How to Identify and Mentor Emerging Leaders in Your Church
Equip and mentor emerging church leaders with confidence. Discover practical strategies and see how Tithely’s tools help you organize and grow your leadership pipeline.
The key to running a thriving church is not having one great leader. The key to greatness is having many great leaders.
To add to that truth, those leaders don’t need to be employed on staff. In fact, most of them shouldn’t be on staff.
A church full of laypeople who lead simply because they are passionate about the mission and vision of the church is a church that makes it for the long haul (and doesn’t depend on a lead pastor to wear too many hats).
The challenge is: How do you find and lead the men and women who will become your church’s greatest assets?
In the following article, we’ll give practical strategies for identifying and mentoring emerging leaders in your church.
What is a Church Leader?
As mentioned above, a church leader isn’t necessarily a man or woman who is formally employed by the church in a ministry capacity. In fact, a church leader may not have any kind of official role or title, even in a volunteer capacity.
A church leader is simply a committed member of your church who follows Christ wholeheartedly and leads others closer to God. That might be someone who exercises hospitality generously, frequently inviting others into their home for intentional discipleship. It could be someone who acts as an influence in intercessory prayer, evangelism, or Bible study. Or it could be someone who steps up frequently to meet the felt needs of others in your community.
Whatever the expression looks like, a church leader is someone who serves. They freely give their time, energy, and/or resources, and have the confidence and humility to come alongside other people in your community.
A church leader doesn’t fit neatly into a personality type. A church leader fits into the Biblical definition of servant leadership, as defined by Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
How to Identify Emerging Leaders in Your Church Community
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying an emerging leader. That being said, here are 5 tips for watching out for the men and women who may make excellent leaders in your community.
Think outside the box
While your force of volunteers is always a good place to start looking for leaders, it shouldn’t be the only place you identify potential candidates. You may have church members who have inconsistent work schedules and obligations that make it difficult to volunteer at weekend services.
That being said, think outside the box and look for enthusiastic participants in your weekly Bible studies, newer church members who haven’t yet received mentorship, and individuals who have shown interest in specific ministries.
Be flexible about age
When it comes to mentorship, many church leaders are tempted to focus on individuals between the ages of 20-30. There are practical reasons to focus on people in this season of life, but when it comes to leadership, age is truly just a number!
Older parents, retirees, and empty nesters often have oodles of wisdom and experience to share with younger generations, and even young teenagers are capable of leading their peers closer to Jesus.
Look for resilience
Resilience is often developed before a leader ever has the opportunity to lead. Whether resilience was developed during a challenging childhood, a health battle, a long career development journey, or simply the day-to-day trials of life, a good leader will be able to withstand hardship and persevere.
Identify gaps
It may be tempting to look for emerging leaders who remind you of existing powerhouses in the church. But you don’t want a team of leaders who are all the same–after all, Paul asked rhetorically, “If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). Identify gaps in both your formal and informal leadership teams and look for men and women who can fill in the spaces. For example, if your church is missing strong teachers, look for men and women who are passionate about Bible study and articulate in expressing Scriptural truth.
Observe their relationships
Pay attention to the relationships–friendships, family ties, and even casual interactions–of potential leaders. Having healthy relationships is perhaps a better indicator of character and commitment than having charisma, talent, or even work ethic.
How to Mentor Emerging Leaders in Your Community
Once you’ve identified emerging leaders in your community, it’s time to mentor them. Here are strategies for helping to raise up men and women–young and old–who will become assets to your church.
Start with vision
Start by presenting a vision for leadership, not a task list. You want to get potential leaders excited and inspired to step up into greater responsibility at your church. For some, this might be an easy ask; others may be more reluctant to create space and time for leadership. Make sure that you can articulate a clear and compelling vision for becoming a leader in your community.
Prioritize relationships
Mentorship should be a healthy balance between intentional friendship and practical guidance. Your mentee should know that you care about their emotional needs, but they should also feel challenged in practical ways. Build trust through genuine relationships.
