FAMILYFANS Books & Comics

BREAKFAST WITH FRED: Mentor to a Generation of Leaders

by Fred Smith, Sr.

(Regal Books)

Reader Appeal: Adults

Genre: Inspirational / Devotional

Breakfast with Fred is a testament that the late Fred Smith’s life was one well gived.

Fred Smith, who passed away on August 17, 2007, was most known for mentoring some of the top evangelical leaders of our time. Christianity Today’s obituary on Smith (October 2007) noted that Smith was instrumental in resurrecting the financially crippled Christianity Today International (CTi) in the 1970s. Smith served on the boards of CTi, Youth for Christ, Bill Glass Evangelistic Ministries, the Turner Foundation, and Billy Graham crusade committee.

There are countless leadership and inspiration devotional designed to walk the reader through weekly doses of the author’s wisdom. Breakfast with Fred might be the only such book in which the author shares the stage with fifty-two different, influential mentees.

Each chapter of this book opens with Fred presenting a brief caveat of leadership or spiritual wisdom. Next, one of Fred’s mentees reacts to Fred’s thoughts and amplifies the truth in his or her own words. As the pages turn, the reader becomes increasingly aware of Fred’s influence: Jill Briscoe, Jay Kesler, John Maxell, Ken Blanchard, Philip Yancey, and Zig Ziglar are just a few of the luminaries influenced by Smith’s ministry of quiet influence.

Breakfast with Fred is designed to be a convenient, readable companion to any leadership morning regimen. Each selection takes about five minutes to read but is accompanied by poignant questions designed for personal reflection. This is a recommended volume for anyone looking for quick, practical leadership advice. It's also a valuable book for mentors and life coaches looking for a suggested curriculum to use with those under their influence. One would be hard pressed to find a greater example of Christian influence than Mr. Fred Smith.

FAMILYFANS RATING: A

--LS

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