Faith-based Leadership in a Results-driven World
Date Published: November 4, 2025
Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing
If Jesus was a Project Manager: Faith-based Leadership in a Results-driven World launches a groundbreaking seven-book "Faith at Work" series that bridges biblical principles with modern workplace excellence.
What makes it unique:
This series provides the first comprehensive, role-specific integration of Christ's leadership model with proven professional methodologies. Unlike generic "faith in business" books, each volume tackles specific roles—Project Manager, Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Business Analyst—showing exactly how biblical principles translate to daily responsibilities.
The series masterfully connects timeless spiritual truths with secular frameworks, such as Covey's Seven Habits, creating practical tools that work in any organizational culture. It goes beyond inspiration to provide concrete frameworks and actionable behaviors for immediate implementation, while maintaining professional credibility.
Key differentiators include character-driven performance that produces excellent results, crisis leadership integration addressing layoffs and entrepreneurship scenarios, and practical frameworks that help team members discover their God-given purpose.
The complete series creates transformed lives, stronger teams, and workplace cultures that reflect kingdom values through excellence, integrity, and genuine care for others' development. It culminates in the On-the-Job-Sword-Training (OJST) devotional workbook, which reinforces daily spiritual disciplines alongside workplace excellence.
What was your main drive to write this book?
Obedience. I had spent decades living at the intersection
of Christian faith and project management — watching biblical leadership
principles play out in boardrooms, hospital systems, and complex program
delivery environments — and I kept sensing a nudge from the Holy Spirit that
this needed to be written down. There was no book on the shelf that spoke
directly to Christian project management professionals in the language of both
their faith and their work. I wanted to create the resource I wish I'd had earlier
in my career.
What do you hope readers will learn by reading this book?
I hope readers walk away with three things. First, that
their faith is not separate from their professional life — it is the foundation
of it. Second, that the principles of excellent project management and servant
leadership are deeply rooted in Scripture, not just in secular frameworks. And
third, that they are not alone. There is a whole community of Christian
professionals navigating secular workplaces who are trying to lead with
integrity, compassion, and purpose — and this book is written for every one of
them.
Did you do much research when planning this book?
Absolutely. Holy Scripture was my primary source — always.
But the research extended across decades of professional practice, PMI
frameworks and the PMBOK® Guide, and leadership literature that has shaped how
I think and lead. Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
and The Speed of Trust are both referenced in the book because they
articulate principle-centered leadership in ways that beautifully echo what
Scripture has always taught. My doctoral work in project management also
deepened the theoretical grounding behind what I wrote. It was truly a
convergence of faith, practice, and scholarship.
Did you have any main people who helped you in the process
of this book or influenced you to write it?
The Holy Spirit was my primary collaborator — I mean that
sincerely. But God placed specific people in my path at key moments. Derek
Prince's sermons and teachings have profoundly shaped my spiritual foundation
and the way I study Scripture. The PMI community — chapter leaders, fellow
practitioners, and University students and PMI Student Club members I've
mentored over the years — kept reminding me that this message was needed. And
Lee Lambert, a respected figure in the project management world, honored me by posting
accolades on LinkedIn about my first book and then writing the foreword for my
second book, which is a testament to the credibility this work has earned
across both the faith and professional communities.
How long did this book take you to write from initial
thought to hitting publish?
The honest answer is that it took a lifetime to live and a
season to write. The experiences, the lessons, the spiritual formation — those
accumulated over more than twenty years in healthcare IT and project
management. The actual writing and publication process was more condensed, but
the book was really being written long before I sat down to draft it. That's
true of most meaningful work: the living comes first, then the writing.
Do you have plans to write more about this topic or new
topics?
Very much so. If Jesus Was a Project Manager is the
first book in my Faith at Work series, and the series has a clear and growing
vision. Book 2 — If Jesus Was a Scrum Master: Servant Leadership in Secular
Workplaces — is already in working draft, exploring servant leadership
principles through the lens of Agile and Scrum. And I have skeleton working
drafts for Books 3 through 7 in the series. Each book has its own divine
timing, and I've learned not to rush what the Holy Spirit is still shaping. The
runway is long, and I'm grateful for it.
About the Author
Shawna Calhoun is a seasoned project management professional with over 20 years of experience across healthcare, biotech, education, and a brief venture into oil and gas. Currently serving in a remote leadership role for a major healthcare organization, she blends technical expertise with spiritual insight to lead with clarity and purpose. Holding a bachelor’s in IT, an MBA in Project Management, PMP certification, and multiple Agile credentials, Shawna is also a respected instructor, consultant, speaker, and mentor. She volunteers with PMI, contributes to university advisory boards, and is pursuing her DBA in Project Management. Born again in 2019, Shawna’s testimony is one of perseverance—overcoming personal trials including trauma, divorce, job loss, and profound betrayal. She’s gifted in “connecting the dots,” often drawing connections between Scripture and professional principles, such as those found in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Her leadership encourages others to live a fruitful faith-forward life with wisdom and grace in Christ.
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