Developing and Passing on Leadership
We are here today as the church and as Christians because Jesus, through his ministry equipped men and women for Christian leadership in the making of disciples. His process for ministry and leadership development seems to be repeated by the disciples who were a part of it. That process, by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit led to the incredible spread of Christianity throughout the world.
If we examine the years Jesus spent with his disciples we can see a simple leadership development process described:
Step One: Come and See (John 1:39)
As Jesus began his ministry and people began to gather and even follow him, Jesus extended a simple invitation to some – “Come and you will see.” Many of those first invited became disciples who traveled daily with Jesus and ultimately became the first apostles. They are a tremendous part of church history and the spread of Christianity. The Come and See invitation was simply an invitation to come and see firsthand what ministry looked like. It was an invitation to see what Jesus was doing and learn more of who he was.
In leadership development this is an invitation for those who may become leaders to see what a particular ministry area is like. This is an invitation to talk about and maybe observe a ministry like Children’s Ministry, Connect Team, even life in a Missional Community. Come and See what we do.
Step Two: Come and Follow Me (John 1:43)
For those disciples who seemed committed and interested in joining Jesus in his ministry the invitation to “Follow” was extended. This meant traveling with Jesus to the many towns and villages that he ministered in. It meant not only watching and listening to Jesus minister, but also helping with ministry. Throughout the gospels we see the disciples organizing people, arranging travel, rowing boats, gathering food and more. They were not just serving; they were learning as they served alongside Jesus. Here, Jesus began to spend more time with those disciples who would continue ministry without him. He taught them more and involved them more.
In leadership development this an invitation to take a step of commitment. Come and Follow Me is a call to serve WITH me in a particular ministry area. The disciples grew in there service with Jesus and their help in his ministry. As leaders, we can observe the commitment and faithfulness of others as they watch and learn ministry from us. For those who are able and faithful in their service this is a place to grow from simply serving to participation in helping to lead others.
Step Three: Come and Go Out From Me (Luke 10)
After a time of watching and learning by the disciples, Jesus paired them up together and sent them out to do ministry in the surrounding towns and then to return and report to him what had taken place. This was an introduction into ministry without Jesus, a time of doing what they had seen and learned on their own. In reporting back to Jesus they would have further opportunity to learn from him, to be encouraged and corrected.
In leadership development this is a time of supervised leadership from a growing distance. It is giving the developing leaders freedom to lead outside of the leader’s sight and direct intervention but with oversight of the leader continuing from a distance. Through follow up and reporting the established leader can continue to instruct, coach and encourage the developing leader.
Step Four: Go and Do (John 20:21)
After his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus spent a brief time with his disciples giving them final instructions. As the Father had sent him, he was sending them. Jesus was sending them as disciples who would make disciples by sharing the gospel and teaching others all that it means to follow him. Those disciples would become the first leaders of the church. They would do the things that they had seen Jesus do and carry out all that they had learned from him, teaching the new disciples to do the same.
In this final phase of leadership development, we are sending out the new leader to lead and to equip new leaders. At this point they are sufficiently prepared to lead their own ministry and help others step into roles doing the same.
Within these four steps, each of our ministry areas has a “Leadership Pipeline” that is designed to help move people through that specific ministry area and into leadership. New City Macon has written several blog posts describing the pipelines. If you are interested in learning more, I would suggest starting here and then reading any of these posts.
While this simple leadership development process applies to every ministry area in the church and even leadership outside of the church, we are finding that it will be incredibly helpful in our planting and replanting efforts! In planting and replanting our desire is to see a family of independent (autonomous) and interdependent local churches that work together for the advancement of the Gospel. These simple steps provide a reproducible leadership development model that ultimately leads to healthy, equipped, independent churches and church leadership.
Below is an example from Amanda Christopher of what that might look like in a plant or replant for one ministry area:
Children’s Director
Step one: I do, you watch, we talk. In step one, the potential leader meets with the established leader, the New City Children’s Director (CD) to discuss the role and responsibilities. The potential leader will visit and observe NCK on a Sunday morning a minimum of two times to observe classes and procedures. The CD and potential leader will have a follow up meeting to discuss moving forward and expectations.
Step two: I do, you help, we talk. In step two, the CD takes primary leadership while the developing leader helps. This includes leading a Sunday morning, a training event, or even a children’s class. This is another opportunity for the developing leader to observe while also gaining some hands-on experience.
Conversations will continue on a weekly basis at minimum to answer any questions the developing leader has. This is a time for the developing leader to gain clarity of the role of CD.
Step three: You do, I watch, we talk. In step three, the developing leader leads with oversight from the CD. The developing leader functions as the primary ministry leader, while the CD observes and provides feedback. The CD will still be involved in vision casting, high-level decision making (eg: curriculum, procedures, subscriptions, timelines), and event planning.
The CD and developing leader will maintain weekly contact. The developing leader should expect to receive positive feedback and constructive criticism from the CD, and will be expected to implement any changes needed for the new ministry to align with NCFC standards.
Step four: You do, someone else watches. Now is the time for the new leader to begin raising up more new leaders, focusing on the roles outlined in the Kids’ Ministry handbook.
In the case of a church plant or replant the newly trained leader would no longer have oversight from the planting/replanting church leader but would be free to lead their ministry within the leadership structures of their church.
If you are a leader thinking, “That looks great but where do I begin? We have no leaders to develop leaders!” Start with 1 person and 1 ministry area. Be intentional in explaining the process and walking with them through it - now you’ve doubled your leaders who can develop and pass on leadership! If you both follow the process with the next developing leader, you double again. Start with where you are and with what you have.