Set a schedule
Life is busier than ever. Schedule a time and place to meet regularly with your mentee, and you’re far more likely to have a fruitful, productive relationship.
Ask questions
While you may have plenty of wisdom and advice to offer, one of your primary roles as a mentor is to ask guiding questions and listen. Helping new leaders to identify their own strengths and weaknesses is critical. Most importantly, it’s key to direct them back to relationship with Jesus, whether they are struggling with a personal or a ministry matter.
Don’t do it yourself
Whether you are a lead pastor, church administrator, or simply an overworked ministry leader, don’t assume that because you’ve identified leaders the onus is on YOU to mentor them. Instead, consider how you can connect new leaders with seasoned staff, volunteers, or church members who can step into mentorship.
Staying Organized with Tithely
Finally, it’s key to stay organized–whether you are identifying or mentoring leaders. Tithely is an all-in-one church management solution that can help you track and optimize your contacts, communication, and resources so that you can do mentorship better.
Sign Up for Product Updates
Tithely provides the tools you need to engage with your church online, stay connected, increase generosity, and simplify the lives of your staff.
With tools like text and email messaging, custom church apps and websites, church management software, digital giving, and so much more… it’s no wonder why over 37,000 churches in 50 countries trust Tithely to help run their church.
The key to running a thriving church is not having one great leader. The key to greatness is having many great leaders.
To add to that truth, those leaders don’t need to be employed on staff. In fact, most of them shouldn’t be on staff.
A church full of laypeople who lead simply because they are passionate about the mission and vision of the church is a church that makes it for the long haul (and doesn’t depend on a lead pastor to wear too many hats).
The challenge is: How do you find and lead the men and women who will become your church’s greatest assets?
In the following article, we’ll give practical strategies for identifying and mentoring emerging leaders in your church.
What is a Church Leader?
As mentioned above, a church leader isn’t necessarily a man or woman who is formally employed by the church in a ministry capacity. In fact, a church leader may not have any kind of official role or title, even in a volunteer capacity.
A church leader is simply a committed member of your church who follows Christ wholeheartedly and leads others closer to God. That might be someone who exercises hospitality generously, frequently inviting others into their home for intentional discipleship. It could be someone who acts as an influence in intercessory prayer, evangelism, or Bible study. Or it could be someone who steps up frequently to meet the felt needs of others in your community.
Whatever the expression looks like, a church leader is someone who serves. They freely give their time, energy, and/or resources, and have the confidence and humility to come alongside other people in your community.
A church leader doesn’t fit neatly into a personality type. A church leader fits into the Biblical definition of servant leadership, as defined by Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
How to Identify Emerging Leaders in Your Church Community
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying an emerging leader. That being said, here are 5 tips for watching out for the men and women who may make excellent leaders in your community.
Think outside the box
While your force of volunteers is always a good place to start looking for leaders, it shouldn’t be the only place you identify potential candidates. You may have church members who have inconsistent work schedules and obligations that make it difficult to volunteer at weekend services.
That being said, think outside the box and look for enthusiastic participants in your weekly Bible studies, newer church members who haven’t yet received mentorship, and individuals who have shown interest in specific ministries.
Be flexible about age
When it comes to mentorship, many church leaders are tempted to focus on individuals between the ages of 20-30. There are practical reasons to focus on people in this season of life, but when it comes to leadership, age is truly just a number!
Older parents, retirees, and empty nesters often have oodles of wisdom and experience to share with younger generations, and even young teenagers are capable of leading their peers closer to Jesus.
Look for resilience
Resilience is often developed before a leader ever has the opportunity to lead. Whether resilience was developed during a challenging childhood, a health battle, a long career development journey, or simply the day-to-day trials of life, a good leader will be able to withstand hardship and persevere.
Identify gaps
It may be tempting to look for emerging leaders who remind you of existing powerhouses in the church. But you don’t want a team of leaders who are all the same–after all, Paul asked rhetorically, “If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). Identify gaps in both your formal and informal leadership teams and look for men and women who can fill in the spaces. For example, if your church is missing strong teachers, look for men and women who are passionate about Bible study and articulate in expressing Scriptural truth.
