While we often speak about the importance of men taking up the mantle of spiritual leadership, we rarely discuss the intentional process required to develop such leaders. Programs and seminars abound, yet the question remains: Are we truly equipping men for the sacred responsibility of spiritual leadership?
Research confirms the urgency of this challenge. A 2019 Barna study found 82% of young adults (18-35) believe we’re experiencing a leadership crisis due to an insufficient number of good leaders.
Yet only 21% of young adults involved in churches report having access to leadership training for ministry, and only 26% have been inspired to lead because of the example of someone at their church. This gap between need and provision demands immediate attention from church leadership.
The Bible offers us a powerful model in the relationship between Moses and Joshua. This was not a classroom-based training program but rather a lifelong mentorship where Joshua walked alongside Moses, observing his successes and failures, his communion with God and his leadership of the people.
The Moses-Joshua model: mentorship in action
When God chose Joshua to succeed Moses, it wasn’t a spontaneous decision. Scripture reveals Joshua had been serving as Moses’ assistant from his youth (Numbers 11:28).
Their relationship spanned decades, during which Joshua witnessed Moses’s leadership in countless situations. Moses methodically increased Joshua’s responsibilities over time. This was not a rushed process. It was deliberate, relational and focused on both spiritual formation and practical leadership.
This relational approach to leadership development is not just biblical; it’s desperately needed today. While 78% of church members report having meaningful relationships in their churches, less than half intentionally dedicate time to help others grow in their faith, according to a Lifeway Research study.
However, nearly 7 in 10 pastors (69%) utilize one-on-one discipleship relationships in their approach to spiritual growth, according to another Lifeway Research study. This suggests that intentional mentoring, though underutilized among laypeople, remains a proven method for spiritual formation.
Spiritual leadership development isn’t accomplished through weekend retreats or six-week courses alone. It requires established leaders who are willing to invest in emerging leaders over time, inviting them into both public ministry and private discipleship moments.
“Spiritual leadership requires established leaders who are willing to invest in emerging leaders over time, inviting them into both public ministry and private discipleship moments.” — @aaronwsummers
3 mentoring reminders
1. Journey over destination
One of our fundamental mistakes in leadership development is focusing too heavily on the end goal rather than embracing the process. We want finished products, men who are already equipped to lead effectively. However, spiritual leadership formation is a journey filled with growth opportunities, setbacks and moments of transformation.
2. Relationships over rules
Churches that excel in leadership development prioritize relationship-building among men. This might take the form of small groups focused less on content delivery and more on life application. It might mean service projects that build camaraderie while accomplishing kingdom work. Or it could include retreats designed not just for teaching but for deeper conversation and meaningful connection.
In these relational contexts, men learn to be vulnerable with one another, sharing struggles, asking difficult questions and receiving encouragement. This vulnerability becomes the foundation for authentic leadership, both in the church and at home.
3. Character over competency
Character is the bedrock of leadership. The apostle Paul’s qualifications for church leaders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 focus predominantly on character rather than skills. A man might be a gifted teacher or administrator, but without godly character, these competencies often lead to damage rather than fruitfulness.
The need for character-focused development becomes even more apparent when we consider current discipleship statistics. Only 1 in 3 Americans who regularly attend a Protestant church (32%) read the Bible personally every day, and close to 1 in 8 (12%) admit they rarely or never read the Bible, according to Lifeway Research.
See also Church Leadership Residency: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders
More concerning, half of American churchgoers (51%) have never heard of the phrase “the Great Commission,” and only 17% say they’ve heard of it and know what it means, according to Barna. These gaps in basic biblical literacy underscore why character formation must be prioritized alongside competency development.
Churches tend to quickly identify and promote men with obvious gifts without sufficiently examining or developing their character. Yet Scripture teaches us character development is a long-term process requiring intentionality and submission to God’s refining work. The focus shifts from “what they can do” to “who they’re becoming” in Christ.
The multiplication imperative
Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 was not merely about individual development. It was about creating a multiplication system. “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (CSB) reveals four generations of spiritual reproduction: Paul to Timothy to faithful men to others.
This multiplication approach becomes critical when we consider that 83% of pastors have an intentional plan for discipleship in their churches, yet 78% recognize room for improvement, according to Lifeway Research. The solution is not more programs but more people equipped to mentor others. As one research analysis noted, “God’s plan is for you to invest everything He has given you into a few faithful men with the purpose being that they would invest it into others.”
“A man might be a gifted teacher or administrator, but without godly character, these competencies often lead to damage rather than fruitfulness.” — @aaronwsummers
4 ways churches can equip men for leadership
- Given these realities, churches committed to equipping men for spiritual leadership should consider implementing specific structures:
- Establish intergenerational mentoring pairs or triads that meet regularly for both spiritual formation and leadership development.
- Create leadership pathways that intentionally incorporate character assessment alongside skill development.
- Implement regular reflection practices for both established and emerging leaders to evaluate growth in emotional intelligence and spiritual maturity.
Design service opportunities that allow emerging leaders to exercise their gifts while receiving meaningful feedback.
The key is patience and long-term commitment. Developing spiritual leaders is not a quick process, but the investment yields fruit that impacts generations.
Shifting approach to leadership development
Equipping men for spiritual leadership requires a fundamental shift in our approach — moving from program-based training to relationship-based development, from competency-focused evaluation to character-focused formation. The Moses-Joshua model reminds us spiritual leadership develops over time through intentional mentoring relationships.
The research is clear: Churches that commit to relationship-based leadership development see transformational results. Practical resources exist to help churches implement these principles effectively, but the key is moving beyond programmatic thinking to embracing the slower, more intentional work of investing deeply in a few faithful men who will reproduce this investment in others.
When churches commit to this journey of equipping men, the impact extends far beyond church walls. Families experience the blessing of spiritually mature leadership. Communities witness authentic Christian masculinity. And the church fulfills its God-given mandate to make disciples who make disciples, creating a legacy of spiritual leadership that spans generations.
The question is not whether we should equip men for spiritual leadership, but how we will commit to the journey of doing so with faithfulness and intentionality.
The article was originally published on LifewayResearch.com.
Aaron Summers serves as the coordinator for pastorless churches for Texas Baptists after serving as pastor in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas for the past 30 years. He and his wife, Dulcie, have two adult kids and enjoy traveling in their RV.