The Disciple-Making Leader (The Optimal Path) is one who as they advance down the The Disciple-Making Pathway they also are given opportunities to move up the Leadership Pipeline. This means that as a leader deepens their spiritual maturity, they are given support, training, and opportunities to grow in different ministry skills. This integration ensures that leaders are not just effective in their roles but are also disciple-makers who invest in others.
True leadership in the church is not just about fulfilling ministry roles; it’s about embodying the mission of Jesus to make disciples who make disciples. Balanced leaders influence others not just through their organizational roles, but through their commitment to spiritual multiplication.
Divergent Paths and Course Correction
Unfortunately, it’s common to encounter leaders who have a leadership imbalance. There are two divergent paths that are common in most churches.
- L2 Leaders: These are individuals who have quickly ascended the leadership pipeline due to their skills and charisma but have not moved far down the disciple-making pathway. They may be effective managers, gifted communicators, or excel in their ministry area, but they lack the disciple-making DNA that is crucial for long-term spiritual impact.
- L3 Leaders: These leaders have grown deeply in their spiritual walk and are active disciple-makers, but they have not taken on significant leadership responsibilities. They have the disciple-making DNA needed, but have not been developed, positioned, or may not be gifted to lead at higher levels.
The key to addressing these divergent paths is spiritual investment and leadership development. L2 leaders must be encouraged to bend toward spiritual growth, deepening their walk with God to align their lives towards Jesus’ disciple-making mission. L3 leaders, on the other hand, should be equipped and encouraged to take on more leadership responsibilities as their gifting allows. They have a huge opportunity to impact the culture of the church, if they are in the game.
Practical Steps
To foster both spiritual growth and leadership development, consider these steps:
- Commit to Disciple-Making: Ensure that every level of leadership development includes Jesus’ strategy for raising up disciple-making leaders. This commitment should be clear, consistent, and celebrated.
- Balance the Pathway and Pipeline: Develop balanced leaders who are both spiritually mature and organizationally competent. Encourage movement down the pathway before moving up the pipeline.
- Cultivate a Disciple-Making Culture: Create environments where disciple-making is the norm. Every phase of the disciple-making pathway and level of the leadership pipeline plays a part in a church fulfilling the Great Commission.
- Invest in Leaders: Provide ongoing coaching, encouragement, and equipping to help leaders be fruitful and multiply. Ministry can be defeating at times, and consistent encouragement can be extremely helpful.
- Celebrate Spiritual and Organizational Milestones: Recognize not only leadership achievements but also spiritual victories. Champion and celebrate what you want lived out. Telling personal stories are great ways to encourage leaders to stay at it.
Lasting Impact
The true value of a leader is not in the titles they hold but in the disciples they make. By integrating the disciple-making pathway with the leadership pipeline, leaders can build a lasting impact and multiply disciples for generations. Disciple-Making Leaders should be at every level of a church’s leadership pipeline. Jesus developed leaders this way and multiplied a movement. We strongly believe His way still works.
Join the conversation on ‘The Disciple-Making Leader Podcast’ to learn more about how to raise up disciple-making leaders and multiply a movement.
