Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Abstract

Degree Name

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor

Dr. Bethany Peters

Abstract

Title of Project: A Guide for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship

Be Optimistic, Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift:

Integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional

Intelligence for Multigenerational Leadership

Defense Date: April 8, 2025

Candidate Name: Adriane Smalls-Owens

Personal Email Address: asmallso.as0@gmail.com

First Advisor: Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor: Dr. Bethany Peters

DSL Final Project

Project Type: Manuscript

Project Overview: The book introduces the integrated concepts of Be Optimistic,

Embrace Your Culture, Nurture Your Gift as The B.E.N. Model

for Spiritual Leadership and Christian Discipleship by

integrating the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional

Intelligence within the context of developing spiritual leaders

and Christian Disciples. It delivers a robust roadmap for

personal and spiritual elements- rooted in biblical principles

and psychological insights. The book also captures and explains

subcultures' profound and unique aspects and their correlation

to relationship management through cultural intelligence and

understanding generational differences related to spiritual

leadership succession planning.

Project Themes: The purpose of this book is to unite personal reflection with

engaging activities, facilitating a deeper exploration of Spiritual

Leadership through the marrying concepts of the Beatitudes, the

Fruit of the Spirit, and Emotional Intelligence with thoughtprovoking

real-life scenarios, leadership theories, exegetical

commentary, questions, practical exercises, and stimulating

group discussions. This book aims to deepen the spiritual

leaders' perspectives on their journey to strengthening spiritual

and personal growth and development to facilitate leading

across multiple generations. The book highlights developing

spiritual gifts and how to enhance those gifts, providing insights

and strategies for practice and application of understanding

leadership and followership.

The B.E.N. Model framework for Spiritual Leadership and

Christian Discipleship marries scripture with psychological,

spiritual, and key behavioral traits and characteristics that

exemplify the character of Spiritual Leaders and Christian

Disciples:

Be Optimistic- The Beatitudes- Foundational Virtues of Inner

Character

Embrace Your Culture- The Fruit of The Spirit- Outward

Expressions of Inner Transformation

Nurture Your Gift- Emotional Intelligence- Bridging Spiritual

Virtues with Relational Skills, Cultural Intelligence, and

Understanding Generational Differences

Contributions to the Field

of Leadership:

This comprehensive resource will guide developing and

seasoned spiritual leaders for transformational growth by

learning and practicing authentic, followership, servant, and

transformational leadership skills, learning to be a courageous

follower, and identifying and strengthening spiritual gifts of

wisdom, discernment, and knowledge. The interactive guide

uses real-world experiences to introduce concepts for

responding to adversity, tips for developing emotional

intelligence, navigating through generational leadership

differences, and increasing spiritual capital to deepen your

connection with God, your faith, your followers, and your

Spiritual Leadership peers.

Real-word Implications: The project cultivates a strategic, faith-driven transformational

framework aiding spiritual leaders with training and tools to

develop a Christ-centered relationship of disciplined selfmanagement,

authenticity, humility, and resilience for

navigating spiritual warfare, developing Christian Disciples,

and creating a sustainable model for Kingdom Building.

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