Many churches have become adept at creating a leadership pipeline. Tapping people on the shoulder to serve then typically leads to focused discussion and the exploration of greater responsibility. This needs intentionality which happens best in connection with relational engagement. The latter is fun, but the former often seems like hard work.
Leadership development is not a sundry task, but some of the essential core business of ministry. In fact, it is an extension of the core business of disciple-making, given that Jesus sought disciples who would, in turn, make disciples. This needs contexts in which we can spend time with individuals whereas churches often prioritise what is done in large groups.
The problem is often that there is a dilution of leaders. This just creates a need for the very tasks that will, for a while, need to be leader-intensive. This is why change starts from the top, but with busy ministers being busy with the right things, the things that are most important, the people that most need focus.
One of the greatest changes a minister can make is to choose to establish and run an internship program. Rather than delegate it, the minister establishes the priority of personally raising key leaders who serve in important areas of ministry. CCVT offers tools to assist here, such as a competency-based coaching manual which focuses development on healthy output.
Engine rooms of discipleship and leadership growth, whether Alpha courses, small groups, mentoring relationships, etc., will then need to also be aligned to the equipping and releasing of people as influencers. Evangelism will end up happening more, too, within such a culture. Healthy priorities will be better established.
This shift is not just the domain of large churches. Small churches are proportionately better at mobilising their congregation members. Therefore, when recruitment that is relational also becomes intentional, churches of any size can find themselves quickly being able to strengthen their capacity to grow.
What do you need to stop doing and also start doing today?!
