As I endeavor to, in my new role at Hope Church, double-down on my investment into the development of the next generation of church leaders, both in informal settings and formal settings, I want to do my best to keep these three things in mind:

HEART - Who do they need to become?

What is the intentional plan for their character, motivation, and attitude development?

HEAD - What do they need to know?

What is the intentional plan for growing their educational, theological, and methodological understaning?

HANDS - What do they need to do?

What is the intentional plan for improving the skill sets, abilities, and practices they need to have to be successful?

An overemphasis/underemphasis on any one of these three areas will lead to an unbalanced leader who will eventually lead an unbalanced ministry.

Not convinced of this approach to leadership development? Maybe Jesus’ greatest commandment can help us here…

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

With this approach to leadership development in the local church, not only are we laying out a well-rounded plan for growth, but, more importantly, we are also laying out a comprehensive pathway for worship!