Chosen as one of the "Top 21 Emerging Leaders of the 21st Century," Dr. Jay Dennis has been a driving force in the Christian community for nearly three decades. He received his Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1981. He then went on to complete his Doctorate of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminar in Pasadena, California in 1993. Serving as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, Lakeland, Florida since 1996, he is responsible for its phenomenal growth. Featured in Billy Graham's Decision Today radio show and Christianity Today, Lakeland's largest church, spanning 32 acres with a congregation of 6,500, is known as First Baptist Church at the Mall. Dr. Dennis served as president of the Florida Baptist Convention, president of the State Baptist Presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention and was appointed to serve on the Evangelism Committee of the Baptist World Alliance. He hosts a weekly television show, Strategies4Life, which reaches audiences across the United States. Strategies4Life is also the name of his nonprofit organization committed to positively impacting the world through individuals, corporations, churches and small groups.

Servant leadership is the essential tool you need for being effective. I also believe that those who lead should be trained and tooled for effective ministry, known as Leadership Equipping.