Zambia Hunt

Developing leaders within a ministry requires intentional effort and a long-term vision. It involves identifying individuals who possess a love for Jesus, embody the character of Jesus, and have the potential to be trained for a specific role. This process requires deliberate effort and a significant investment of time.

The success of a ministry cannot be measured by numbers or budgets. Rather, it is determined by the number of men and women who are equipped and empowered to become leaders for the sake of Christ. We must cultivate a culture that provides people with opportunities to grow in their faith, obedience to Christ, and utilization of the gifts and skills God has bestowed upon them.

Healthy churches and ministries must have a vision for identifying and developing leaders within the congregation. Some of these leaders may eventually move on to serve Christ’s church in other locations. When this happens, it is not failure or loss; they are sent by the local church that raised them to further God’s mission.

Pastor, intentionally raise your replacement, hand off at the right time, and humbly continue to use your gifts to serve Christ’s church. Don’t be the church pastor who comes to the time for transition, only to realize that he has no one to hand off to.

Healthy churches intentionally develop leaders within the congregation and provide a pathway for them to develop gifts and gain experience in ministry. A wise pastor is constantly tuned to developing “Timothys,” bringing them into the pastoral leadership team, and handing off leadership to them. This kind of ministry focus should ultimately be the source from which your replacement is identified and appointed by the congregation. 

Invest in men, share leadership, empower others to lead, hand off, get out of the way, and keep making disciples. Christ is building His church; He will continue to do so, long after you and I have exited the stage.