The four couples from my congregation looked as stunned as kangaroos in a ute’s headlights. They weren’t sure what this Ministry Development Group was all about.

Nor did they know how keen I was to develop leaders in our church. When I invited them, I shared the details about the group. I told them I believed in their leadership potential and wanted to walk alongside them on their growth journey.

Yet, no amount of explanation can fully prepare you for the nerves that come with church members gathering in the pastor’s home as a chosen group of leaders. Over the years, I’ve tried many ways to develop emerging leaders, and one of the most effective has been bringing them together to grow within a group setting.

Learn from Jesus’ approach to developing leaders

I see a practical lesson in Jesus gathering disciples to be with him: development grows through relationship, shared experience and responsibility. I want a group where emerging leaders can learn together and practise what they are learning.

7 Benefits of a Church Leadership Development Group

1. Organic peer learning

When leaders are placed in small groups, it facilitates organic peer learning, especially when there is diversity in the group. You should seek to make the group as diverse as possible.

I want different perspectives in the room so leaders can learn from people whose experiences differ from their own. Plan to include people of different ages, stages of life, ethnicities, and job backgrounds in your church’s leadership.

2. Develop active listening skills

Leaders learn active listening skills as they bounce ideas off each other and challenge each other’s perceptions. Quality leadership skills are built as iron sharpens iron (Prov 27:17).

The key is to raise up leaders within your church who are willing to undergo discipling together and expand their leadership abilities.

3. Defend their ideas

As the group forms closer ties, people emerge from their safe places to outline their ideas about life and church leadership. They are forced to justify and defend these ideas as others in the group challenge their preconceptions.

This healthy level of debate helps leaders grow their communication skills and gain the skills they need to articulate their core beliefs.

4. Bonds are forged

The normative and generally benign conflict that emerges as groups form precipitates the close bonds that leaders can forge when placed in a group.

This is a normal and important step in the process of growing a leadership group as the leaders learn to work through new relationship dynamics.

Relationships deepen, moving from the surface to far more meaningful connections. Respect and admiration grow as they come to understand and appreciate each other.

5. Saves pastors’ time

Group development is also a big-time saver for pastors as they can mentor and coach 10 people at once rather than having individual appointments.

This structure not only maximizes their efficiency but also creates a sense of community and shared learning among the participants.

By addressing common challenges and goals in a group setting, pastoral oversight can provide valuable insights, clarity, and guidance that benefit everyone involved, creating a more dynamic and interactive leadership culture. 

6. Energizes pastors

When a lead pastor decides to develop emerging leaders, they get energised by being around people who are hungry to learn and grow. New leaders bring fresh ideas and perspectives that can encourage local church growth as they begin to take ownership and see themselves as the church.

Pastors are often caught up with needy people who drain their energy. Focusing on ways to develop effective leadership can be as refreshing as a cold shower on a muggy day.

7. Validates people

Lastly, we shouldn’t underestimate how people feel when you’re asking them to be part of an exclusive group. I want a focused group where people know why they have been invited and what they are committing to. Keep the pathway open to other emerging leaders as future groups form.

This sense of being chosen validates people and strengthens their sense of call. It tells them that they are seen, recognized, and appreciated for their unique contributions and leadership roles.

Exclusivity promotes a sense of belonging and community among the members. This camaraderie can be a powerful motivator, driving members to support and uplift one another, creating a thriving environment in their areas of ministry.

6 Steps To Setting Up Your Group

Setting up a leadership group might feel daunting, but with the right approach, it can be deeply rewarding. These six steps will guide you in creating a space where emerging leaders feel ready to grow.

1. Name your discipleship group

Give it a name that intuitively indicates it’s a group to equip and empower them to serve the church.

Some pastors use terminology such as “leadership pipeline,” “leadership development system,” or “ministry teams” to describe the kind of group they’re forming.

2. Pick your church leaders from your congregation

Aim for diversity in gender, age, and experience. Consider mixing current leaders with potential leaders. Test the waters by grouping different leadership styles, giftings, and church or ministry calls.

3. Determine your frequency

Decide how often you are going to meet and for how long. Will you meet monthly for six months, weekly for six weeks, or every six weeks for a year?

Create a frequency that is impactful for the group, but not overly burdensome on the pastor or group members. Also, be sure to consider when the other various ministries in your church meet so as to not overlap another group your attendees may go to.

4. Select topics that grow leadership skills

You can survey the group members to discover what areas of leadership they are seeking to grow in.

However, you must train church leaders in critical skills such as problem-solving, managing people, resolving conflicts, handling complexity, delegation, creating systems, attitudinal areas, walking with Christ as a leader, and leading yourself.

An interest in leading does not always mean they are ready to lead. It is your responsibility to develop them with proper training and best leadership practices.

5. Choose your resource or Bible study

Books, blogs, and sermons can be an excellent resource. Even studying a book of the Bible together can be helpful, especially for younger leaders who are still growing in their Bible competency. Podcasts also provide a rich resource of material.

In our Hub resources, we’ve created 5 min team trainings that will address your church leadership needs effortlessly. These resources will save you time and enable you to focus on maximizing the group’s time.

6. Personally invite the leaders

Call each leader and tell them they will be receiving a personal invitation via email. Send them a personal email.

Then, call each leader after they have responded. Make this process personal and focused, so they know what’s going on.

How to Run the Group

Running a leadership development group doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does require intention. In this section, you’ll find practical guidance to help you lead with clarity, create meaningful connection, and cultivate steady growth in your group.

1. Prepare well in advance

If you’re using any type of pre-reading method make sure you’ve read the material thoroughly. This means going beyond skimming the surface or looking at summaries; you need to dive deep into the content, understanding the nuances and details.

A thorough reading will enable you to identify any complex concepts or areas that might require further clarification or discussion.

This preparation ensures that you can facilitate a more effective and engaging session, nurturing a deeper understanding and appreciation of the content among all participants.

2. Foster a culture of openness

Good questions will stimulate the discussion. Aim for an exploring style group rather than a guru download type of group. Don’t be afraid to let questions hang in the air.

Be aware that the greater the age gap between you and younger group members the more intimidated they will be by you. 

3. Prayer

Pray with and for the leaders. This vital element will hasten their progress and emphasize the spiritual nature of the journey they have undertaken.

Praying with and for leaders tends to create a sense of unity and shared purpose in the group, helping them to see how they can better support one another.

4. Create a social space

Create a welcoming social space for your group where meaningful connections and discussions can flourish. Amplify the social element with some snacks and coffee.

Additionally, a well-thought-out seating space can make a significant difference in how communication flows.

By providing a comfortable and relaxed environment, you will create the perfect setting for the leaders to unwind and engage in conversation. 

5. Action steps are crucial

Early in the process of forming the group, get everyone set up on a group text or use a tool like WhatsApp for connection, communication, and feedback from people.

Each meeting, send out action steps that leaders must report back on to maintain momentum and purpose. Create a clear and open system for accountability with your group.

6. Give the group time

Don’t be alarmed by the awkwardness or stiffness of the first few meetings. Remember, this is a training opportunity. Many leaders will begin to open up as they discover their leadership capacity, strengths, and how they can grow.

As the group forms, it will eventually find a more relaxed place of connection and become more relationally open.

Next Steps to Develop Emerging Leaders in Your Church

Why not take the step and start developing emerging leaders using these simple steps? Choose a few people from your church, plan some topics, set a launch date, and give it a go. You won’t regret investing your time and energy into growing leaders—and it will help you to grow a healthy church.