, Wiedis addresses the very core of what drives people and controls their decision-making—the heart. There is no more important ministry than going after what motivates every person, and The Spiritually Healthy Leader does it beautifully. This book should be required reading for anyone in ministry. It convicted, comforted, and dazzled me.”
Shelby Abbott, Author; speaker; campus minister

“You want to ensure you are ready to be challenged before opening this book! Dave has penned a thorough framework that holds promise for deep transformation and is very practical for becoming a spiritually healthy leader.”
Paul Kuzma, Director and Board-Certified Pastoral Counselor, Center for Spiritual Renewal, Christiansburg, VA

“Overflowing with wisdom, scriptural insight, and personal vulnerability, The Spiritually Healthy Leader is for all believers who desire to confront the ruling passions that keep their hearts from an uninhibited, authentic relationship with Jesus. This book will challenge you to confront false loves, false trusts, and false definitions of success and failure. I highly recommend this book and believe it will be used by the Holy Spirit to shape many hearts and lives.”
Jimmy Dodd, Founder, PastorServe; author

“The joy of life, relationships, and ministry with Jesus often gets sabotaged by self-protective vows like ‘I will never be hurt,’ ‘I’ll always be the strong one,’ or ‘I need to always be affirmed.’ In the Spiritually Healthy Leader, Dave Wiedis is the experienced counselor you need to enjoy greater freedom, loving relationships, and flourishing ministry.”
Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, Founders of Soul Shepherding; authors of Journey of the Soul and Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith

“Too many Christian leadership books hawk the latest recipe for greater impact and success then sprinkle a little bit of Jesus on top. The Spiritually Healthy Leader is an altogether different kind of book. Here, Dave Wiedis guides us to the interior life, and in this space, we experience the possibility of divine transformation. If taken seriously, this book will change you, then release you to be the leader you were meant to be.”
Michael John Cusick, CEO, Restoring the Soul; author of Sacred Attachment

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader is a master work that makes just about any other counseling/sanctification book superfluous. I cannot believe how flawless, complete, biblical, personable, insightful, and godly it is.”
Rick James, Founder, Cru Press; Publisher, Ratio Christi Press

“This book combines deep spiritual insights with practical steps to help Christian leaders in any capacity gain true freedom in Christ and be rescued from the miry clay of their flesh. I highly recommend it!”
Michael Geer, President, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Harrisburg, PA

“In this moving book, Dave Wiedis provides real, workable tools and God-centered solutions to help leaders find freedom from self-sabotage. This will minister to many—pastors, counselors, mentors, and more. I plan to distribute copies to many of my own friends and clients.”
Alan Sears, Founder, Alliance Defending Freedom

“This powerful new book by Dave Wiedis is a must-read for every pastor and church leader. Reading and digesting this book will save many pastors from self-sabotage and spare many churches and marriages from needless destruction. I give it two thumbs up!”
Joe Watkins, Host, State of Independence, Lighthouse TV

“Most Christians assume that when their sin slate is washed clean, their pre-Christian memory banks are also erased. Dave nails it by articulating the leader’s self-sabotage when they aren’t aware of their unconscious thought world. The Spiritually Healthy Leader provides an offramp from the Romans 7 hamster wheel.”
Karl Benzio, Board-Certified Psychiatrist; medical director, American Association of Christian Counselors

“For forty years I’ve ministered to pastors and church leaders who have wrecked their lives, marriages, and ministries due to soul neglect about what is functionally ruling their hearts. I am thrilled about Dave’s new book, which is a must-read for anyone in church leadership or who aspires to be a ministry leader.”
John Freeman, Founder, Harvest USA; author of Hide or Seek

“Dave Wiedis is a mature kingdom leader whose impact has earned him a voice in the body of Christ. No one is better equipped to address the subject of healthy spiritual leadership.”
Fred Hartley, Lead Pastor, One Mission Church; president, College of Prayer

“In The Spiritually Healthy Leader, my friend and mentor Dave Wiedis walks us through a process to unearth and guard against the hidden drives that destroy a leader’s effectiveness and legacy.”
Dr. Chip Roper, Managing Partner, RKE Partners; president, the VOCA Center

