Growing Leaders at Cape Christian Fellowship

Written by Pastor Dennis Gingerich

At Cape Christian Fellowship, we are dedicated to growing leaders and being leaders that grow. One of the primary reasons we have seen our influence increase from three families to more than a 1000, is because of leadership. The CCF leadership team is working hard at growing as leaders. We never want to become stagnant and satisfied with doing things as we have always done them. We feel the need to stay on the cutting edge of innovation and creativity. We set goals for ourselves that will help us to grow spiritually, relationally, emotionally, educationally and especially in our leadership ability. Therefore, we attend leadership seminars, read books, take classes and interact with other growing leaders.

Leaders are Called to Call and Train Leaders

We are learning about the greatest thing that leaders are called to do. We know that leaders are called to cast God-honoring visions, build teams, set goals, solve problems, and raise resources. We know that when we are modeling exemplary leadership, leaders are shining brightly and doing their job. We also know that leaders are called to manifest the traits of trustworthiness, fair-mindedness, humility, servanthood, endurance over the long haul and to be steady in crisis. Our CCF staff also is keenly aware that we are at our best when we are working in partnership with God, acknowledging His sovereignty, listening to His nudgings, submitting to His leadership, and obediently following His orders. These are all things that a good leader does. But there is more.

Above everything else, the most important thing a leader can do is raise up other leaders. As a leader, I am at my best when I am creating a leadership culture. When I am providing an environment where leaders can discover their gifts, develop their gifts, and begin to deploy them for Kingdom purposes, I am at the defining point of good leadership.

Leaders Become Leaders because of Other Leaders

In the book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell tells of the informal poll he conducts at leadership seminars regarding what prompted men and women to become leaders. The results of his survey show that 10% identified their natural gifting as what prompted them to become leaders, 5% indicated that a crisis that prompted them to explore leadership, but 85% of the respondents said it was the influence of another leader. It takes a leader to raise up a leader. Bill Hybels, puts it this way in his book Courageous Leadership, “When a leader develops not only his or her own leadership potential, but draws out the leadership potential of scores of other leaders as well, the kingdom impact from one life is multiplied exponentially. It produces far more fruit than any single leadership achievement could have. The impact of that leader’s life will be felt for many generations to come”

As the point leader of Cape Christian Fellowship, my highest calling is to be a leader of leaders. While I am the primary weekend teacher, and it is important for the Bible to be communicated in a relevant and clear way, that is not my number one calling. It might be the most visible part of my ministry, but not my top responsibility. My first priority is to discover who the leaders are, develop them, and deploy them in ministry.

Discover, Develop and Deploy Leaders

Now, I don’t do this alone. Our other experienced leaders are all committed to doing the same thing with the same priority in their area of ministry. And, they are teaching the leaders they are leading to do the same thing with those they lead. For example, small group leaders are being taught to find another leader in their group to be an apprentice so that person can be trained to lead a future small group. This same principle will work in children’s ministry, youth ministry, worship arts ministry, hospitality ministry, and anywhere else in the church.

The bottom line is, an organization, a church, or a business can only grow as much as you having growing leaders who are growing other leaders. As long as you are growing leaders, you can keep growing your organization or your ministry. You can’t do it alone. If you really want to be a successful leader, you must discover, develop and deploy other leaders around you.

Developing a Culture of Leadership Development

At CCF, we have developed a culture of leadership development. We are trying to teach by example that every leader must be about more than just drawing a crowd around them. The goal is to discover, develop and deploy other leaders who in turn find other leaders who repeat the process.

he Apostle Paul teaches us the concept of leaders equipping leaders in his words to young Timothy, whom he was mentoring. Paul told Timothy, “You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT). Timothy became a leader because Paul discovered, developed and deployed. Paul was reminding Timothy to carry out the same process so those whom he led could see the process multiplied over and over again. This is when leadership is at its best. It is the calling of leadership, and in my experience, it is also the greatest joy of leadership.

Schedule I Models of Leadership Development I Questions for Presenters I Questions for Written Desciptions