LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Leadership Development Plan
Submitted to Dr. William Donelson
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
LEAD 510 – B10
Biblical Foundations of Leadership
By
Elaine Dent
May 22, 2020
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Theology of Leadership...................................................................................................................2
Philosophy of Leadership................................................................................................................8
Methods of Leadership..................................................................................................................12
Leadership Culture.........................................................................................................................14
Leadership Development Plan.......................................................................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................17
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................19
ii
Introduction
Every organization success is established on a foundational system of leadership that
produces growth, whether in a secular or spiritual environment. Leaders are expected to lead and
achieve success for the growth of their organization. In the book Great Leader Great Teacher:
Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership, Author Gary Bredfeldt mentions, “Leadership is
tricky because of the cultural, philosophical, theological, and moral malaise in which we live.”
1
Some leaders have lost the clear biblical markers that leaders always depend on to keep them on
the right path. Bredfeldt also mentions, “Leadership has always been a challenge because it
demands discernment, and discernment demands knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong,
truth and error, and that which is wise or unwise.” The Apostle Paul warns Timothy, O Timothy,
2
guard the deposit entrusted to you, avoid the irrelevant babble and contradiction of what is
falsely called knowledge. For by professing it some have swerved from the faith,” (1Tim 6:20-
21). Christian leaders are trusted with a great responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
Bredfeldt comments, “Leaders need to be aware just how easy it is to drift off course
theologically; in fact, it is far easier to drift off course than it is to remain on course.” While the
3
secular leaders use and abuse their power to promote their own agenda; a spiritual leader is
called to a greater calling of servanthood. The goal of a Christian leader should be conformed to
the image of Christ, not to the image of the world. The bible gave us several examples of good
and bad leadership that today’s leaders can learn from. This paper will examine five areas of
leadership in the leadership development plan that can be use in the development of promoting
Biblical grounded, healthy, growing, multiplying leaders. First, theology of leadership will focus
on biblical passages that leaders can use as a biblical marker for leadership. Secondly,
1 Gary Bredfeldt., Great Leader Great Teacher: Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership (Chicago,
IL: Moody Publishing, 1995), accessed May 16, 2020, Word Search Bible, 66.
2 Bredfeldt, Great Leader Great Teacher: Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership , 66.
3 Bredfeldt, 184.
1
philosophy of leadership will address biblical principles related to leaders and leadership.
Thirdly, the development plan will look at different methods and models of leadership. The next
section will identify ways to create a healthy ministry environment that equips people and leaders
to explore and accomplish the mission and produce productive followers. Finally, I will put forth
a leadership development plan that will outline the strategy I will be using to develop leaders and
people who will serve in my ministry within the organization where God has planted me.
Theology of Leadership
To create an operative leadership development plan, Christian leaders must first
understand that theology begins with God as a team-based leadership; rather than hierarchical or
top-down.”4 The Father displays a relational bond of unity among the three when he said, “Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen 1:26). Samuel mentions the trinity as a model for
leadership. “While three persons of the trinity are differentiated and not confused, there is no
precedence of status in the sense that one always comes first and another second.”
5
They cooperate as one unit for the same cause to achieve kingdom’s purpose. Because
leadership is from God every leader should prayerfully learn the heart of God and follow the
examples Jesus set forth for goodly leadership. Samuel state, “we therefore need to draw on the
Trinitarian understanding that God the father provides security and space, the son model
servanthood, and the Holy Spirit empowers other gifts.” Jesus was an astute leader who
6
demonstrates what it means to serve, and then called his apostles to do likewise. One of the
4 Joshua Broward, “Follow the Leader: An Integrated Theology of Leader Development” Theology of
Leadership Journal vol. 2, Issue 1, (2019):86, accessed May 13, 2020, www. Theology of
Leadership.com/index.php.tlj/article/view/46/30.
5 Samuels, 21-27.
6 Ibid., 21-27.
2
biggest challenges for leadership both in the secular and spiritual organization is power. Vinay
Samuel mentions, “We cannot separate leadership and power. Yet it is in this exercise of power
that leadership often stumbles.”
7
Jesus was teaching the disciples within that same context when he draws reference to the
scripture. There were dispute among some of the disciples when they heard that John and James
asked to sits at his right or left. Jesus saw what was going on and called them together and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise
power over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become
great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your
slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.” (Matt 20:25-28, Mark 10:35-45).
