Those of us who have witnessed the ups and downs of Midwestern's history during the last few decades have been stunned by its growth and maturation during the last ten years. Who would not rejoice at the remarkable turnaround – in numbers of students, numbers and quality of faculty, facilities, credibility among the churches they serve, spiritual morale, financial stability, and much more? While the book you are holding in your hand makes no pretensions of being a manual on the leadership associated with such results, it is a fascinating view from the inside of what God has used during these past ten years to bring about such remarkable transformation.”
-D. A. Carson
“Whether in athletics or any other arena of life, leadership matters. As a Kansas Citian, I’ve been delighted to see Midwestern Seminary’s growth and transformation over the past decade, and as one who aspires to lead well I’ve been greatly encouraged by this book. In Turnaround you’ll be inspired by the Midwestern Seminary story, and enriched by the leadership principles it contains. I highly recommend this book by my friend Jason Allen.”
-Dayton Moore, President of Baseball Operations, Kansas City Royals
"I’ve known Jason Allen nearly all his adult life. Even in his twenties I was impressed time and again with the fact that God had blessed him with exceptional leadership abilities. Early in the selection process for Midwestern Seminary’s next president, the chairman of the search committee told me that Jason’s name had been submitted and asked what I thought about this thirty-five-year-old man. “I don’t pretend to have a word from God that Jason should be president of Midwestern,” I replied, “but I can tell you this: he will be president of something before long, and it won’t be insignificant.” It didn’t take the committee long to see that for themselves. As someone who taught at MBTS for ten years prior to Dr. Allen’s arrival, I can testify with even greater emphasis what the numbers so emphatically affirm: the turnaround there is indeed remarkable. I rejoiced at reading the stories of God’s blessing upon Jason’s presidency and am delighted to see that he has put much of what he has learned about leadership in print. Turnaround will sharpen the leadership skills of anyone who reads it, but especially those who have given their lives in service for the church."
-Donald S, Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality and associate dean at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. Author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Praying the Bible, and Family Worship.
"Turnaround provides a front row seat into the wonderful transformation that has taken place at Midwestern Seminary over the past decade. In God's good providence, he has used Jason Allen, the leadership team, faculty, staff, Board members, alumni, donors, and friends as instruments in this remarkable story. The book not only narrates the Midwestern story, but offers reflective, thoughtful, insightful, and timely guidance for institutional, organizational, and church leaders to enable them to carry out their work in more purposeful and effective ways in their particular contexts. I have followed carefully the work at Midwestern over the past ten years and look forward with expectancy to what the Lord will do in and through this institution in the days to come."
-David S. Dockery, President, International Alliance for Christian Education
“The ten precepts that Jason Allen used to turn around the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from a failing to a highly successful institution are equally applicable to business, sport, public administration, and even warfare and the military. They go to the heart of what it means to lead in a world where good leadership is harder – and thus rarer – than ever before. Rather than despairing about the dearth of fine leadership in society, read this book and put its principles into action. The positive results will come thicker and faster than you think.”
-Andrew Roberts, author, Churchill: Walking with Destiny
"Jason Allen has written an outstanding work on strategic leadership principles in his latest book, Turnaround. The sound wisdom that he used to turn around a struggling seminary, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, into one of the greatest success stories of our generation is recorded here. Whether you are leading a school, church, business, or family, you will find these truths insightful and inspiring. What Dr. Allen stresses in these pages is not merely hypothetical but tried and proven in real ministry. You would be well served to devour and digest the truths contained in this book."
-Steven J. Lawson, President, OnePassion Ministries; Professor, The Master’s Seminary; Teaching Fellow, Ligonier Ministries; Lead Preacher, Trinity Bible Church of Dallas
“I had the privilege of visiting MBTS at the beginning of Dr. Jason Allen’s tenure and I have marveled at the transformation of the school. His clear and transferable principles on leadership, along with this inspiring story, make for an exceptional leadership book—one that will benefit all sorts of leaders.”
-Tony Merida, Founding Pastor, Imago Dei Church, Raleigh, NC
"It has been my privilege to walk alongside Dr. Jason Allen and to watch the turnaround of an institution that was on the precipice of closing its doors. Dr Allen and his team have accomplished what had been written off by many of those who were closest to the seminary. I know how difficult it can be to turn a church around. I have a grasp on the leadership it takes to accomplish that task. I have planted a church and replanted four churches in Kansas City. These principles set forth in Turnaround will give the reader insight gained on the anvil of his experience. Anyone who will read and heed this insightful book will be better equipped to the arduous, yet rewarding work of turning around an institution, a church, and yes, an SBC seminary."
-Steve Dighton, Pastor Emeritus, Lenexa Baptist Church
