Welcome to our Leadership at The Ridge webpage. If you are reading this right now, you are either curious about leadership or you are a leader looking for additional development. Either way, we’re excited you’re here!

Leadership is a high calling. At The Ridge Community Church, we make leadership development a priority because we believe leaders leading well is crucial to achieve God's vision for our church of bringing the hope of Jesus into every home. Here, you will find tools that help you grow as a leader. We want to see you live out God's purpose for you as He uses you to transform your home, our community, and the world. YOU are a valuable part of our team and we are very grateful for you!
 

Leadership Application

OVERVIEW

WHY IS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT?

As Paul stated in Ephesians, we have a kingdom responsibility. We are called to help people identify and fully use their unique gifts.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

- Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV -

LEADERSHIP PIPELINE

A Leadership Pipeline provides a framework for developing all leaders with core competencies specific to each leadership level and roll, based on skills unique to each ministry area. It is a development process that takes people from an attender and transforms them into leaders fully engaged and positively impacting others.

Our Leadership Pipeline has six levels: 

•  Team Lead provides leadership to Team Members
  • Coach provides leadership to Team Leads
    • Lead Coach provides leadership to Coaches
      • Ministry Lead provides leadership to an entire Ministry
        • Campus/Lead Pastor provides leadership to a church or campus
          • Network Leader provides leadership to multiple churches

 

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Leaders are equipped through apprenticeship, training huddles, and Leadership Community. Leadership Community occurs three times a year with the purpose of gathering leaders and future leaders to encourage and unleash them.

Ready to lead? Get Started

resources

PODCASTS

Greg Groeschel Leadership Podcast
The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast offers personal, practical coaching lessons that take the mystery out of leadership. In each episode of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, Craig brings you empowering insights and easy-to-understand takeaways you can use to lead yourself and lead your team. You’ll learn effective ways to grow as a leader, optimize your time, develop your team, and structure your organization.

Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast is a podcast all about leadership, change and personal growth. The goal? To help you lead like never before—in your church or in your business.

Ask NT Wright Anything
The fortnightly podcast that connects you to NT (Tom) Wright’s thought and theology by allowing you to ask the questions.

Leading Simple with Rusty George | "What We Can Learn from Football About Leadership" with Brian Dodd and Mark Weigt
There are so many lessons about leadership that you can pull from the football field and apply no matter what kind of team you’re leading. Maybe you’re figuring out how to build and get your team right from the get-go. Or you’re figuring out how to lead through a transition. You may be working out how to build a team culture that leads to success. Mark Weigt and Brian Dodd sit down with Rusty to talk about all of these lessons and more on this special bonus episode of Leading Simple.

Leading Simple with Rusty George | "Influencing the Influencers" with Rusty George and Mark Weigt
In this episode of Leading Simple, Mark and Rusty sit down to talk about all things influence. We also discuss how he founded The Ridge Community Church and how one simple step can lead to a more significant impact where you least expect it.

Lead Culture Podcast | "The Power of Clear Values" with Jenni Catron and Jodi Tonarelli
When values are clearly defined, communicated, and modeled, not only are you investing in individuals and therefore your team as a whole, but you are also investing in the future of your organization - which is an investment into those whom you serve.  

In this podcast, Jenni and 4Sight Coach, Carey O'Connor, interview Jodi Tonarelli Executive Pastor of The Ridge Community Church in a conversation about how clarifying culture will enable you to move your team from aspiration to accountability through the use of common language. 

The Church.Digital Podcast | "The New Digital Pastor" with Jeff Reed and Tyler Volkers
A panel of new Digital Pastors meet and talk about the transition to digital church and what the future of digital looks like, what has their perspective has been, the challenges, their go-to supporters, and do they actually like shepherding people digitally?

The Church.Digital Podcast | "How to Make the Transition from Traditional Ministry Role to Online Ministry" with Tom Pounder and Tyler Volkers
More and more traditional ministry leaders are taking on online ministry roles. Tyler Volkers joins the podcast today to talk about how someone can effectively make a transition from a traditional ministry position to online ministry.

 

ARTICLES

6 Questions of a Coaching Conversation
These six questions are a great basic agenda for any one-on-one coaching conversation. Use them and we believe you’ll see amazing growth in their leadership.

Start with Why: A Powerful Way to Lead with Purpose
Leading with Why is what gains leaders followers. This process doesn’t happen by force, but through the inspiration people feel when they hear a message that creates a unified sense of belonging and purpose. Discover how to inspire action by operating from the inside-out of "The Golden Circle".
 

