Leadership Development equips churches and ministry teams to identify, train, and empower leaders for long-term discipleship and mission. Explore practical, Bible-based resources on mentoring, coaching, apprenticeships, and building leadership pipelines for elders, staff, and volunteer leaders. You’ll find guidance on cultivating character, clarifying competencies, delegating responsibility, and creating a healthy culture where leaders grow and multiply. Whether you’re developing emerging leaders, strengthening current leadership, or building a repeatable process for your church, these articles help you invest in people who can faithfully lead in Jesus’ name.
In this Editor’s note, Shawn McMullen encourages church leaders—especially in small congregations—to remember that every faithful ministry matters. Prioritize personal holiness and depth with Christ, and trust God with the breadth of the impact.
March 13, 2026
John Hampton and David Vaughan share lessons from more than four decades of friendship shaped by ministry, shared history, and golf. Their “buddy-building blocks” highlight intentionality, grace, loyalty, and finishing well together.
March 13, 2026
Mike Edmisten shares how years of ministry left him isolated from other pastors—and how introversion, busyness, and insecurity fed the problem. His warning becomes an invitation to pursue life-giving ministry friendships and shared burdens.
March 13, 2026
Kent Fillinger uses superhero teams to encourage pastors not to serve in isolation. He highlights rising pastoral loneliness and offers practical ways solo ministers can find support, accountability, and encouragement through trusted ministry relationships.
March 13, 2026
Ministry can feel like a narrow trail with limited visibility. Dave Jones shares how friendships with elders, staff, and fellow preachers helped him endure lonely seasons and lead with humility, unity, and courage.
The year 2026 marks Christian Standard’s 160th anniversary, underscoring our long history and deep connection with The Restoration Movement.
September 4, 2025
We interviewed four experts about how to plan for a sabbatical—from how to have those early conversations with your church leaders to exactly what you ought to do during your time away.
September 3, 2025
When a vision is communicated effectively, people are drawn to the vision and not just the leader. In the long term, this gets far more traction for the church and for the kingdom of God.
Still healthy, somewhat effective, and obedient to a fault, many churches have lost the passionate vision they once had. Vision has been replaced by tradition, and passion by obedient maintenance.
People need to experience purpose in their relationship with Christ and effective leaders must set goals that reflect their vision for the church in creating that purpose.
The words challenge and hope describe well the focus of this issue. Ministry can be hard. And discouraging. But we stick with it because of hope—hope in whom we serve, and hope in the work to which he has called us.
December 31, 2024
Churches around the world have a variety of methods for leadership training, even in the midst of persecution. We may be able to learn from them.
December 31, 2024
We’re all interim leaders and at some point retirement is inevitable. Therefore, church elders and boards should be proactive to ensure a healthy, smooth pastoral transition.
December 31, 2024
In addition to praying for harvest workers (Matthew 9:38), David Faust offers several suggestions for addressing the church’s leadership shortage.
December 31, 2024
When Bob Russell retired from his stellar 40-year ministry with Southeast Christian Church, he created a unique retreat to encourage those who serve as lead ministers in their congregations.
November 5, 2024
A new ministry training program launched this fall aimed at giving aspiring pastors an apprenticeship-style ministry education at a low cost.
By Brandon Guindon Our living room buzzed with conversation. Most of it focused around a new couple, James and Sara, who came to visit our small group. My wife, Amber, and I have led small groups for 20 years, and this was one of those evenings that will always stick with me. Before I called everyone together to begin our Bible lesson, I stood back and observed. I could not help but wonder what this new couple was thinking. What were they feeling as people greeted them, shook hands, even hugged? The room was filled with a relational warmth, and
December 14, 2022
Tom Harper, who serves as founder and publisher of BiblicalLeadership.com and as an elder at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., has released his newest book, "Inner Threat: Combatting Christian Leadership's Natural Enemy." Also, briefs from RENEW.org, GLCC, First Christian Church (Columbus, Ind.), and more.
October 11, 2022
Three years ago, Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky added more structure to its efforts to ordain people into ministry. Since then, it has ordained 90 people.
March 1, 2022
By Kim Harris The years 1981 and 1997 don’t have a lot in common. Both years followed presidential elections, but 1981 inaugurated a new president while 1997 welcomed back the leader from the previous term. Both years saw advancement in space exploration with 1981 witnessing the first space shuttle flight, while the Mars Pathfinder landed in 1997. However, it seems the differences between those two years far outweigh similarities. The cultural environment across sports, entertainment, pop culture, economics, and politics shifted significantly during that 16-year span. One thing that didn’t change in that time, though, was the most common baby
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May 20, 2026
Seth Bryant
May 19, 2026
Erick Riddle
May 19, 2026
Tyler McKenzie