Leader Development
Blog | Pastor Duane Smets
Do you sense a call to be a leader in Jesus’ church? Have others witnessed leadership skills in you? Are you desirous of discovering and developing your natural and spiritual giftings?
Everyone Christian has been given gifts which are for the building up of Jesus’ church. “Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift…the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph 4:7,16).” Everyone who is a member of a church is a minister.
Two particular giftings or ministry callings Jesus gives are the roles of elder and deacon. Both serve under the head pastorship of Jesus in local churches. Elders are the male leader shepherds of the church who are also called “pastors” “bishops” and “overseers” throughout the Bible (Acts 20:28; Eph 4:11; 1 Pet 5:2). Deacons are the male and/or female leaders of the church who serve as helpers to the elders in practical matters.
We take seriously the Bible’s call to train up and develop elders & deacons in the church (1 Tim 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). The way we do this is through leader development. Leader development now has two tracks. One track is for those who believe they may be called to be an elder. It is 3 years and led by Pastor Duane. One track for those who believe they may be called to be a deacon. It is 1 year and led by Deacon Dan. Both groups meet a couple times a month, go through a book together, talk and pray together, and work through heart issues involved and the specific ways giftings are being exercised and established.
Leadership development this fall is every other Wednesday from 6:30-8:00am beginning September 15th. If you are not yet involved and sense a call to either elder or deacon and want to join the leader development group email leaderdev@theresolved.com