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader is a must-read for anyone in any ministry. This book is rich with biblical truth and real-life stories, uncovering the deep root issues behind our weaknesses. If you want to grow in your Christian walk and live a truly honest, healthy spiritual life, take the time to read this—it will change your life!”
Dr. Rhona L. Epstein, Author; speaker

“Every Christian leader is a disciple first. With insights gained over years of helping pastors be healthy, Dave has captured the one critical piece that is foundational for any leader to be healthy—the disciples’ passion for Jesus as the focus of their hearts. In a world of how-to books, this is an important exploration first and foremost of the root causes of spiritual health or unhealth.”
Roy A. Yanke, Executive Director, PIR Ministries

“With powerful illustrations from his years of counseling, Dave Wiedis gives us deep insights into ruling passions that can destroy our ministry, marriage, and even our own lives. Providing biblical application to the discovery of our own ruling passions, Wiedis helps bring transformation to make Christ our ultimate passion. Expect to be blessed and changed by reading it.”
Dr. Bruce A. McDowell, President, Santiago Theological Seminary, Santiago, Dominican Republic

“Dave Wiedis presents a compelling and urgent call for leaders to examine their hearts, not just their ministries. This book reminds us that spiritual health isn’t optional—it’s foundational. With piercing honesty and profound wisdom, it offers practical tools to address blind spots and ruling passions that can quietly sabotage leaders. A must-read for those seeking lasting transformation and to lead with integrity, humility, and wholehearted devotion to Christ.”
Matthew Maher, Pastor, Landmark Church, NJ

“Dave Wiedis has distilled from his many years of ministering to leaders what they need to be sustained in their sometimes-excruciating task. He has walked alongside enough struggling pastors to be able to guide us to the heart of what we need—a heart open to the Spirit’s transformation of our desires.”
Rev. Dr. Sam A. Andreades, Pastor; author

“Dave Wiedis calls spiritual leaders to examine their interior lives before they implode under the weight of invisible heart-idols. This transformative guide ensures God’s glory remains our driving passion, resisting lesser distractions. With transparency and grace, Dave models the freedom found in embracing our identity as those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Dr. Kevin M. Flannery, Senior Pastor, Church of the Saviour, Wayne, PA

“Dave Wiedis is a spiritual surgeon! My congregation, our elders, and other leaders have been undone and then redone by the gospel wisdom found in The Spiritually Healthy Leader. It’s a must-read for every ministry leader and every Christian. A great discipleship tool for heart transformation!”
Jonathan David Olsen, Senior Pastor, Grace and Peace Community Church, Philadelphia, PA

“During my career in pastoral ministry, I have been greatly helped by Dave's teaching on spiritually healthy leadership. Like many, I have struggled with frustration, discouragement, and even depression. The principles outlined in this book have made a game-changing difference in my life and ministry.”
Bruce Finn, Former Coordinator of Church Planting,The Presbyterian Church in America, Philadelphia

“Dave Wiedis masterfully leads you to understand how ruling passions hinder your relationships with God, friends, family, work, and yourself. You will be guided to recognize your ruling passions and their negative impact and learn how to dismantle them from leading you down destructive paths. Dave equips you to engage in an intimate, honest connection with God.”
Sue Corl, Executive Director, Crown of Beauty International; author of Shaking Off the Shackles

“I experienced the gracious shepherding care of the Lord through The Spiritually Healthy Leader. Dave Wiedis helped me see God’s grace at work rescuing me from my familiar escapes and idolatries with insight, humility, and a heart for me as a pastor.”
Andy Farmer, Community and Care Pastor, Covenant Fellowship, Glen Mils, PA; author

“God cares more about how we are than what we do. So why do we so often fail to live that way? With insight that can only come from decades of serving leaders, Dave takes readers on a journey through their hearts and ministers biblical truth to their worn-out souls. We would do well to read, listen, and learn.”
Jeffrey W. Boettcher, Lead Pastor, Christ Church South Philly; director of Planting and Partnership, Trinity Fellowship of Churches

