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Stop Waiting for Permission

Harness Your Gifts, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius

Stephen Chandler

About Stop Waiting for Permission

ECPA BESTSELLER • From the pastor of one of America’s fastest-growing churches, this bold, inspiring manifesto will show you how to dream, plan, and ultimately achieve your great calling in life.

“If you’re tired of hitting roadblocks and want to dig deep to achieve your God-given potential, today is the day.”—New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church

We each have a unique purpose in this life, one embedded within us by the Creator of the universe before time began.

Yet we rarely experience this greatness because the glory of God within us is still waiting to be uncovered. So we spend our lives running after the wrong goals. Eventually we burn out and stop believing that God has any bigger plans for us in light of our past failures and false starts.

However, Stephen Chandler believes God created everyone, including you, for greatness . . . and doesn’t want anything to get in the way of that destiny.

In Stop Waiting for Permission, you’ll discover the keys to unlock your unique calling and activate your innate, God-given strengths by

• identifying what’s holding you back
• discovering your unique genius
• maximizing your God-given greatness
• living in your purpose with perseverance


The time to act is now! Stop waiting for permission.

Praise

“The same practical, informative, and empowering teaching that my friend Stephen Chandler has shared with live audiences is now at your fingertips. The clarity and wisdom found within this book are like always having a catalytic coach within reach. This is your opportunity to live your best life!”—Bishop Dale C. Bronner, DMin, founder and senior pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral and author of Power Principles

“Each one of us has been created on purpose and for a purpose. In Stop Waiting for Permission, Stephen provides essential keys to unlocking the potential that resides within us. He dares us to dream God-sized dreams and offers a road map for realizing them. You will be inspired, challenged, equipped, and empowered to step into your God-given purpose.”—Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

“So many of us struggle with reaching true and meaningful success. We face delays, obstacles, difficult people, and circumstances that discourage us, often to the point of us giving up. If you’re tired of hitting roadblocks and want to dig deep to achieve your God-given potential, today is the day. Let Pastor Stephen Chandler’s new book be the catalyst. Stop waiting for permission to achieve your dreams.”—Craig Groeschel, pastor of Life.Church and New York Times bestselling author

“How many people have come to the end of their lives with untapped genius, hidden greatness, and unfulfilled purpose? As I read my friend Stephen Chandler’s book, Stop Waiting for Permission, I literally felt a new sense of confidence rise up inside me and wondered, Where has this book been all my life? We all need the encouragement, the kick in the pants, and the permission to be just what God created us to be—which Stephen gives us in this incredible book!”—Lori Champion, author of Woman Up and co-senior pastor of Celebration Church in Austin, Texas

“Stephen Chandler is a wildly gifted leader and communicator, and I am so excited for his newest project, Stop Waiting for Permission. Through life lessons and practical steps, Stephen teaches us how to pursue the greatness God has destined for us and how to develop disciplined strategies that will maximize our potential and keep our hearts anchored in Christ. His words will motivate you to push through doubt, worry, and fear so you can realize the potential that God has put inside you.”—Tim Timberlake, senior pastor of Celebration Church and author of The Power of 1440

“If this book has found its way into your hands, you are about to be changed for the better. Through this powerful book, Stephen Chandler is giving you all the tools you need to ‘harness your gifts, find your purpose, and unleash your personal genius.’”—Dr. Dharius Daniels, author of Our Purpose is Calling: Your Difference is Your Destiny

About Stephen Chandler

Stephen Chandler is the senior pastor of Union Church based in Maryland. Since 2011, Union has grown from a group of fifty to thousands of people in weekly attendance, with tens of thousands joining live online every week. Stephen’s obsession with people, systems, and culture resulted in Union Church being named the fastest-growing church in America by Outreach magazine. A sought-after international speaker, he is unapologetic about helping leaders maximize their God-given passion. Stephen’s true legacy is his wife, Zai, and their three beautiful children, Zoe, Roman, and Jade.

Product Details

224 pages | Published by WaterBrook

On Sale Date: Sep 27, 2022

Trim Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4

Carton Quantity: 12

Sneak Peek

Start reading the first chapter! 

A bold and inspiring invitation to dream, plan, and ultimately overcome the obstacles blocking you from your greatest purpose in life—whatever it is!—from the pastor of one of America's fastest-growing churches. Pastor Stephen Chandler believes that each of us has a specific, life-giving purpose in this world. Sadly, many people never discover the unique genius that has been embedded within them by the Creator of the universe. But that doesn't have to be the case! Stop Waiting for Permission offers a four-step process to unlocking your unique calling and activating your innate, God-given strengths. Chandler provides the tools you need to:
  • Identify What Is Holding You Back
  • Discover Your Unique Genius
  • Maximize Your God-Given Greatness
  • Live In Your Purpose with Perseverance
Stop Waiting For Permission is a biblical boost of encouragement filled with original insights to help those seeking to scale the heights of their calling, map out the territory of their purpose, and discover their unique and personal area of genius.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stop Waiting For Permission: Harness Your Gifts, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius
and Stop Waiting For Permission Study Guide
By Stephen Chandler
A WaterBrook Hardcover and TradePaper | Both On Sale 9/27/22

“When you read this book, you’ll take that step into your purpose that you know you should take. Stop Waiting For Permission will help you find the greatness within you. This book needs to be not in your library, but on your lap.” —John C. Maxell, bestselling author and leadership expert

From the pastor of one of America's fastest-growing churches, Union Church in Maryland, Stephen Chandler releases his debut book, Stop Waiting for Permission: Harness Your Gifts, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius (September 27, 2022, WaterBrook) with a foreword by New York Times bestselling author and leadership expert John C. Maxwell. This bold, inspiring manifesto will show readers how to dream, plan, and ultimately achieve their great calling in life.

