The Dixon Bookshelf-Read. Reflect. Lead. Grow.
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The Dixon Bookshelf-Read. Reflect. Lead. Grow.
A Practical Manual For Navigation Communications Before, During, and After A Crisis
by Dr. Kenn L. Dixon, LSSGB, APR
In more than 20 years of ministry communication work, I have learned one truth above all others: a crisis is never a question of if, only of when. The pastor who insists his congregation is too small, too rural, too biblically grounded, or too obscure to face a crisis is the pastor most likely to face one unprepared. Crises are not visitations of judgment on the careless church and exemptions to the faithful one. They are simply the inevitable consequence of being human beings in community, stewarding finite trust in a fallen world.
What do you do when the unimaginable happens to your church, ministry, school, nonprofit, or community organization?A trusted leader resigns under pressure. A data breach exposes member information. Social media rumors spread faster than facts. A tragedy unfolds on campus. Reporters begin calling. Members demand answers. Confidence starts to erode by the hour. In those moments, silence is not neutral. Delay is not protection. And confusion can damage trust faster than the crisis itself.
Crisis, What Crisis? is a practical and faith-centered guide designed to help churches, nonprofits, schools, and community organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises with clarity, compassion, and credibility. Drawing from real-world crisis communication experience in healthcare, higher education, ministry, and nonprofit leadership, Kenn Dixon provides a roadmap for leaders who must communicate under pressure while protecting people, mission, and reputation.
This book moves beyond theory and gives readers actionable tools for real situations. Inside, readers will learn how to build a crisis communication team, create holding statements, manage media inquiries, respond to social media attacks, protect stakeholder trust, and lead through uncertainty with transparency and empathy. The book emphasizes that crisis response is not just about messaging. It is about demonstrating care, responsibility, integrity, and action.
Through step-by-step frameworks, sample statements, communication templates, response strategies, and realistic church and nonprofit scenarios, readers will learn how to:
• Prepare before a crisis occurs
• Identify and classify crisis levels
• Respond quickly during the “golden hour”
• Communicate with members, media, donors, and communities
• Lead with empathy while maintaining organizational credibility
• Manage cyberattacks, misconduct allegations, leadership failures, accidents, and public criticism
• Conduct post-crisis evaluations and organizational learning
The book also explores the importance of trust, ethical leadership, stakeholder expectations, and the “first mover advantage” in defining the narrative before others define it for you.
Grounded in proven crisis management principles, communication best practices, and faith-based values, Crisis, What Crisis? reminds leaders that every crisis presents both danger and opportunity. Organizations that prepare well, communicate honestly, and demonstrate genuine care can emerge stronger, wiser, and more trusted than before.
Whether you are a pastor, church administrator, nonprofit executive, communication director, educator, elder, or community leader, this book provides the tools and confidence needed to lead effectively when the pressure is highest.
Better Leadership. Stronger Alignment. Greater Impact.
Kenn Dixon is a strategic communications executive who has spent his career helping organizations cut through the noise and connect with the people who matter. With a background spanning public relations, digital strategy, and organizational messaging, he has built a reputation for turning complex ideas into clear narratives that move audiences and drive action. Kenn’s work sits at the intersection of communication, culture, and innovation. He has led initiatives for faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven companies, developing persona-based content strategies, modernizing outreach, and equipping leaders to engage multicultural and multigenerational communities. His approach blends research, creativity, and practical execution—always anchored in the belief that communication should serve people, not overwhelm them. Known for his steady leadership and Gen X pragmatism, Kenn brings decades of experience helping teams work smarter, tell better stories, and build lasting connections. The Dixon Group helps mission-driven organizations identify and close the Mission Credibility Gap™ by aligning leadership behavior, organizational decisions, and stakeholder experience with the mission they serve. Through assessment, alignment, and accountability, we help leaders build trust, strengthen engagement, and increase mission impact.
Local Church Communication Guide to Engagement (Church and Non-Profit Guides to Engagement and Growth)
Most churches communicate constantly—but struggle to be heard. In Stop Talking to Yourself, Dr. Kenn Dixon blends research, Scripture, and the StoryBrand framework to help churches clarify their message, align their communication, and guide people toward belonging. This practical, insightful book is for leaders ready to stop talking inward and start communicating with clarity and impact.
Templates, Scripts, Checklists, and Scenarios Companion to Crisis, What Crisis? BOOK TWO OF THE TRILOGY
The Crisis Toolkit is the practical companion to Crisis, What Crisis? and the second book in the trilogy. Designed for churches, nonprofits, schools, ministries, and mission-driven organizations, this hands-on resource provides ready-to-use templates, scripts, checklists, quick-reference guides, tabletop scenarios, contact forms, and a full crisis communication plan template. Built for real-world pressure, it helps leaders prepare before a crisis strikes, respond with clarity when it does, and guide their teams toward trust, accountability, and recovery.