As you think about your local church and the leadership in it, do you think about what it might look like five or 10 years from now? As time goes on, a church goes through a leadership shift. The question is, “How does a church prepare people for future leadership in a church?” Another question is: “What options does a church have to help them develop leaders in their church?” We all know that every church would like to have leaders ready and available at all times, but this rarely happens.

To help each church with this challenge, let me suggest some options. First, each church should have a process to help people grow from “new believer” to “mature believer.” This may include Sunday school or small groups, but I would also suggest that it also include a mentoring/discipling relationship with someone who is already a mature believer. This is what the Great Commission is all about – making disciples. The kind of disciples that Jesus wants made is a disciple who is continually growing and able to help others grow too. Truly, if someone is not a mature disciple, then that person won’t make a good church leader. Second, a church should have some kind of leadership development system in place.

If a church is developing younger people right after they graduate, Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies is an option. This is a one-year program that helps students gain a biblical foundation for life and ministry. Each student must commit to being at the BICS location in Lenox, Massachusetts. Another option would be to help college graduates get more school training. Through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a student with an Advent Christian membership may be able to go to GCTS (in-person or online) with nearly a half-tuition scholarship. If a person just wants to learn more about a particular topic, one could contact Berkshire Christian College. Sometimes an online course can be set up, or a student can be connected with a person who is localized to them. There are several different courses offered through BCC. Some churches utilize the Antioch School to help develop local church leaders. This model helps churches keep their leaders in their current positions on-site and develops them too. Another option would be the Ministry Training Institute.

MTI has had cohorts meeting together since the beginning of 2020. There are currently 26 students from around the world going through the MTI program. Students are from Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, Wisconsin, California, Missouri, Illinois and even Japan and the Philippines. This program works with people who are already in a position in church but want to continue to apply what they learn to their current ministry setting. They not only do work during a 12-week class, but also meet with a local mentor to help them apply what they are learning. I mention this option not just because I am a part of the MTI program as an field director, but also because the students can stay on-site at a local church as they serve. Each of the options mentioned are ones a church can use. And of course, a church can also design their own model of leadership development.

We wish that leaders grew on trees, but they do not. Every church has an opportunity to be ready for any leadership shift in their local church. But this can only be done through leadership development. This cannot be left up to others outside our setting. See, not only did Jesus give believers the Great Commission, but as we read the Bible in the New Testament, we see an ongoing development of leaders too.

As an attendee of a local church, I want you to think about this: Am I going to help my local church grow and be prepared as leadership changes? See, as believers, we not only have an opportunity to grow ourselves as leaders, but also have the responsibility to make sure that our local church keeps serving our community. So, may we take on this responsibility and talk with our leaders and/or local pastor to make sure our church is doing something to ensure leaders are developed locally.

For more leadership development information, ideas and direction, contact Rev. Matt Larkin at mlarkin@acgc.us.