We Are Facing A Global Church Leadership Crisis
Church Leaders Fail:
Ministries Suffer.
Lack Basic Training,
What is the Solution?
When ministry leaders lack the competencies to lead, the church falters. Additionally, 90% of ministry leaders globally lack basic training. Unhealthy leadership beliefs and behaviors are hindering the quality and growth of churches and ministries.
However, we believe this leadership crisis is also an incredible opportunity.
The Garden Project
Leadership for a Healthy Church
Created in collaboration with national leaders from storycentric communities of the Majority World, the eight modules of The Garden Project is a pioneering initiative that cultivates ministry leaders in grassroots communities to become competent and Christ-centered.
The flagship module called Leadership for a Healthy Church lays the foundation. Over a period of four days, this fully immersive leadership development experience [link to Developmental Experience page] is facilitated through storytelling, drama, art, and music. Using selected gospel narratives that reveal Jesus’ leadership priorities and additional stories from both the Old and New Testaments, we explore together a new way of leadership that develops healthy leaders.
Utilizing leadership development theory based on careful research that is put in the form of story, images, and music, existing church and ministry leaders are invited into a participative learning experience with 25 other like-minded leaders that will challenge them to think differently about their role as leaders in the church.
Addressing the Need
The world’s nearly five billion story-centric communicators, those who learn best and are most likely to be influenced through oral rather than literate means, have become a focus of evangelism and church planting efforts. Yet the development of competent, faithful leaders among these under-resourced populations has lagged behind.
People throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America need effective, Christ-centered leaders. Many church/ministry leaders in this region are story-centric (oral-based) communicators who have not reached their full leadership potential due to three primary barriers: (1) the dominance of literacy-based teaching methods, (2) cultural leadership biases that are inconsistent with the leadership example of Christ, and (3) negative personal experiences that have hindered their ability to lead effectively. Freedom to Lead International® (FTL) provides a leadership development program that addresses these barriers so our ministry colleagues will have “freedom to lead.” In turn, these more effective, Christ-centered leaders will extend the church’s reach and advance the gospel in their communities.
To address this need, since 2009, FTL has developed The Garden Project, an innovative 3-4 year program that employs story-centric and adult learning methodologies to cultivate leadership character and competencies derived primarily from principles and practices exemplified in the teaching and leadership of Jesus. Additional principles and practices are highlighted from character studies and stories from the Old and New Testaments, which complement the core leadership principles of Jesus. Culturally appropriate stories, images, and music are also used to support these biblical principles and practices.
- Leadership for a Healthy Church
- Ministry Planning
- Mentoring
- Leading Change
- Peacemaking
- Spiritual Leadership
- Leading Teams
- Stewardship and Sustainability
The Garden Project is more than a program, it's a developmental experience
Our Strategy
FTL’s strategy contains three primary components:
- Module Presentation – FTL personnel (US-based and local) will present the eight modules (two per year) to
first-generation leaders in four-day intensive events. Local FTL personnel will mentor these first-generation
leaders. FTL will train and coach indigenous musicians to create songs that accompany the modules of The
Garden Project - Module Transference – First-generation leaders will teach the eight modules to next-generation leaders in their
respective regional contexts with coaching from local FTL personnel. The first-generation leaders will mentor
next-generation leaders. - Master Facilitator Training – Selected program participants will be equipped with enhanced facilitation skills to
ensure program quality and to maintain ministry momentum for networks in various regions.
FTL’s goal is to raise up competent Christ-centered leaders of the church and ministry networks who will lead existing local churches to be healthy, will plant new churches, and will extend the benefits of the whole gospel in their local communities.
The Modules
Through biblical and modern stories, familiar images, and songs that help commit the leadership lessons to memory, Freedom to Lead’s pioneering initiative – called The Garden Project – cultivates leaders in grassroots storycentric communities to become competent, Christ-centered leaders.
Below is a synopsis for each of the eight leadership development modules contained in The Garden Project.