8
Jesus did not like the way the Pharisees treated the people with laws they themselves
could not keep. “They tie up heavy burdens that was hard to bear, and lay them on people’s
shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move with their fingers” (Matt 23:4). According
to Samuel, “Jesus identified these models as power and control from the top.” Jesus did not
9
deny the use of power but caution how power is to be used. He uses his power and authority to
serve the people when he drove out demons, heal the sick, calm the storm, raise the dead, and
command the unclean spirit to get out of the man. Jesus is against power when it is used to serve
one’s agenda, without caring for the people they serve. Samuel mentions, “Jesus turns the
pyramid of hierarchical power on its head. His emphasis was on service.”
10
7 Vinay Samuels, “Leadership ” . Transformation 3, no. 4(1986): 21-27. Accessed May 10,
2020www.jastor.org/stable/43052970.
8 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard version (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway, 2008).
9 Samuels, “Leadership.” Transformation 3,21-27.
10 Samuels, “Leadership.” 21-27.
3
Good leadership, when model from the bottom up empowers others to grow and mature
into leaders, not control, and manipulate them. Christian leaders must commit to prayer, fasting,
and studying of God’s word if they want their ministry to be successful in carrying out the great
commission. According to Joshua Broward Theology of leadership Journal, “Leadership model
after the trinity will prioritizes relationship, mutual interdependence, and diverse unity.” He
11
continues by saying, “A look at the historical Jesus reveals that healthy leadership will
intentionally embrace followership, cultivate internal identity, emphasize wisdom over
knowledge, practice servanthood, embodied humility, and empower those on the margins.”
12
Leaders must understand the mission and values of their ministry, and be intentional in
sharing power with members within his/her own organization. According to Forrest and Roden
“God’s rule and sovereignty over all his creation gives him the right of leadership over
everything he has made.” When leaders are willing to follow his command he will gentile lead
13
them with care. The Lord’s leadership is unconditional, and his commands must be followed.
During the Old Testament era leaders who disobeyed his divine order of leadership was put
down, and leaders who obeyed was elevated. He appointed Joshua after Mosses, and Solomon
after the reign of king David. (Deut 1:38; Joshua 1:6; 1Kings 1:35).
14
While the word leader is absent from the New Testament, it can be interpreted as either
“calling or experience.” God calls leaders and equipped them for service. Moses was an
15
inexperience leader called by God to deliver his people from bondage and lead them out of Egypt
(Ex 2:3-5, 2:24-25; 3:5-6). Gideon was called by God to deliver his people from the Midianites
11 Joshua Broward, “Follow the Leader. An Integrated Theology of Leader Development. Theology of
Leadership Journal,” vol2. (2019): 87 accessed May 13, 2020,
http:theologyofleadership.com/index.php/tlj/article/view/46/30.
12 Broward, , 86.Follow the Leader
13 Benjamin Forrest and Chet Roden, Biblical Theology for the Church: Biblical Leadership (Grand
Rapids, MI: Kregel Publishing Group, 2018), 30.
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid., 305
4
(Judges 6:34). David was a shepherd boy and God made him king over Israel (1 Sam 16:1-13).
The apostle Paul was called by God to carry the gospel to the gentile world (Acts 9:15-16).Jesus
set the tone for leaders to follow when he called his disciples to himself and gave them the
command to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:19-20).
He also pays the ultimate sacrifice of love for all when he gave himself a ransom for
many (John 3:16). Christian leaders are expected to follow Christ and do likewise. According to
Malphurs, “to be a Christian leader, one must first be a Christian as a starting place for Christian
leadership.”16 A Christian leader is one who follows Christ and has subject himself to the
lordship of Christ by committing their life to him.” The apostle Paul reminds the Roman’s
17
Christian leaders to set the example for those who follow (Ro 6). Malphurs mentions, “If
followers are to make an unwavering commitment to Christ, leaders who professed to be
committed Christ-followers must lead the way to committed disciples.”
18
A Christian leader must be able to influence and impact his followers, while effectively
and efficiently train them to be leaders. Nehemiah was a leader with influence. He was able to
motivate and empower his followers to build the walls of Jerusalem (Ne 2:17). According to
Malphurs, “Christian leaders are servants with credibility and capabilities who are able to
influence people in a particular context to pursue their God-given direction.” The apostle Paul
19
encourages Timothy to use his office well, “For those who serve well as deacons gain a good
standing for themselves and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.(1 Tim 3:13).
