Why “Leaders of Leaders” Are Essential
A “leader of leaders” bridges the gap between church leadership and volunteer teams, creating an environment where discipleship flourishes. While many churches have charismatic and capable team leaders, the need for a distinct layer of guidance—a leader to shepherd and grow other leaders—often goes unmet. Without these leaders of leaders, even the best team leaders can feel stretched thin, overburdened, and in some cases, burnt out.
Jesus’ Model of Leadership Development
The need for leaders of leaders isn’t just a modern invention; it’s a strategy deeply embedded in Jesus’ own ministry. Jesus spent years equipping His disciples, gradually elevating their responsibilities and empowering them to lead others. As Glenn Underhill and his co-host explain, Jesus modeled team building, selected and empowered specific individuals, and practiced healthy conflict resolution—skills crucial for those called to raise other leaders.
In Mark 3:13-19, Jesus calls the 12 apostles to step into deeper discipleship, preparing them for leadership within His movement. This pathway wasn’t only about spiritual growth; it included levels of leadership that encouraged responsibility and empowered His followers to take ownership of their roles. Just as Jesus called His disciples to a deeper level, today’s church leaders need to recognize and raise up leaders of leaders within their ministries.
Key Skills for a Leader of Leaders
Raising up leaders isn’t simply about delegating tasks; it’s about cultivating people equipped with specific skills to lead effectively. Here are three foundational skills essential for leaders of leaders:
1. Advocacy – Leaders of leaders need to communicate effectively between department heads and team leaders, ensuring alignment and clarity. They advocate for their team’s needs, and in turn, communicate the vision and direction from church leadership.
2. Accountability – They must hold team leaders accountable, ensuring that ministry goals are achieved with integrity. True accountability fosters a culture of growth, where team leaders can rely on consistent guidance and support.
3. Leadership Development – Leaders of leaders should actively seek out emerging leaders, nurturing their growth and gradually preparing them for leadership roles. By identifying and developing new leaders, they create a sustainable cycle of growth that benefits the entire church.
Avoiding the Pitfall of Overextension
Without leaders of leaders, the burden on department leaders becomes overwhelming. Ministry can become a cycle of constant problem-solving, limiting time for vision casting, discipleship, and personal growth. Leaders of leaders provide the structure and support needed to keep the ministry balanced, empowering department leaders to maintain a high-level focus on the church’s broader mission.
Implementing a Leader of Leaders Structure in Your Church
Even in small churches, the role of a leader of leaders is vital. For example, a youth pastor managing multiple small groups might benefit from having dedicated leaders of leaders who oversee different groups based on gender or age. This division of responsibility allows the youth pastor to focus on overarching goals, while leaders of leaders manage the needs of individual groups.
In one real-life scenario shared in the podcast, a church recognized the need for leaders of leaders when their group ministry hit a bottleneck. The ministry leader was stretched too thin, directly overseeing numerous small groups without additional support. To break through this limitation, the church raised up coaches as leaders of leaders, providing much-needed guidance to individual group leaders and creating a support system that revitalized the ministry.
Learning from Jesus’ Example
As Jesus’ ministry exemplifies, creating a leadership pipeline involves prayerful selection, clarity of roles, and empowering leaders at every level. Rather than fearing the appearance of favoritism, church leaders should confidently and prayerfully select individuals to step into roles that best fit their gifts and calling. By aligning people with purpose, churches set the stage for sustainable growth and a thriving disciple-making culture.
Empowering and Equipping Your Team
Leaders of leaders serve as a crucial link in the church’s discipleship chain. When empowered, they provide a level of relational and operational support that keeps ministries thriving. Leaders of leaders also offer quality control, addressing issues as they arise and providing feedback to department leaders, enabling the church to operate with greater efficiency and impact.
As church leaders, it’s essential to nurture these leaders, provide clear direction, and trust them to make decisions. The result? A church that is truly prepared to grow, disciple, and transform lives in ways that are both spiritually rich and sustainable.
Empowering Your Church for Lasting Growth
The path to a healthy, growing church doesn’t come from overextending a few dedicated individuals. Instead, growth happens when we empower leaders at every level, mirroring Jesus’ method of discipleship and leadership development. By raising up leaders of leaders, the church creates a thriving environment where discipleship isn’t just a mission but a daily reality.
For more insights into cultivating a disciple-making culture within your church, tune into to The Disciple Making Leader and consider implementing these principles in your own ministry. Empowered leaders pave the way for a future where everyone can play a part in advancing the greatest mission of all: making disciples who make disciples.