Leadership for a Healthy Church
This module exposes unhealthy leadership beliefs and behaviors that are hindering the quality and growth of churches and ministries. A leadership approach that uses people to serve the leader’s agenda (“water pump” leadership) is compared to a Christ-centered leadership approach that cultivates people and trusts God for the results (“rice field” leadership). Selected gospel narratives reveal Jesus’ leadership priorities that include developing healthy relationships with others, influencing people rather than forcing them, cultivating others to reach their highest potential, and inviting those He led into a common purpose.
Ministry Planning
This module helps participants construct a robust ministry plan. Selected gospel narratives highlight: (a)identifying and developing a clear, common, and compelling mission that prioritizes the whole gospel, and (2) focusing on cultivating others as a strategic component of healthy ministry. A culture-specific (fictional) story highlights three tools that leaders can use to prioritize cultivating people while executing mission: (1) modeling and teaching, (2) allocating resources, and (3) rewarding behavior that advances the ministry’s mission and a healthy culture.
Mentoring
This module focuses on principles and practices of mentoring in Jesus’ distinctive relationship with the Twelve – especially with Simon Peter – as he prepared them for future leadership. A culture-specific (fictional) story advocates and applies three essential mentoring principles. First, effective mentoring is based upon a relationship between mentor and mentee. Second, mentors who listen responsibly and ask good questions foster self-discovery learning for the mentee. Third, mentees benefit most from mentors who share their own story with authenticity.
Leading Change
The unfolding drama of redemption is a story of continual change; therefore, guiding God’s people through change is a fundamental competency for Christ-centered leaders. This module equips leaders to understand and navigate the sense of loss that people experience as they encounter change. Gospel narratives are employed to highlight principles for leading individuals and groups effectively through the change process are taught and applied. The ironsmith’s process of softening, molding, and resetting a rod of iron to become a useful field spade illustrates Jesus’ model of leading others through change to reach their highest potential and advance the Kingdom together.
Peacemaking
Christ-centered leaders are called to be peace-makers who demonstrate God’s great desire for humankind’s reconciliation with Himself and with one another for His glory. This module presents biblical narratives and a culture-specific (fictional) story to understand and avoid the slippery slopes of fighting or fleeing, but, rather, to walk the “narrow path” to peace-making. Mediating between conflicted parties and fostering an environment of confession, repentance, and reconciliation in high-power contexts are explored. The peacemaking leader represents God’s continuing redemptive cycle of forgiveness and renewal in our broken world.
Spiritual Leadership
Christ-centered leaders need an intentional strategy to cultivate their own spiritual growth and the spiritual growth of others. This module emphasizes the foundational principle that spiritual life and growth result from the dynamic interplay of God’s faithfulness and our obedience. Based on this principle, five “streams” of Christ-centered spiritual growth from the Scriptures are taught and applied: (1) the new life, (2) the abiding life, (3) the Spirit-filled life, (4) the compassionate life, and (5) the witnessing life. Stories of faithful Christians throughout history from around the world are highlighted to demonstrate the timeless, universal application of these five biblical streams that contribute to the “mighty river” of spiritual life that God intends for his people.
Leading Teams
Based on the Trinity’s model of teamwork (common purpose, complementary functions), this module employs biblical and culture-specific (fictional) stories to teach that serving together has potential for growth toward deeper Christian maturity and greater kingdom impact. Focus is on building competencies for leading teams that include: (a) cultivating a clear, common, and compelling mission, (b) identifying and respecting team roles, (c) communication, and (d) team decision-making.
Stewardship and Sustainability
Followers of Jesus Christ are entrusted by God to steward what He owns. This module features narratives from the gospels and the book of Acts that highlight the calling and responsibility of God’s people to maximize local resources toward the fulfillment of Jesus’ final command to be His witnesses locally and globally. Empowering and mobilizing the local church is a critical factor for long-term ministry sustainability.