In the book, The conviction to Lead, Author Albert Mohler mentions, “Kouzes and
Posner are exactly right when they insists that leadership is a relationship between those who
16 Aubrey Malphurs, Being Leaders: The Nature of Authentic Christian Leadership, (Grand Rapids: Baker
Books, 2003),
17 Ibid.
18 Ibid., 15
19 Ibid., 32.
5
aspire to lead and those who chose to follow.” When a Christian leader understands that their
20
effectiveness is based on their ability to lead, they will undertake the studies necessary to become
competent leaders. Leaders can use both their born gifts and spiritual gifts to the establishment of
their ministry in a positive way that will influence growth. Mohler mentions, “The ability to lead
people depends on the leader’s capacity to develop and deploy what Goleman identified as self-
awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.”21
Leaders needs these skills to make connections with those they are called to lead. Jesus
was known for his leadership’s style and how he uses it to influence and command the people’s
attention to listen to him. Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges provides four domains of leading like
Jesus. “A Christian leader with a desire to lead like Jesus must understand that such leadership is
a transformational journey. They can lead like Jesus when their hearts, heads, hands, and habits
are aligned with the word of God.” Blanchard mentions, “When these four leadership domains
are aligned, our perspective is changed, we gain people’s trust, communities develop, and the
organization’s culture is transformed.” He continues by saying, “Whenever you have an
22
opportunity to influence other people’s thinking and behavior, you first need to decide whether to
act out of self-interest or to benefit those you are leading.” Humility is a core component to
23
effective leadership.
The apostle Paul exhorts the Philippians, “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. Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a
20 Albert Mohler, (Grand Rapids, MI: The Conviction to Lead: Principles for Leadership That Matters
Bakers Publishing Group, 2012), 84.
21 Mohler, , 30.The Conviction to Lead
22 Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, . (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008). Accessed Lead Like Jesus
May 13, 2020, Word Search Bible, 35.
23 Ibid., 35
6
thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men,”(Phil 2:3-7). The Apostle Peter encourages leaders, Shepherd the flock of God
“
that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have
you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being
examples to the flock,”(1 Peter 5:2-3).
Malphurs mentions, “A Christian leader leads in any context whether or not it is a
professed Christian organization. Christian leaders are leaders outside of as well as inside the
Christian community. Their mandate is to lead christianly regardless of the context.” Leaders
24
are gifted and equipped by God to go into the harvest field, “But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,”(Acts 1:8).
Leaders are call upon to equipped and enable others to fulfill the will of God through the
gifts that is bestowed upon them for the edification of the church. “For as in one body we have
many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one
body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to
the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our
serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one
who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy,
with cheerfulness,” (Rom 12:4-8). When a leader can maintain the use of scripture as a
discipline, he/she will be better able to understand theology of leadership, on which philosophy
of leadership can be built.
Philosophy of Leadership
24 Malphurs, , 13.Being Leaders
7
By continuing to examine the fundamental scripture passages in theology of leadership
various leadership distinction can be use that will form the philosophy of leadership for a
development plan. Creating a philosophy of leadership will guarantee that a Christian leader is
biblically grounded, healthy, and growing multiplying leaders. Blanchard and Hodges mentions,
“all great leaders have a specific leadership philosophy that defines how they see not only their
roles but also their relationship to those they seek to influence.” The following leadership
25
qualities that form this student philosophy of leadership are.
Character
Paul Pettit defines character as “those attributes by which we identify someone or
something.”26 He continues by saying, “If we are to consider what the Bible says about the
characteristics by which we should identified, we would do well to first look at the character of
God himself.” As image bearer created in the image of God; every leader should seek to pattern
27
the character of God. He has clearly given us the responsibility of how we are to act and live.
“He has shown you O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly
and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God,” (Mic 6:8 ).
28
Character is one of the several traits that define a person, whether Christian or non-
Christian. One does not have to be a leader in order to have good character, but it is one of the
core values of a Christian leader. Aubrey Malphurs says character as the “sum total of a person’s
distinct qualities, both good and bad, that reflects who he or she is. Godly character encompasses
those qualities that scripture identifies with the godhead or that God prescribes (see Gal 5:19
25 Blanchard and Hodges, 36.Lead Like Jesus,
26 Paul Pettit Kregel Publications, 2016), accessed May 15, 2020, , Foundations of Spiritual Formation (
Wordsearch Bible, 143.
27 Pettit, 143.Foundations of Spiritual Formation,
28 Pettit, 144.
8
with vv. 22-23 and 1 Peter 1:13-16).” He continues by saying “godly character is the essential
29
ingredients that qualify Christian to lead others.”
