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I will never forget entering the first church I was called to serve as the Senior Pastor. I was 26 years old, had preached only three times, and had never led a church business meeting, deacon committee, or officiated a wedding or funeral. For me, and many other pastors, our leadership development happened through the school of hard knocks and a lot of trial and error. The reality is that raising up future leadership is a critical component of any thriving church.
From the earliest days of the church, God has called and equipped leaders to guide, shepherd, and oversee His people. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, emphasizes the importance of leadership when he writes, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV). Effective leadership is essential for the health, growth, and impact of the church.
Despite the clear biblical mandate for leadership development, many churches struggle to consistently identify, train, and deploy leaders. Some churches rely on a handful of long-time leaders to carry the weight of ministry, while others scramble to fill leadership vacancies as they arise. This haphazard approach to leadership development often leads to burnout, ineffectiveness, and missed opportunities for growth.
Recent statistics from Barna report that one in four U.S. pastors (23%) selects “lack of leadership training and development” as a major concern facing their church today. In terms of developing young leaders, data featured in both The State of Pastors and Leadership Transitions reports show that only 15 percent of senior pastors are 40 years old or younger, echoing the need for younger pastors in ministry. The State of Pastors research also showed that seven in ten U.S. pastors agree “it is becoming harder to find mature young Christians who want to become pastors” (69%).
Developing Leaders Within Our Churches is a Vital Mission for Greene County
In light of the importance of leadership and the challenges of developing leaders, GCBA churches are collaborating to build a systematic approach to leadership development, known as our 417 Ministry Residency.
Starting on September 10th, residents will meet every other week in a cohort format, where pastors and leaders will share their expertise and lead discussions. Over the course of 11 months, participants will deepen their theological foundations and practical ministry skills in areas such as integrity, teaching, counseling, leadership, vision casting, fundraising, conflict resolution, and building ministry strategy. Additionally, residents will have meetings with their own pastor, with suggested conversations for each month to aid in their development.
We encourage every GCBA church to select and support a developing leader to participate in this residency. By investing in leadership development, we follow the biblical model, support our current leaders, and unlock the potential for greater kingdom impact. Let us commit to this crucial mission, trusting that God will multiply our efforts for His glory.
To find out more or sign up as a resident, go to www.GBaptist.org under the Leadership Resources tab.
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