“Dave Wiedis is a man of impeccable character, wisdom, and compassion. His ministry, ServingLeaders, has served as a remarkable training ground for the content of this book. It is a perfect blend of the tools necessary for leaders to have spiritual health and freedom in Christ while avoiding the traps we set for ourselves. This book should be in the hands of every leader and potential leader.”
Sara R. Dormon, Author of If You’re a Christian and Everyone Likes You . . . Something’s Wrong

“Dave Wiedis sheds light on subtle and destructive maneuverings of the heart that we may not recognize. But he also gives hope to the humble by providing biblical guidance, sharing his own story, and giving practical steps toward transformation. There’s a wealth of gospel wisdom in these pages—for leaders and for all who follow Jesus.”
Peter Nelson, Senior Pastor, Goshen Baptist Church, West Chester, PA

“Too many pastors and leaders today end up following a path of discouragement and despair. The Spiritually Healthy Leader is filled with Dave’s knowledge to guide leaders toward healing and positive transformation. What an incredible impact this book will have for those who long to be true Christ followers.”
Linda and Ken Koldenhoven, Coauthors of Connecting Around the Table; cofounders, Creating For Him

“Every pastor, ministry leader, and follower of Jesus needs to absorb these biblical principles and let them take root in their lives. This is not just an insightful book—it’s a practical, life-changing guide that will help you break free from bondage and step into greater freedom in your leadership and capacity to love.”
Phillip Carnuccio, Lead Pastor, Providence Church, West Chester, PA

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader will open your eyes to unseen toxic controlling passions and often unrecognized catalysts that shape your life as a leader. Dave brings gospel-powered insight into how to discover and resolve those internal catalysts. A must-read for any leader who wants to be spiritually successful following Jesus!”
Matthew Pieters, Lead Pastor, BridgePoint Church, Valparaiso, IN

“Using his vast array of knowledge, coupled with his extraordinary skill in communicating deep spiritual truths, Dave Wiedis teaches us how to root out our self-serving ruling passions and replace them with God-honoring worship. A must-read!”
Mark Hough, CRU, People and Culture team, Southeast Region

“Dave Wiedis wrote this book at the right time, for the right reasons, and for the right audience. It is very painful to look deeply at our sinful and broken hearts, but necessary for healing and transformation. Filled with raw honesty and divine hope, this book is the spiritual and emotional equivalent of open-heart surgery. Pick it up and don’t put it down!”
Rick Marshall, PCA pastor; former crusade director for Billy Graham

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader is an expertly crafted map, facilitating a deep dive into the inner workings of our souls and helping us re-emerge into the light of Christ. If you desire to better understand why you do the things you do and how you can live a transformed life, this is the book for you.”
DJay Martin, Pastor of Leadership and Vision, Parker Ford Church; lead editor of Before the Booth

“In Dave Wiedis’s new book, he uncovers the nuances of the soul of man and gives practical advice for how to live above the traps of our flesh and the schemes of our enemy.”
Jim Maxim, Acts413 Ministries

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader is a GPS for hurting ministry leaders, guiding them out of the forest of failure, besetting sin, and misguided emotions. It’s also a map for those navigating the beginning of the journey, and I would recommend it as mandatory reading for every upcoming ministry leader.”
Dr. Jeffrey S. Black, Professor Emeritus, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Cairn University

“This is a book I needed years ago—it would have spared me so much shame and guilt. Like a trusted friend, Dave transparently exposes the ruling passions and idols that derail leaders, offering gospel-centered tools to reorder their desires. Read it now—your integrity, calling, and leadership depend on it.”
Dr. E. Scott Feather, Lead Pastor, Gateway Church, Parkesburg, PA; author of Awakening Greatness

“The Spiritually Healthy Leader will lead you on a journey of identifying your passions, claiming their validity, and then aligning them before the face of God. Dave balances the idea that we are created to have deep longings, yet at the same time to not ‘love the gift more than the Giver.’”
Patty Hutsko Brown, Grace Church Bethlehem