30
In addition to learning from God, the Christian leader can also learn from the Apostle
Paul model for good character. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we
know that sufferings produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And
hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
whom he has given us, (Rom 5:3-5). “Leaders are to train themselves to live godly lives because
the eyes of the world are watching them.
Discipleship/Evangelism
One of the greatest commandments given by Jesus to humans is to love the Lord your
God with all your heart and all your soul, and with your mind. The second is to love your
neighbor as yourself,” (Matt 22:37-39). Jesus the wise leader gave the commandments to love
first, and the commission to go show our love by sharing the good news of salvation. A leader
who does not know how to show love will not be able to fulfill the great commission. Christian
leaders are to be intentional about evangelizing the lost and leading them to Christ. Jesus words
to his disciples, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” (John 20:21).
In the book Core Christianity: What is Christianity all about Elmer Towns mentions, ‘The
verb evangelize means to announce or proclaim the good news. It appears fifty-one times in the
New Testament and is the verb form of the noun gospel. When a person evangelizes another
person, he is pouring the gospel into him/her.” Leaders are called upon to train and empower
31
those they are leading to go out into the community and tell others about the good news. Towns
29 Malphurs, , 18.Being Leaders
30 Ibid., 18.
31 Elmer L. Towns, Core Christianity: What Christianity is all about? (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers,
2007), 145.
9
mentions, “The church is God’s instrument to mobilize his people for evangelism.” He
32
continues saying, “the local church carries out his evangelistic obligation by praying for the lost
people to come to Christ, giving money to support missionaries, by being involved in project to
evangelize, and by sending young people as missionaries.”
33
A disciple is a Christian believe who follow and pattern the teaching of Christ and share
his words with others and the community they are a part of. Jesus called twelve men and made
them into disciples through his teaching, training, actions, words, and then send out to make
other disciples. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
command you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20).
Servant
Jesus demonstrates the most powerful image of servant leadership when he washes his
disciples ‘feet. He was showing them that a servant leader is a servant first. “Rose from supper.
He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured
water in a basin and began washing his disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel wrapped
around him,” (John 13:4). In the Journal Servant Leader, Author Raymond L. Sickinger
mentions, “In the kingdom of the world greatness is power. In the kingdom of Jesus, the standard
of that is service…true greatness, therefore, lies not in power, but in one’s capacity to minister to
another.”34
Servant leadership is more foundational and can be expressed through the inner
motivation of the leader. Pettit mentions, “A servant leader is primarily motivated by two things:
32 Elmer L. Towns, Core Christianity: What Christianity is all about? 145.
33 Towns, Core Christianity, 145.
34 Raymond L. Sickinger, “Servant Leader.” In Antoine Frederic Ozanam, 221-30. Notre Dame: Indiana
University Press 2017. Accessed May 16, 2020.
www.jstor.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/stable/doi:10.2307/ictypg84p6.17.
10
(1) the fulfillment of God’s mission for his or her ministry or organization and (2) the fulfillment
of God’s purpose in the lives of the people who are part of the ministry organization.” He
35
further state, “this means that the person of this leader is not focused on his or her power,
benefits, reputation, perks, or privileges; it is on the fulfillment of godly purpose and the good of
the people they led.”
36
Christian leaders need to submit to the word of God and allow the word to mold and
shape them into servant leaders. In the book Servants of Servant, Author Don H. Howell
comments,“ They must constantly remind themselves that they are servants, not lords, and that
leadership in the kingdom of God must take on a wholly distinct and contrastive character from
leadership in the secular world.” A servant leader facilitates the success of others through
37
mentoring. Mentoring can be a safe bond that forms a caring relationship between the leader and
followers that can forester ministry growth.
Humility
One of the key ingredients to successful leadership is humility. The Apostle Peter exhort
the believers to, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that the proper
time he might exalt you,” (1 Peter 5:6). Jesus set the perfect example of leadership through his
humility through his incarnation. Forrest and Roden mentions, “Jesus is revealed to be God
incarnate, but as God incarnate he leads not from a position of supreme authority and power, but
from a voluntarily assumed position of weakness, humility and vulnerability.” They continues
38
by saying, “this deliberately chosen path of humiliation and vulnerability set the ultimate
standard of “servant leadership.
35Paul Pettit, foundations of Spiritual Formation., 179.
36 Ibib., 179.
37 Don H. Howell, Jr., Servants of Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership (Eugene OR: Wipf & Stock
Publishers, 2015), accessed May 17, 2020, Word Search Bible, 200.
