3 Reasons Why Developing Leaders Is So Rewarding

A lot of what I learned about leadership development was because I fell into it.  It was accidental, if I could call it that.  I would have a young man in the church talk about the call of God on their life and before long we were meeting together and talking through things.  We didn't have a curriculum or anything. After a season they would be given more responsibilities and then BOOM! they were on their own.  

But over the last several years our church has become more intentional in detecting and developing potential leaders with the hopes of deploying them into the field of kingdom service.  Beyond internships and mentoring our church has provided a leadership pathway in the form of a 12-month residency program.  This program is made up of a team of eight current and retired pastors with a combined total of over 250 years of ministry experience and three candidates that were accepted into the program.  Each month a new ministry topic will be discussed along with reading assignments, preaching opportunities, and projects to provide a well-rounded understanding of ministry.  This process has been so rewarding! Here's why.

1. We see multi-generational interaction. The eight men that comprise the residency team are excited to be able to pour out from their wealth of experiences into another generation of emerging leaders.  The Psalmist said, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4) and we get to see this played out in front of our eyes every month and it is a beautiful thing.  I love to hear the stories of heartache (which are a part of the ministry) to see their faces light up when speaking about the victories experienced in days before, and to communicate the mistakes that were made with the hope that they will serve as a cautionary tale.  

2. We get to play the long game.  "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1-3). There are three spiritual generations represented in these verses above.  It is the hope that through this process of residency and developing leaders that the residents would be pouring into others as well.  

3. We keep our focus on multiplication. Multiplication is better than addition.  If you don't believe me google the question about a penny doubled for a month or $2,000,000 in 30 days.  Multiplication is difficult.  It doesn't see the reward as quickly as addition does.  But over time multiplication will prove to be the real winner.  One great way to participate in kingdom multiplication is by detecting, developing, and deploying leaders into the field of service for Jesus.  

-Pastor Jamie Tickel
Lead Pastor