Development of one’s Romans 12:8 leadership calling is a life-long adventure in which discovery, growth, renewal, and personal transformations are attainable through intentional relationships with other leaders. The Apollos strategy also exploits the best available knowledge, experience and tools that are customized according to a leader’s unique needs, available time and resources.
A key distinctive of the Apollos approach is helping leaders address today’s challenges as a top priority – through on-the-job training “in” ministry vs. training “for” ministry. Too often leaders participate in excellent seminars or formal training that may or may not have future value, but what they need is immediate help. In almost every case, there are others in the Body who already met those challenges. Bringing the need and the wisdom together is what Apollos labors to do through one-on-one coaching and peer group insights. Thus, the leader receives relevant “just in time” feedback. As a by-product, he learns “just in case” lessons that will help him enhance his broader competencies and capacities to address tomorrow’s challenges.
The leadership development strategy encourages participation in “consortia” or learning cells either sponsored by Apollos Leadership or partners. Membership typically includes groups of 4-7 senior evangelical leaders in a locale who engage as “leaders sharpening leaders.” The process goes beyond the leader himself to his team and emphasizes continuous reproduction of leaders. A cycle of attracting, connecting, reproducing and mobilizing leaders continues within his church or ministry (2 Tim. 2:2).