38 Forrest and Roden, Biblical Leadership, 361.
11
This is just the opposite of what the reader might expect because it sets a high standard
for those who would be leaders of the church today, since they are to follow Jesus example and
lead the church the way he did while he was on earth.” This kind of leadership is not easy to
39
follow and pattern, but it is what is expected of all leaders if they want to lead like Jesus. They
are many challenges that leaders will continue to face in their leadership role, therefore
developing a philosophy of leadership can help them succeed in ministry.
Methods of Leadership
To determine which methods of leadership to implement it is helpful for the Christian
leaders to examine the numerous church methods that exist and what the leader wants to
accomplish in each of the models. The leader needs to understand the context of his/her ministry
and how to successfully provides leadership that will spurs ministry growth. The Apostle Paul
addressed the Corinthians, “for just as the body is one and has many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so is it with Christ,”(1 Cor 12:12).
Christ lays the foundation for the Church during his earthly ministry and through his
preparation of his twelve Apostle, and then send them out on mission to do ministry. “For I have
given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to
you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent
him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:15-17). Bredfeldt uses
four different models that are functioning within the modern-day Church, the Church
proclamation Church, the program Church, The Power Church, and the Pluralistic Church. Each
leader needs to look at these and choose which model is fitting for their ministry.
The Proclamation Church is a hierarchal leadership model where ranking leaders at the
top held prestige titles and power, while some members in the local congregation are able to
39Ibid, 360.
12
carry out menial task like teaching Sunday school followed by a formal service of worship,
scripture reading, soloist, choir, and a timed message. Pastoral care, evangelistic outreach, and
relationship are not a concern for this church. There leadership styles are from the top down.
Their sermon was organized in outline format and included in the bulletin, while the rest of the
service took place in the sanctuary.
The church was structured and marked by a strong theological history and tradition that is
respected. Their leadership has control over the teaching ministry of the pulpit and the
classroom podium by the leaders.” Bredfeldt continues, “They place high value on truth and
40
God’s word and are committed to Orthodoxy theology; yet their leadership is authoritarian,
exclusionary, and graceless. They are linked to a Christian version of idealistic philosophy.”
41
The program Church is “truth and works oriented with hierarchal system of polity and mature
organizational structures. The church is experiencing decline because of poor leadership,
conflict, or moral failure, aging members, and building spaces.
The power church operated on hierarchal leadership at the top. They are visionary
leaders who value change. Their marketing strategy and technology advancement helps them to
see rapid ministry growth. They place high value in evangelism, and entrepreneurship. They are
driven by need and power and has taken the old gospel story and repackaged it for a new
context.”42 The Pluralistic Church is “spirit and faith oriented emergent, postmodern anti
denominational. They differ from the Proclamation and power church in size and numbers. Their
leadership is more moderate, and they are smaller in size and value community and relational.
40Bredfeldt, Great Leader Great Teacher, 162-66.
41 Ibid, 162-167.
42 Bredfeldt, 168-70.
13
They are more driven to spiritual emphasis, rather than the authority of scripture because of their
desire to be culturally relevant.”
43
Leadership Culture
Jesus established a culture that would last until his return when he called his Apostles to
follow him, and then send them to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:19-20). Today’s
leaders have that same model to follow. Being part of a mission is one of the ways to influence
the culture and experience ministry growth. ”The apostles influence the culture beginning with
Pentecost. The Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a
servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To
those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might
win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the
law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became
weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all by all means I might save people that
some,” (1Co 9:19-22).
In this book, Advanced Strategic Planning author Aubrey Malphurs says, “You will never
do ministry that matters until you define what matters.” What matters is the ability of the leader
44
to know what they are trying to accomplish for the ministry, is it functioning biblically, how are
they going to determine the future of the ministry, and how to communicates the biblical
mission to the people? The Christian leaders need to know what they are trying to accomplish for
God. Malphurs says, “A clear direction communicates a unifying theme to all the members and
draws them together as a team or community.”
45
43Bredfeldt, 171-173.
44 Aubrey Malphurs, (Grand Rapid, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2013), advanced Strategic Planning
accessed May 18, 2020, Word Search bible, 106.
45 Malphurs, 106-07Advanced Strategic Planning,
14
People will be more energize to work with their leader when they know what the Church
is trying to accomplish. When the mission is in place the Church can develop the vision for the
ministry. Malphurs mentions, “Obviously, the church’s mission is vital to its ministry.” The
46
church should be in line with God’s mission to go out and make disciples. According to
Malphurs, “Overtime the vision must be renewed, adapted, and adjusted to the cultural context in
which the congregation lives. Even though the vision changes, the changes take place only at the
margin of the vision, not at its core. The core- the Great Commission does not change, but the
details of the vision and the words used to convey them will change.”
