This morning I read a great post on Dave Ferguson's blog Velocity: Moving at the Speed of the Spirit. Dave is a Lead Pastor and Spiritual Entrepreneur with Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. He is also the lead author of The Bid Idea. Before I give you the link to this post, here is some background.

CCC is not just A great church, it's multi-site and growing. It's an awesome expression of practical leadership... they don't just talk about leadership, they actually develop and deploy leaders. A couple of days ago I listened to an old Catalyst podcast where Dave explained one of the key values that support their growth... apprenticeship in small groups. When they planted CCC they made sure that EVERY group had an apprentice... a leader in training. This is a model of leadership development that is undeniably biblical, yet few churches actually "get it" and execute it.

An apprentice is not just a co-leader, assistant, or "substitute teacher" when the leader is gone. An apprentice is learning to lead by actually leading under the direction of a more mature and skilled leader. It's discipleship and on-the-job training rolled into one, with the goal of actually leading a small group or ministry. If your goal is merely to assist and not to step up and lead at the appropriate time... you're not an apprentice.

I hear a lot of church leaders whining "We don't have enough leaders" but when I ask "How many of your groups have apprentices?" they shrug off the importance and ask for help in creating a program or event that will instantly create new, skilled and mature leaders. They don't get it.

CCC gets it. And Dave recognizes leadership development when he sees it... even at McDonald's. Read about it here. Read the comments, too.

How important is apprenticeship to you?