Observe their relationships
Pay attention to the relationships–friendships, family ties, and even casual interactions–of potential leaders. Having healthy relationships is perhaps a better indicator of character and commitment than having charisma, talent, or even work ethic.
How to Mentor Emerging Leaders in Your Community
Once you’ve identified emerging leaders in your community, it’s time to mentor them. Here are strategies for helping to raise up men and women–young and old–who will become assets to your church.
Start with vision
Start by presenting a vision for leadership, not a task list. You want to get potential leaders excited and inspired to step up into greater responsibility at your church. For some, this might be an easy ask; others may be more reluctant to create space and time for leadership. Make sure that you can articulate a clear and compelling vision for becoming a leader in your community.
Prioritize relationships
Mentorship should be a healthy balance between intentional friendship and practical guidance. Your mentee should know that you care about their emotional needs, but they should also feel challenged in practical ways. Build trust through genuine relationships.
Set a schedule
Life is busier than ever. Schedule a time and place to meet regularly with your mentee, and you’re far more likely to have a fruitful, productive relationship.
Ask questions
While you may have plenty of wisdom and advice to offer, one of your primary roles as a mentor is to ask guiding questions and listen. Helping new leaders to identify their own strengths and weaknesses is critical. Most importantly, it’s key to direct them back to relationship with Jesus, whether they are struggling with a personal or a ministry matter.
Don’t do it yourself
Whether you are a lead pastor, church administrator, or simply an overworked ministry leader, don’t assume that because you’ve identified leaders the onus is on YOU to mentor them. Instead, consider how you can connect new leaders with seasoned staff, volunteers, or church members who can step into mentorship.
Staying Organized with Tithely
Finally, it’s key to stay organized–whether you are identifying or mentoring leaders. Tithely is an all-in-one church management solution that can help you track and optimize your contacts, communication, and resources so that you can do mentorship better.
podcast transcript
Tithely provides the tools you need to engage with your church online, stay connected, increase generosity, and simplify the lives of your staff.
With tools like text and email messaging, custom church apps and websites, church management software, digital giving, and so much more… it’s no wonder why over 37,000 churches in 50 countries trust Tithely to help run their church.
The key to running a thriving church is not having one great leader. The key to greatness is having many great leaders.
To add to that truth, those leaders don’t need to be employed on staff. In fact, most of them shouldn’t be on staff.
A church full of laypeople who lead simply because they are passionate about the mission and vision of the church is a church that makes it for the long haul (and doesn’t depend on a lead pastor to wear too many hats).
The challenge is: How do you find and lead the men and women who will become your church’s greatest assets?
In the following article, we’ll give practical strategies for identifying and mentoring emerging leaders in your church.
What is a Church Leader?
As mentioned above, a church leader isn’t necessarily a man or woman who is formally employed by the church in a ministry capacity. In fact, a church leader may not have any kind of official role or title, even in a volunteer capacity.
A church leader is simply a committed member of your church who follows Christ wholeheartedly and leads others closer to God. That might be someone who exercises hospitality generously, frequently inviting others into their home for intentional discipleship. It could be someone who acts as an influence in intercessory prayer, evangelism, or Bible study. Or it could be someone who steps up frequently to meet the felt needs of others in your community.
Whatever the expression looks like, a church leader is someone who serves. They freely give their time, energy, and/or resources, and have the confidence and humility to come alongside other people in your community.
A church leader doesn’t fit neatly into a personality type. A church leader fits into the Biblical definition of servant leadership, as defined by Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
How to Identify Emerging Leaders in Your Church Community
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying an emerging leader. That being said, here are 5 tips for watching out for the men and women who may make excellent leaders in your community.
Think outside the box
While your force of volunteers is always a good place to start looking for leaders, it shouldn’t be the only place you identify potential candidates. You may have church members who have inconsistent work schedules and obligations that make it difficult to volunteer at weekend services.
That being said, think outside the box and look for enthusiastic participants in your weekly Bible studies, newer church members who haven’t yet received mentorship, and individuals who have shown interest in specific ministries.
