By Jason Allen, Pastor of LifeConnection
What if your church had too many leaders? I know it’s not a reality many of us face. The busy pastor is trying to meet needs, care for people effectively, prepare for Christmas Eve services, and so much more. But what if we had individuals co-laboring with us in the mission of the church—meeting needs, caring for people, preparing for Christmas Eve services, and more? Many of us wonder if this is even possible. We lead average-sized churches and lack an abundance of leaders. Yet, what if we could equip those around us for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12)?
This can become a reality for any church that cultivates a disciple-making culture, equipping people to walk closely with Jesus, training them to disciple others, and developing aspiring leaders for their local church. This isn’t a church growth strategy; it’s a way of life achievable within the local church.
This has been our pursuit at LifeConnection for nearly 18 years. We are an ordinary church with regular people who work diligently to invest in others for their spiritual benefit. This enables us to empower God’s people for meaningful ministry through personal disciple-making. As this occurs, the Lord raises men and women to lead in His church. In our view, leader development is a natural outworking of the personal disciple-making process.
As we foster a culture of personal disciple-making, we can create a leader development pipeline to equip aspiring leaders for service in the local church. Providing the right tools, nurturing an ability to handle the Word, and guiding aspiring leaders in wisdom are the hallmarks of this training. We can prepare leaders for the local church by facilitating a hands-on learning process. This involves individual learning and in-person cohort gatherings to apply one’s knowledge to real-life ministry.
The Equip Lab represents the first year of training and establishes a foundation for anyone wishing to serve as a disciple-making leader in the local church. This vital environment is essential for training and developing both men and women to lead in various capacities within the church. Building on year one, the Equip Residency offers a second year aimed at nurturing aspiring pastors, church planters, and ministry area directors. Through this two-year journey, we can assist local churches in cultivating leaders for their specific ministry contexts.
Through this process, we have had the privilege of training and equipping a growing number of leaders. We have trained both men and women who serve as disciple-making leaders in vital roles throughout the church, catalyzing disciple-making into the third and fourth generations (see 2 Timothy 2:1–2). We have developed a robust pastoral team to provide directional leadership within the church. Additionally, we have been able to contribute to future church planting along the way.
I genuinely believe that every church has the potential to unleash a transformative disciple-making force, activating God’s people to serve in their communities—where they live, work, and play. While it may not require significant financial resources, it demands an investment of time and energy. What steps can you take to foster a personal disciple-making culture in your church? It’s a culture where both men and women actively engage in ministry, and you play a crucial role in developing the next generation of leaders your church desperately needs.
If you or someone in your church may be interested in the Equip Lab/Residency, please contact Gregg Boll at [email protected]
