LDR Church Leadership Development Cohorts
One way the Northwest Ministry Network district leadership encourages churches to become more missional is through the Leadership Development Resources Church Development Cohorts. Mel Ming and Steve Mills head up this initiative that began in 2000.
Our experience shows that churches completing the LDR Church Development Process are twice as likely to grow compared with those not involved in a cohort. How does this process work?
Vision
To provide effective, cutting-edge coaching and peer training for church leaders who desire to build healthy growing churches that effectively reach the unchurched, and develop fully devoted followers of Christ who will use their gifts and abilities to impact others.
What Are LDR Church Leadership Development Cohorts?
They are groups of pastors with their church leaders who meet 5 times per year for personal and church leadership development and growth. The cohorts involve peer mentoring with a coach in a 2-year developmental cycle.
What Is the LDR Church Leadership Development Cohort Process?
Foundation Phase
- Mission. What is God leading us to do? What is our mission?
- Core values. Who has God shaped us to be?
- Church purpose. Based on Scripture. Why do we exist as a church? What are the functions of His church?
- Congregational realities. Who are we now? Who makes up our church?
- Community context. What is our community like? Who makes up our ministry area? What are the unchurched like?
Design Phase
- Identify missional focus. Who is God calling us to reach?
- Identify primary strategy for each purpose. What strategies does God want us to use?
- Identify ministry model. How does God want us to do church?
- Identify worship service style. What style of worship is appropriate for our mission?
- Identify minimum health factors from church health survey. What do we need to strengthen to reach our full Kingdom potential?
Implementation Phase
Each church develops an implementation plan for the next 1 to 2 years. The implementation plan seeks to help the church become healthy.
Don Detrick, Snoqualmie, Washington