Be flexible about age
When it comes to mentorship, many church leaders are tempted to focus on individuals between the ages of 20-30. There are practical reasons to focus on people in this season of life, but when it comes to leadership, age is truly just a number!
Older parents, retirees, and empty nesters often have oodles of wisdom and experience to share with younger generations, and even young teenagers are capable of leading their peers closer to Jesus.
Look for resilience
Resilience is often developed before a leader ever has the opportunity to lead. Whether resilience was developed during a challenging childhood, a health battle, a long career development journey, or simply the day-to-day trials of life, a good leader will be able to withstand hardship and persevere.
Identify gaps
It may be tempting to look for emerging leaders who remind you of existing powerhouses in the church. But you don’t want a team of leaders who are all the same–after all, Paul asked rhetorically, “If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). Identify gaps in both your formal and informal leadership teams and look for men and women who can fill in the spaces. For example, if your church is missing strong teachers, look for men and women who are passionate about Bible study and articulate in expressing Scriptural truth.
Observe their relationships
Pay attention to the relationships–friendships, family ties, and even casual interactions–of potential leaders. Having healthy relationships is perhaps a better indicator of character and commitment than having charisma, talent, or even work ethic.
How to Mentor Emerging Leaders in Your Community
Once you’ve identified emerging leaders in your community, it’s time to mentor them. Here are strategies for helping to raise up men and women–young and old–who will become assets to your church.
Start with vision
Start by presenting a vision for leadership, not a task list. You want to get potential leaders excited and inspired to step up into greater responsibility at your church. For some, this might be an easy ask; others may be more reluctant to create space and time for leadership. Make sure that you can articulate a clear and compelling vision for becoming a leader in your community.
Prioritize relationships
Mentorship should be a healthy balance between intentional friendship and practical guidance. Your mentee should know that you care about their emotional needs, but they should also feel challenged in practical ways. Build trust through genuine relationships.
Set a schedule
Life is busier than ever. Schedule a time and place to meet regularly with your mentee, and you’re far more likely to have a fruitful, productive relationship.
Ask questions
While you may have plenty of wisdom and advice to offer, one of your primary roles as a mentor is to ask guiding questions and listen. Helping new leaders to identify their own strengths and weaknesses is critical. Most importantly, it’s key to direct them back to relationship with Jesus, whether they are struggling with a personal or a ministry matter.
Don’t do it yourself
Whether you are a lead pastor, church administrator, or simply an overworked ministry leader, don’t assume that because you’ve identified leaders the onus is on YOU to mentor them. Instead, consider how you can connect new leaders with seasoned staff, volunteers, or church members who can step into mentorship.
Staying Organized with Tithely
Finally, it’s key to stay organized–whether you are identifying or mentoring leaders. Tithely is an all-in-one church management solution that can help you track and optimize your contacts, communication, and resources so that you can do mentorship better.
VIDEO transcript
The key to running a thriving church is not having one great leader. The key to greatness is having many great leaders.
To add to that truth, those leaders don’t need to be employed on staff. In fact, most of them shouldn’t be on staff.
A church full of laypeople who lead simply because they are passionate about the mission and vision of the church is a church that makes it for the long haul (and doesn’t depend on a lead pastor to wear too many hats).
The challenge is: How do you find and lead the men and women who will become your church’s greatest assets?
In the following article, we’ll give practical strategies for identifying and mentoring emerging leaders in your church.
What is a Church Leader?
As mentioned above, a church leader isn’t necessarily a man or woman who is formally employed by the church in a ministry capacity. In fact, a church leader may not have any kind of official role or title, even in a volunteer capacity.
A church leader is simply a committed member of your church who follows Christ wholeheartedly and leads others closer to God. That might be someone who exercises hospitality generously, frequently inviting others into their home for intentional discipleship. It could be someone who acts as an influence in intercessory prayer, evangelism, or Bible study. Or it could be someone who steps up frequently to meet the felt needs of others in your community.
