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.
Interview with Shawna Calhoun
Do you have a routine or something you do to get you in the mood to write?
I wake up early, usually between 4 am and 4:30 am, and my daily first fruits are to God. I begin with prayer and praise, spend at least 20 minutes doing a devotional and Bible Scripture study, and meditation. Sometimes I’ll be inspired to watch or rewatch a sermon or a teaching. Derek Prince's sermons are some of my favorites. But I let the Holy Spirit guide me through dreams, visions, or unction on what my morning focus will be. I also draw a lot of inspiration from my doctoral research at Liberty University and from my volunteer work with the Project Management Institute (PMI), PMI chapters, and University PMI Student Clubs. I especially love hearing and being inspired by other people's overcomer stories that I can personally relate to.
It all connects so beautifully.
Do you have a special song, drink, or food you enjoy while you are writing?
Coffee and tea with monk fruit sweetener in different flavors. Variety is the spice of life, and I like to try different combinations.
How do you know what to write?
After praying about it, I will draft an initial outline with high-level concepts and ideas for case studies and relevant testimonies. Over time, I just follow the Holy Spirit flow. And then there are real-time testimonies I receive from people, or new circumstances that I experience (tests that I overcame), that I have to include, which help shape the final manuscript. By the time I’m done, I have zero doubt that the Holy Spirit inspired all of it, and I pray the final results are good fruit and that I’ve been a good vessel for the glory of God.
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
My morning spiritual routine sets the tone for everything. After my first fruits time with God (prayer, praise, devotional, meditation, and Scripture study), I transition into whatever the day holds professionally or academically. Writing for my books happens in the margins, intentionally carved out. I might spend time reviewing contributor testimonies I've received, integrating a new overcomer story, or refining a chapter based on something I encountered in my doctoral research or project management work that week. I don't force it. When the words come, they flow. When they don't, I pray and wait. I've learned to trust the process — and the Master Author behind the process.
Do you do anything special to celebrate after writing “the end”?
Honestly, my first response is always gratitude — I get on my knees and thank God, because I know I didn't do it alone. After finishing If Jesus Was a Project Manager, there was this quiet, overwhelming sense of awe that what started as a nudge from the Holy Spirit had become something real and tangible in the world. I don't think I did anything extravagant. It was more of a sacred exhale. I may treat myself to a nice cup of tea and sit in the stillness of it for a moment — just grateful to have been a vessel.
How long does it take you to write a book?
It depends on the season God has me in. If Jesus Was a Project Manager was years in the making in my heart before a single word hit the page — the life experiences, the professional lessons, the spiritual growth all had to accumulate first. The actual writing process was more condensed, but the book was really being written long before I sat down to draft it. I've found that's true of most meaningful work: the living comes first, then the writing. Book 2, If Jesus Was a Scrum Master, is following a similar pattern — it's being shaped by real-time testimonies from contributors and by my own ongoing journey, so it will be done when it's done and not a moment before.
What is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Vulnerability. Deciding to share your real story — the hard seasons, the failures, the moments where you had to choose faith over fear — and trusting that it will help someone else rather than just expose you. There's also the challenge of honoring other people's stories well when they've trusted you with their testimonies. I take that stewardship seriously. Beyond the emotional weight, there's the practical tension of writing alongside a full professional and academic life. Finding the time and protecting the creative space is a discipline in itself. But God has been faithful every step of the way, and that's ultimately what I want readers to take away — not that I had it all together, but that He does.
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.