BOOKS

Exponential
The Ridge is built on leadership and we know the only way to develop leaders is to get people involved. Exponential provides the framework we use to get people involved in various capacities around here. From greeting our guests, to leading Ridge Groups, it all starts with an all-important “ask” and this book is what taught us how to make that ask. Be sure to check out chapter 3 on being an Apprentice, and the Five Steps of Leadership development. 

Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders
Hero Maker is about a church leadership style that is built on multiplying disciples and churches, from one-on-one coaching all the way up.  You will learn how to bring real change to your church and community by developing the practical skills to help others reach their leadership potential.

Deep & Wide
It is packed full of wisdom on what it takes to lead a church that is attractive for people that don’t like to attend church. Be sure to check out chapters 3, 7-9, and 13!

 

 

APPRENTICESHIP MODULES

TEAM LEAD - LEADER OF TEAM

• Creative Arts
  • Module 1 - Connect Team Members Role to Gods Vision For The Ridge
  • Module 2 - Invest in Team Members Through Intentional and Encouraging 1:1's
  • Module 3 - Providing Feedback
  • Module 4 - Cultivate and Model a Culture of Authentic Worship
  • Module 5 - Identify and Invite Potential Leaders to Explore Leadership
    
    
• Compassion
  • Module 1 - Prepare to Lead
  • Module 2 - Servant Leadership
  • Module 3 - Diversabilities

• Guest Services
  • Module 1 - Proactive Guest Engagement
  • Module 2 - Visioneering
  • Module 3 - Encouragement
  • Module 4 - Communication
  • Module 5 - Identifying Potential Leaders
    
    
• Online
  • Module 1 - Connect Team Members Role to Gods Vision for The Ridge
  • Module 2 - Identify and Invite Potential Leaders to Explore Leadership
  • Module 3 - Prioritize People Over Tasks
  • Module 4 - Giving Receiving and Responding to Helpful Feedback
  • Module 5 - Facilitate a Flow of Effective Communication
    
    
• Ridge Groups
  • Module 1 - Prioritize Personal Spiritual Growth as a Follower of Jesus
  • Module 2 - Connect with Group Members Relationally Emotionally and Spiritually
  • Module 3 - Promote Group Member Participation
  • Module 4 - Celebrate Spiritual Steps Group Members Take
  • Module 5 - Identify and Invite Potential Leaders to Explore Leadership
    
    
• Ridge Kids
  • Module 1 - Connect Team Members with Vision for The Ridge
  • Module 2 - Effectively Communicate Ridge Kids Strategy to Team Members and Parents
  • Module 3 - Giving Receiving and Responding to Helpful Feedback
  • Module 4 - Prioritize People Over Tasks
  • Module 5 - Identify and Invite Potential Leaders to Explore Leadership
    
    
• Ridge Students
  • Module 1 - Create a Safe Place
    
  • Module 2 - Be Present
  • Module 3 - Make it Personal
  • Module 4 - Partner with Parents
  • Module 5 - Move Them Out
  • Module 6 - Connect to God's Vision for The Ridge

COACH - LEADER OF TEAM LEADS

• Module 1 - Lead An Encouraging and Challenging 1:1 With Leaders
• Module 2 - Lead An Engaging Huddle That Sharpens The Leadership Competencies of Your Leaders
• Module 3 - Provide Feedback and Evaluation That Increases Ministry Effectiveness
• Module 4 - Make Decision That Align With The Vision, Values, and Beliefs of Your Organization
• Module 5 - Encourage Someone In A Way That Shapes His or Her Soul

LEAD COACH - LEADER OF COACHES

• Module 1 - Creative Problem Solving
• Module 2 - Conflict Management

MINISTRY LEAD - LEADER OF MINISTRY 

• Module 1 - Cultivate a Healthy Team Culture
• Module 2 - Attract Place Develop and Transition Talent
• Module 3 - Maintain Emotional Spiritual Relational and Physical Health While Leading a Ministry
• Module 4 - Leverage Collaboration and Innovation From Your Team To Create Plans That Reach Goals
• Module 5 - Develop Communication Skills to Achieve Goals

 

"MY RIDGE" HOW TO DOCUMENTS

Getting Started with My Ridge
How to Add People to Your Group
How to Block Off Dates
How to Change Your Group Roster
How to Email People in Your Group
How to Schedule Your Team
How to View Your Group's Contact Info