Big Dream, Bold Crossings, and Leadership Legacies

The John C. Maxwell Leadership at 12Stone Church weaves the lives of two men whose God-given dreams intersected for an exponential spiritual leadership impact.

John C. Maxwell

A Leader of Leaders

John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 24 million books. Called American’s #1 leadership authority, he is the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, and EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained 5 million leaders in 185 countries. Each year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, presidents of nations, and many of the world’s top business leaders.

Personifying the phrase, “Leadership is influence,” John lives out this core belief that influence begins with one — one person adding value, one person casting vision, one person making a lasting difference. And that one becomes many.

Kevin Myers

Senior Pastor, 12Stone Church

Kevin Myers is the senior pastor of 12Stone Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S. and the nation‘s fastest growing in 2010. Kevin and his wife, Marcia, sold everything in 1987 and left Michigan to plant the church for spiritually unresolved people in Gwinnett County Georgia.

Kevin and Marcia, college sweethearts, have been married and in ministry for over thirty years. When they are not spending time with their four children, they can often be found riding on one of Kevin’s Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Myer’s first book, "Home Run", co-authored with John Maxwell released February 2014.

Timeline

1974
As a pastor, when John Maxwell came to the conclusion that “everything rises and falls on leadership” in 1974, he gave his heart and mind to delivering the message to whoever would listen.
1977
Listening in was 17-year-old Kevin Myers, whom God called to full-time ministry in 1977. As he pursued Maxwell’s leadership training & books, he developed an early understanding of the significant influence and impact leaders possess.
1987
Kevin Myers made a first bold move, planting Crossroads Community Church (now 12Stone Church) in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with the support of Kentwood Community Church and the Wesleyan Church.
1991
For the first several years growing the church, he faced challenges that produced frustration and desperation. In one of those desperate moments Myers prayed,

“If you want this church to grow, Lord, you need to give me a mentor like John Maxwell.”
1997
When one of Maxwell’s leadership conferences came as close to Georgia as North Carolina, Myers loaded up a bus of volunteers to hear Maxwell speak. After a series of God-ordained circumstances at the conference, Maxwell offered to mentor Myers without Myers even asking.
2009
Myers boldly approached Maxwell regarding the concept of a leadership center connected to the local church using his name to honor and continue his legacy. Maxwell revealed that God had given him a dream about a leadership center linked to a local church years ago while he was a pastor, but over that time he thought the dream was lost. Maxwell quickly realized his dream as not lost, simply migrated by God from San Diego to Atlanta. The extra blessing of how it played out was a dream that the dream was being fulfilled via the investment he had made in Myers as a leader.
2013
During 12Stone Church’s 25th anniversary celebration, Maxwell presented Myers with a brick excavated from the John Wesley Chapel in England he had purchased years ago to be the cornerstone of his dream leadership center as a symbol of the rich continuing leadership legacy. Maxwell, a leader of leaders, knew the value of influencing the next generation. So, he transferred knowledge, experience, resources, passion, his name and, ultimately a dream that would have an exponential impact on the future of leadership for generations to come.
2014
John and Kevin release the co-authored book “Home Run”.
2014
The John C. Maxwell Leadership Center at 12Stone Church opens it’s doors.