Chandler draws a road map for the journey that requires active participation and a willingness to acknowledge our special skills. He believes God infused each person with their own unique genius for a future that cannot be limited by their past. So, whether parenting young children, starting a new job, volunteering in the community, or nearing the end of life, readers learn that now is the time to invest in their inner, God-gifted greatness.

"Greatness is where your personal genius and God-given purpose collide," says Chandler. "What if I told you there is glory from God in you, just waiting to be uncovered? It's the pursuit of a lifetime to discover all the greatness He intends for you. Which is why your greatest days still lie ahead, no matter your age or level of success."

Imagine a place where everything that makes a person unique is welcomed and celebrated. Where a person regularly experiences deep fulfillment, purpose, and peace, and their gifts and passion come together in ways that powerfully bless their family, friends, community, and the world. It may seem too good to be true, but this is no imaginary setting. Chandler labels this place greatness—and it's where God invites all of us to live, work, and call home wholeheartedly. Chandler identifies vital points to achieving greatness:

Chandler identifies vital points to achieving greatness:
• Identifying what's holding you back
• Envisioning how to chart the course
• Exhibiting faithfulness – consistency, steadiness, and showing up
• Being self-disciplined – internally motivated, dependable action
• Living with balance – pursuing greatness in all things
• Discovering your unique genius
• Maximizing your God-given greatness
• Living in your purpose with perseverance

“Greatness takes time,” encourages Chandler. “I’m convinced that impatience has stolen more dreams and enticed more people to abandon their purpose than just about anything else on earth. To achieve greatness, you have to keep showing up.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephen Chandler is the senior pastor of Union Church, based in Maryland, and the author of Stop Waiting for Permission. Through his unapologetic pursuit of fulfilling his God-given purpose, Union Church has become known for its unrelenting desire to unite people with purpose. Since its launch in 2011, Union Church has grown from fifty to thousands in weekly attendance, with tens of thousands joining live online every week. It has expanded to multiple campuses across Maryland. Stephen’s obsession with people, systems, and culture resulted in Union Church (formerly Destiny Church) being named the fastest-growing church in America by Outreach magazine. As a sought-after international speaker, he helps leaders maximize their God-given potential. In 2017, Chandler launched Union College to help leaders unlock their gifts, develop spiritually, and make a lasting impact on the kingdom of God. Through intentional classroom sessions and an experiential learning model, Union College graduates are grounded in God, freed to serve, fully equipped, and positioned to lead in the local church. Stephen’s true legacy is his wife, Zai, and their three beautiful children, Zoe, Roman, and Jade.

For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com and www.stephenchandler.com.

Suggested Interview Questions for Stephen Chandler, Author of Stop Waiting for Permission
1) Where did your inspiration come from, and what was your purpose for writing this book? (P. 61)
2) Why do you believe greatness is not only okay to pursue but is also godly?
3) How does identifying what fuels us drive our purpose?
4) How do you define personal genius, and how can someone figure out what theirs is? Why is it essential for them to do so? (P. 62)
5) You encourage readers not to let disadvantages in life define them. How can someone decide to allow their past or present circumstances to affect their purpose in life positively?
6) What are the four “wheels” you believe are crucial for success?
7) What active steps can people take to not to allow what-ifs to become excuses?
8) Why is a vision an essential character trait for those pursuing greatness, and what questions should one ask themselves to define their vision? (P. 72)
9) What can we learn from the minor prophet Habakkuk about vision?
10) Everyone gets discouraged. What are specific things you practice to keep showing up when it’s difficult?
11) How can we tell if our efforts are faithful or futile? (P. 79)
12) You state that vision and faithfulness require the self-discipline to make them possible. How do you stay self-disciplined?
13) Why do you believe it is important to sweat the small stuff?
14) You state greatness studies greatness. How does one develop an eye for greatness and become a student? (P. 97)
15) What are the steps to make a confident leap of faith? (P. 130)
16) How does the study guide work with the book?
17) Where can people find out more about you and your book?

Stop Waiting for Permission: Harness Your Gifts, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius
By Stephen Chandler
A WaterBrook Hardcover | $24.00 | On Sale September 27, 2022
ISBN: 9780593194232| e-ISBN: 9780593194249

Stop Waiting for Permission Study Guide By Stephen Chandler
A WaterBrook Tradepaper| $10.00 | On Sale September 27, 2022
ISBN: 9780593194263| e-ISBN: 9780593194270

For interviews or copy requests, please contact Brett Benson at bbenson@prh.com

Contact Publicist

Brett Benson