47
Culture is what shape our churches and makes it unique, but our culture should be aligned
with the values of the Great commission. “Discovering your values is the basis for knowing and
understanding your identity, because they are at the core of the church’s culture. Core values are
the very building blocks (DNA) of your ministry and explain why you do what you do or don’t
do what you should do. They form the foundation of which the mission and vision is built, and
along with them form the Church’s core ideology.” Mission, vision, and values are what form
48
the ministry model that fits our community and help define our culture.
Leadership Development Plan
Now that I have established the foundations of leadership development plan it is time to
formulate my own personal ministry. All four churches I reviewed thus far have some strength
and some weaknesses that I can learn from. Since my Church body falls between the
Proclamation and Program Churches, I will include the weakness in my plan, so I do not go
down that path. The proclamation church is portrayed as authoritarian, exclusionary, and
graceless. They lack pastoral care, evangelistic outreach, and personal relationship. The Program
46 Ibid., 105
47 Ibid., 128.
48 Malphurs, 145.
15
Church retains solid doctrine, hierarchical systems of polity, yet their church is in decline
because of lack of leadership.
Their board members are resistant to change in their ministry leadership and are less
energize by new ministry endeavor.” My local church is overseen by my Bishop who is the
49
head pastor, one associate pastor and six ministers under him including myself. We are a vibrant
growing Church with a strong focus on evangelism, youth ministry, a cell group ministry,
women’s ministry, men’s ministry, and Sunday school. The focus of my leadership development
plan is to develop a healthy Church body with leadership consistent with the Church in Acts 2.
Bredfeldt mentions, “Your task as the leader-teacher is threefold. First, you must discover which
quadrant most accurately describes the Church you are called to lead. Second, you must exercise
a style of ministry that is appropriate to that ministry context. And third, you must lead the
people of God through a teaching ministry toward a more balance emphasis on those consistent
with the Acts 2 Church.”
50
These believers follow Jesus’ word to go and make disciples of all nations. They became
missionary and visionary of the Great commission. In order to have a healthy church body we
will create a mission, vision, and value that will align with the Great commission. We will
develop a working strategy for the growth of the ministry through evangelism. I will give myself
to prayer, fasting and studying of God’s word. Leaders will be encouraged to develop a personal
relationship with God. We will set in motion a Bible training arm of the church that will train
leaders and members to become healthy, growing multiplying leaders.
Like the Apostle Paul to Timothy, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also,” (2 Tim 2:2). We
49 Bredfeldt., 162-168.
50 Bredfeldt., 178.
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will put in place a cell groups that will meet each member on a personal level where everyone
will be encourage to use their gift for the edification of the ministry. I will also put a team in
place that will care for the seniors and those in need of financial assistance. Before making any
decision, I will include all the members of the ministry in my thinking and planning. I will use
my listening skills to listen until I hear. I will be accountable not only for myself, but for those I
am called to serve, and I will be their wingman. Members of my congregation will be equipped
and empower to become reproducing leaders themselves.
Conclusion
Every Christian leader should include the Great Commission as a doctrine of polity in
their ministry. Evangelism should be at the forefront of every leader’s heart and mind. They
should commit themselves to discipleship making process. Jesus told his disciples, “As the Father
has sent me; even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21). Christian leader should have a mission, visions
and values for their church that is in alignment with the Great Commission. Christian leaders
must first learn to be a servant before they become leaders. They are to lead with humility form
the bottom up, not from the top down. Every leader would benefit from developing a leadership
development plan that would help guide the success of their ministry and produce godly
followers. The plan will help them to develop a theology of leadership that is base on biblical
passages of scripture that forms the basis for Christian leadership. The plan should include
philosophy of leadership based on biblical principles related to leaders and leadership. Christian
leaders should examine different methods and models of leadership to decide which model is
best for their perspective ministry. The plan should identify ways to create a healthy ministry
environment that equips people and leaders to explore and accomplish the mission of producing
productive followers. Finally, I will put forth a leadership development plan that will outline an
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approach how to help leaders and people fulfill and serve the organizational mission where God
has planted me. The apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians’ church, “For we are not overextending
ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with
the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as
your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may
preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area
of influence.”(2 Cor 10:14-16).
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