1 QUOTE

“What if my job as a coach isn’t so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop the confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent?”

- Coach Pete Carroll, one of three coaches to win a Super Bowl (Seattle Seahawks) and NCAA Football Championship (USC Trojans)

1 NOTE

For the last few weeks, we have observing a correlation rate of NFL quarterback and church plants. Both 60% of first round NFL quarterbacks and 60% of church plants never make it to year 4. I believe the issues are the same: selection and development. Last week we focused on selection. This issue is all about development. 

After his first year with the Chicago Bears, everyone and their mother was calling Caleb Williams a bust. But few understood how little development the rookie quarterback received. In a rare ‘let’s look behind the curtain’ moment, Williams shared how on Monday mornings he would drag his beat up body early into the Bears building. With pen in hand in the film room, he studied the game tape…alone. His coaches did not break down timing, routes, number of steps his drop should be, recognizing blitzes, etc. Caleb was declared a bust because his 2024 pass completion percentage was 58% (worst in the NFL). Today, two years later, Caleb is a top 5 quarterback with the top competition percentage in the NFL. It sure helps his coach is now Ben Johnson, an offensive genius, who leaves no detail unnoticed.

It shocks me how many church planters today are developed by leaders who have never planted a church. When I served as the denomination’s national church planting director I inherited two regional superintendents who hired completely unqualified directors of church planting. When I questioned the hire, they both said, “My friend from seminary needed a job.” In contrast, Becky and I are forever grateful for Pastor Wayne Carlson. He was our Pete Carroll. His wise decisions, technical training, and pastoral heart are why we got to year 4. Through great church planting chaos, Carlson made certain to develop Becky and me (and our church plant). Without Wayne our lives today would so much worse.

1 QUESTION

Does your church have a clear criteria and standard to recruit leaders?

Until Next Tuesday,

John