# John C. Maxwell

John Calvin Maxwell (born February 20, 1947) is an American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Some of his books have been on the New York Times Best Seller list.

## Personal life

Maxwell was born in Garden City, Michigan, in 1947. An evangelical Christian, he followed his father into the ministry. He completed a bachelor's degree at Circleville Bible College in 1969, a Master of Divinity degree at Azusa Pacific University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently resides in South Florida with his wife, Margaret. He is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church.

### Arrest

On March 12, 2009, Maxwell was arrested at Palm Beach International Airport for trying to board a plane with a concealed weapon. According to the report, the TSA screener noticed a handgun displayed inside Maxwell's briefcase. Maxwell told TSA officials that the gun was recently given to him as a gift and that he had simply forgotten to take it out of the briefcase. He was charged with possession of a concealed weapon while attempting to board an airplane and was released from jail on bond, while awaiting trial. Maxwell addressed the incident on his personal website , calling it "one of the stupidest things" he has ever done.

## Career

Since the 1970s, Maxwell has led churches in Indiana, Ohio, California, and Florida. He was the senior pastor of Skyline Church for 14 years, leaving in 1995. In 2004, he returned to congregational ministry at Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where he is currently a teaching pastor. On November 16, 2008, he began working as a guest pastor at Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, California. Maxwell returned to preach at the Crystal Cathedral several times and his messages were shown on the Hour of Power television program.

## Controversies
### Visit to Guatemala

In March 2022, Maxwell visited the pro-life "Conference for Life and Family" organized by Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei, accused of corruption and authoritarian policies. During his visit, Maxwell praised Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras, criticized for her persecution of anti-corruption officials and named by the U.S. State Department on a list of corrupt and anti-democractic actors in the region. Maxwell called Porras "a rockstar" and "a leader amongst leaders".

## Selected bibliography

    See List of books by John C. Maxwell for a more complete list
* There's No Such Thing as Business Ethics (There's Only ONE RULE for Making Decisions), Warner Business Books 2003
* The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, Center Street – 2012
* The 5 Levels of Leadership, Center Street – 2011
* Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What the Most Effective People Do Differently, Thomas Nelson –2010
* Put Your Dream to the Test, Thomas Nelson – March 2009
* Leadership Gold: Lessons I've Learned from a Lifetime of Leading, Thomas Nelson – March 2008
* The 360° Leader, Thomas Nelson, January 2006 – One of Executive Book Summaries 30 Best Business Books in 2003
* Winning With People, Thomas Nelson, December 2004 – One of Executive Book Summaries 30 Best Business Books in 2005
* 25 Ways to win with People companion to Winning with People
* Today Matters, Warner Books, April 2004
* Thinking For a Change, Warner Business Books, March 2003
* Your Road Map for Success, Thomas Nelson, March 2002 (Orig. titled: The Success Journey, Thomas Nelson, 1997)
* The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, Thomas Nelson, August 2001
* Failing Forward: Turning Your Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success, Thomas Nelson, 2000
* The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Thomas Nelson, 1998
* Developing the Leaders Around You, Thomas Nelson, 1995 (Repackaged 2003)
* Developing the Leader Within You, Thomas Nelson, 1993 (Repackaged 2001)
* Be a People Person, Cook Communications (Originally Chariot-Victor Books, 1989)
* Be All You Can Be, Cook Communications (Originally Chariot-Victor Books, 1987)
* Make Today Count, Center Street, First Center Street Edition: June 2008
* How Successful People Think (originally published as Thinking for a Change), Center Street, First Center Street Edition: June 2009
* Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters, Center Street, 2015
* Developing the Leader Within You 2.0, HarperCollins, 2018