Whatever the expression looks like, a church leader is someone who serves. They freely give their time, energy, and/or resources, and have the confidence and humility to come alongside other people in your community.
A church leader doesn’t fit neatly into a personality type. A church leader fits into the Biblical definition of servant leadership, as defined by Philippians 2:3-4:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
How to Identify Emerging Leaders in Your Church Community
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to identifying an emerging leader. That being said, here are 5 tips for watching out for the men and women who may make excellent leaders in your community.
Think outside the box
While your force of volunteers is always a good place to start looking for leaders, it shouldn’t be the only place you identify potential candidates. You may have church members who have inconsistent work schedules and obligations that make it difficult to volunteer at weekend services.
That being said, think outside the box and look for enthusiastic participants in your weekly Bible studies, newer church members who haven’t yet received mentorship, and individuals who have shown interest in specific ministries.
Be flexible about age
When it comes to mentorship, many church leaders are tempted to focus on individuals between the ages of 20-30. There are practical reasons to focus on people in this season of life, but when it comes to leadership, age is truly just a number!
Older parents, retirees, and empty nesters often have oodles of wisdom and experience to share with younger generations, and even young teenagers are capable of leading their peers closer to Jesus.
Look for resilience
Resilience is often developed before a leader ever has the opportunity to lead. Whether resilience was developed during a challenging childhood, a health battle, a long career development journey, or simply the day-to-day trials of life, a good leader will be able to withstand hardship and persevere.
Identify gaps
It may be tempting to look for emerging leaders who remind you of existing powerhouses in the church. But you don’t want a team of leaders who are all the same–after all, Paul asked rhetorically, “If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?” (1 Corinthians 12:19). Identify gaps in both your formal and informal leadership teams and look for men and women who can fill in the spaces. For example, if your church is missing strong teachers, look for men and women who are passionate about Bible study and articulate in expressing Scriptural truth.
Observe their relationships
Pay attention to the relationships–friendships, family ties, and even casual interactions–of potential leaders. Having healthy relationships is perhaps a better indicator of character and commitment than having charisma, talent, or even work ethic.
How to Mentor Emerging Leaders in Your Community
Once you’ve identified emerging leaders in your community, it’s time to mentor them. Here are strategies for helping to raise up men and women–young and old–who will become assets to your church.
Start with vision
Start by presenting a vision for leadership, not a task list. You want to get potential leaders excited and inspired to step up into greater responsibility at your church. For some, this might be an easy ask; others may be more reluctant to create space and time for leadership. Make sure that you can articulate a clear and compelling vision for becoming a leader in your community.
Prioritize relationships
Mentorship should be a healthy balance between intentional friendship and practical guidance. Your mentee should know that you care about their emotional needs, but they should also feel challenged in practical ways. Build trust through genuine relationships.
Set a schedule
Life is busier than ever. Schedule a time and place to meet regularly with your mentee, and you’re far more likely to have a fruitful, productive relationship.
Ask questions
While you may have plenty of wisdom and advice to offer, one of your primary roles as a mentor is to ask guiding questions and listen. Helping new leaders to identify their own strengths and weaknesses is critical. Most importantly, it’s key to direct them back to relationship with Jesus, whether they are struggling with a personal or a ministry matter.
Don’t do it yourself
Whether you are a lead pastor, church administrator, or simply an overworked ministry leader, don’t assume that because you’ve identified leaders the onus is on YOU to mentor them. Instead, consider how you can connect new leaders with seasoned staff, volunteers, or church members who can step into mentorship.
Staying Organized with Tithely
Finally, it’s key to stay organized–whether you are identifying or mentoring leaders. Tithely is an all-in-one church management solution that can help you track and optimize your contacts, communication, and resources so that you can do mentorship better.
Sign Up for Product Updates
Tithely provides the tools you need to engage with your church online, stay connected, increase generosity, and simplify the lives of your staff.
With tools like text and email messaging, custom church apps and websites, church management software, digital giving, and so much more… it’s no wonder why over 37,000 churches in 50 countries trust Tithely to help run their church.
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