When the Spirit Moves

Publisher: Lorimer Press

Paul Leonard's book, When The Spirit Moves, richly reflects his life – filled with honesty, warmth, grace and humor. His poems have a psalm-like openness to both the joys and struggles of life and reflect the wisdom gained from a life of servant leadership. His essays and observations challenge and encourage us to reflect on the good life as God intends.

Author of Where is Church and Music of 1000 Hammers, Inside Habitat for Humanity, Paul Leonard’s professional career has spanned the two disparate worlds of nonprofit ministry and big business. With degrees from Davidson College, University of Chicago’s Divinity School, and Emory University, he first served at Trinity Presbyterian Church and then founded a non-traditional church that focused on community action and service. He left the traditional ministry to work in city housing, and was later recruited by the John Crosland Company. He became the company’s president in 1984. After the company was acquired by Centex Real Estate Corporation, Leonard was appointed as its Executive Vice-President, responsible for the company’s southeast region. After retiring from Centex, Leonard was elected to the Board of Habitat for Humanity International; he served as Chairman of the Board from December, 2001 to December, 2003 and was employed as the Interim CEO of Habitat for Humanity from June, 2004 through October, 2005.