By Jim Graff

Building your church is like building a tower -- you can't do it alone. You need a team of people with the right skills, passions and character to get the job done well. Finding a dynamic team that has a magnetic atmosphere in mind for your church is a critical step in leading your church on the road to significance.

6 types of leaders to build to expand your community impact:

1. The Pacesetter "He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens" (Exodus 18:25).
To build successfully, you need to know a leader. The Pacesetter leads and organizes the project. When putting your team together, keep in mind that the reputation of the Pacesetter is vitally important. Because the Pacesetter is the leader of the group, you need someone that possesses the character and integrity to influence others with the best interests of the church and the community at heart.

2. The Visionary "Without a vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18).
Great visionaries not only see the big picture, they see how to get others involved in the project. This way, their vision becomes contagious. When the vision is contagious, the rest of the group can take off and run with the project. The Visionary recognizes that it's not about "me," it's about "we" and how we, as a group, can translate the goals of the church into something practical and meaningful to the community. Identify your goals with the Visionary and meet regularly to discuss your progress.

3. The Detailed Director "All this', David said, 'I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan" (1 Chronicles 28:19). Successful churches have leaders who pay attention to the details. It is the Visionary's job to be concerned with the "big picture," but you need to supplement that role with a leader who can recognize the value of detail. Detailed Directors help ensure success by allowing the creative leaders, like The Visionary, to have more time to focus on the activities they need to accomplish to be successful. Detailed Directors help establish project logistics and make sure everything is completed with timeliness.

4. The Recruiter "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7).
You can't build a tower by yourself -- and you can't build a church by yourself. You need magnetic servant leaders. Jesus recruited at the beginning of His ministry becuse he recognized the value of magnetic servant leaders. After Jesus got these leaders on His team, He released them to do the ministry according to His plan. The Recruiter is someone who has a passion for outreach and bringing people into your church. Everyone on your team -- every staff member, every volunteer, and every servantleader needs to become a recruiter to build your church and spread your message.

5. The Coach "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ" (Colossians 2:2).
Churches of all sizes need Coaches because everybody has something to offer and share with the church. You need someone who can recognize potential in others and place them in the right position on the team -- and then coach them in achieving their God-given potential. The Coach empowers the rest of the team and encourages and coaches them within the context of the church's atmosphere and structure.

6. The Friend "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).
The Friend is the anchor to all the other types of leaders. You can get staff members on your team without friendship, but you can't keep them on the team without it. Jesus said to His disciples, that no longer do you call me Master, now you call me friend. He anchored his disciples with friendship. As pastors we need to strive to possess the characteristics of all of the other types of leaders, but above all we must possess the characteristics of The Friend. Providing friendship is the conerstone of a successful ministry.

When you bring all of the strengths of these leaders together and focus on the importance of building a magnetic church atmosphere, you can truly make a significant impact in your community that glorifies the work that God has called us to do.

GrowChurches.com Copyright © 2009 Jim Graff. All rights reserved. Used by permission.