In our last blog we introduced the Leadership Farm system. It is designed to increase the quality and quantity of church leaders so that it is possible to increase the number of churches for a much more extensive harvest beyond the shadow of just one church.

God has always intended for His living creation to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The church is certainly no exception. Just as a vine that doesn’t produce fruit is un-natural and considered unhealthy (John 15:2,6), a church which does not reproduce is also unhealthy. If God is concerned that insects, flowers, trees and animals reproduce, wouldn’t He also be concerned that His church ‑ His bride ‑ reproduce? We should share His concern! The scriptures in fact seem to indicate that barrenness in some cases is seen as a curse (Matt. 21:18~20; John 15: 1‑11). Certainly the people of the Bible viewed infertility as a curse. We should bear the same burden as Rachel when she pleaded with God, “Give me children or else I die. “

It is time for new ways of doing church. The Leadership Farm System is a way of seeing and being church rather than a program to be implemented in a church. It is a paradigm not a program. We cannot simply add one more program to our existing structure. We must begin to rethink our way of being and doing. The fruit of a Leadership Farm System will not only be more churches, but better churches that are able to hold new fruit!

Today’s churches are keenly aware of the need for leaders and there are large numbers of resources on how to recruit leaders. But recruitment becomes pointless when the existing pool of potential leaders is depleted. The problem is that we are all recruiting from the same pond. Eventually the pond dries up and we are only left with the muck at the bottom. A better theme to address is how to increase the pool of potential leaders. Current means are not sufficient to man even existing churches let alone fuel new starts. Disciples and leaders don’t fall from heaven they are made on earth ‑ they are born into the church.

The Leadership Farm System is not …

… a program to add to your church.

… the missing ingredient to your church’s success.

…a curriculum for teaching leadership principles in your church.

…a recruitment mechanism for a cheap labour force in your church.

…a centralised approach to training leaders.

The Leadership Farm System is…

… a new paradigm for what church is to be.

… a system for raising up disciples, leaders, pastors and planters.

… a reproducible systems approach.

… a decentralised approach for spontaneous church multiplication.

The Goals of a Leadership Farm System

Goal #1:   More & Better Leaders 

The primary goal of a Leadership Farm System is the production of quality pastors and church planters who can multiply themselves through the equipping process.

A secondary result of a Leadership Farm System is the development of healthy and productive volunteer leaders within the local church. The church will expand as church leaders are able to make reproducing disciples. Many pastors are interested in building their own church, but that’s shortsighted and often self‑centred. If goals begin and end with the local church, they fall short of God’s vision for a congregation. Start with the big picture in mind. Churches with Leadership Farm Systems seek to raise up workers to send into the harvest field. When that happens you get all the other benefits of growing leaders as a by‑product for the church.

Goal #2:   More & Better Churches.

A natural result of raising up quality leaders who reproduce themselves, some of whom go out to start new churches, will be stronger local churches which parent other churches. The fruit will be not only more churches, but better churches. Christ is building His church. With the resources we have at hand through His Spirit, His Word, and His Body, nothing can prevent us from taking back countless souls who have been held captive by the enemy (Matt 16:18).

Goal #3: A Multiplication Movement 

The ultimate goal of raising up a new generation of reproducing disciples is to fuel an expanding, grassroots movement which defies natural explanation and gives God glory (Mark 4:26‑32). With a structure that ensures a multiplying of churches which multiply themselves, the potential for growth is unlimited.

A Leadership Farm System cultivates reproducing leadership in a church environment. By creating a church environment which generates organic leadership development the church can be released for natural and spontaneous growth and multiplication. Organic leadership develop­ment means leadership which naturally grows through the life of the church – a natural by‑product of a living organism.

Authors: Robert Logan. Neil Cole, Colin Noyes

Related Resources:

Making Disciples in the 21st Century (PDF)

Making Disciples in the 21st Century (Print Version)