EMPOWER: Ministry Leader Development
In October 2024, Pastor Jonathan encouraged the church family to take a survey to get a sense of how the church and her people were doing spiritually and personally. For the most part, the survey confirmed what we were already hearing and experiencing, but it also unveiled some areas of actionable intelligence that would strengthen and empower Cedarbrook to become radical in following Jesus on mission in this next year.
Three insights from the survey which God is now positioning Cedarbrook to capitalize on related to this Empower initiative is as follows:
65% of you responded that the church doesn’t empower young people to develop as leaders.
72% of you responded that there was no clear pathway for a person to become a leader at this church.
84% of the leaders in this church believe that there are not enough leaders in the church to operate effectively.
The implications of each of these insights are as follows:
Younger people feel undervalued and unseen in the church's leadership structure. A lack of clarity about leadership roles and progression can discourage potential leaders. The church will struggle to meet its mission and vision due to a shortage of leaders.
How can Cedarbrook capitalize on these insights?
At Cedarbrook, we evaluate potential leaders and develop leaders based on the four “C’s”: character, competency, compatibility, and capacity. To be a leader at Cedarbrook, whether that’s a leader in Promiseland or in Student Ministries, or in Life Groups, Alpha, ESOL, MomCo, our Board of Directors, or Elder Team, an individual must possess or develop these essential criteria.
To accelerate the growth and development of our ministry leaders, we're focusing on three key areas:
Implementing a Formal Leadership Development Program: Providing structured training and mentorship to equip leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge.
Creating Clear Leadership Pipelines and Pathways: Establishing a clear progression for leadership roles, offering opportunities for growth and advancement.
Funding Leadership Development Opportunities: Investing in our leaders by supporting their attendance at conferences, workshops, and other training events.
A Formal Leadership Development Program
This year, we will be developing a leadership development curriculum covering leadership skills, biblical knowledge, and church ministry for new Life Group leaders. As it currently stands, our existing groups cannot absorb the current demand for Life Groups and so developing Life Group leaders is paramount to discipling people in small groups at Cedarbrook.
Goals
Q1: Research other leadership development programs
Q2: Develop a leadership development curriculum based on Cedarbrook mission, vision, and values
Q3: Pilot the leadership development curriculum
Q4: Tweak and revise the leadership development curriculum
A Leadership Pipeline and Pathway
Currently, the way people are identified for leadership roles is informal and training is often times trial by fire. This year, we will be focused on systematizing the training of those identified for leadership roles to transition leaders well and help them succeed from the get-go.
Goals
Q1: Identify key leadership roles that need a pipeline and pathway within the church
Q2: Develop a clear pathway for progression within these roles
Q3: Communicate these pathways to church members identified for potentially fulfilling those roles
Q4: Implement a system for tracking individual leadership development and pipeline availability
Funding Leadership Development Opportunities
Investing in our leaders is an investment in the future of Cedarbrook and the kingdom of God. While our internal leadership development program is crucial, attending industry conferences and seminars offers unique benefits. These events provide opportunities for our leaders to:
Learn cutting-edge leadership skills
Network with other ministry professionals
Gain exposure to best practices
Bring back innovative ideas to enhance our leadership development programs
By sending our leaders to these events, we’re empowering them to grow, learn, and lead more effectively.