Empowering Tomorrow: 10 Ways to Start Developing Leaders in Your Church Today

Big Idea:

Developing leaders is an ongoing process that requires commitment, prayer, and a willingness to invest in others today.

Developing leaders can be a daunting task within your church but we all know that is it one of the most critical tasks that will help empower the church of tomorrow. Here are ten actionable ways to start cultivating leaders in your congregation today.

1. Give them a Chance

Leadership growth often starts when existing leaders invite others to have a chance to share responsibility. It is such a powerful encouragement to potential leaders to give them ways to meaningfully lead. Giving these roles to others not only builds trust and confidence but also prepares them for future leadership roles and illustrates how to disciple others within the local church context.

2. Embrace Effort, Not Perfection

Do you remember when you started out in ministry? Were you a perfect leader? No one starts out perfect. Encourage your budding leaders to give their best effort rather than aiming for something that is unattainable. Keeping a growth mindset in the church encourages humility and allows individuals to learn and improve over time.

3. Celebrate Wins

Celebrating how God is working in and through your developing leaders creates a culture that encourages striving for excellence while not discouraging or scaring away your growing leaders. Yes, there are appropriate ways to give constructive feedback, but it should never overshadow their wins.

4. Engage in Prayer and Leadership Conversations

Meet regularly with your developing and potential leaders to pray and discuss principles of leadership. There are so many opportunities for growth to be caught and taught at the same time when existing leaders build relationships with new leaders. Developing leaders need a safe place of spiritual support and practical guidance which will help them to grow in both faith and leadership skills.

5. Model Christ-Like Leadership

Everyone leads in a different way. Sometimes, established leaders need to evaluate their own leadership and what examples they are setting for others. Leaders need to model what we want developing leaders to become; specifically, they need to model Christ-like leadership characterized by humility, service, and love. Our example of Christ-like leadership is a powerful tool and illustration in teaching developing leaders.

6. Provide Valuable Resources

Future leaders need to have resources available to succeed. Talking about books, podcasts, articles or courses that helped you think about leadership are great ways to introduce developing leaders to resources. Learning leaders are humble leaders and this needs to be fostered. Investing in their education shows your commitment to their growth and success.

7. Pray for Leadership Growth

We know that God answers prayers and that we need His help and guidance. Start praying for God to raise up men and women within your church to lead. His guidance and timing are always perfect, and I know that He will provide the right people to lead at the right time.

8. Appreciate Leaders Publicly

What you publicly honor has a direct impact on what your church prioritizes. It is so powerful in an individual’s life to be acknowledged publicly. It boosts their morale and gives them confidence to continue leading. This also impacts your church community by setting the standard for what is valued within your church.

9. Be Patient

Leadership development is a journey and does not happen overnight. Time is one of the tools that God has allowed in our lives to help potential leaders to learn and grow. Allowing them to make mistakes in a safe and protected environment requires patience and endurance, but it is worth it to see the growth that follows.

10. Embrace Diversity in Age and Background

Great leaders come from all walks of life and often don’t come from where you think they should. Don’t miss opportunities based on an individual’s age or background. Every man, women, child, or teen has the potential to lead within your church. It is so awesome to see individuals given an opportunity to use their gifts to lead others toward Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

By employing these ten tactics, you can start developing leaders in your church today. We know that developing leaders is an ongoing process that requires commitment, prayer, and a willingness to invest in others today. Our efforts have a greater goal: to help present our churches before the One who redeemed us. Our prayer is these ten action steps can help your church community thrive in developing Christ-centered leaders.

If you want to learn more about developing the Church leaders of tomorrow or connect with others who are pursuing the same goal, reach out!