Leaders Collective was started to come alongside pastors and care for them. For their good. For the good of their family. For the good of the Church. And—ultimately—for the glory of God.

We want to help pastors and church planters sustain healthy, fruitful ministry so they—through Jesus’ Church—can advance the gospel throughout the world.

We are a para-church organization that is committed to helping pastors and other leaders in Jesus’s Church. As such, we come alongside churches to help develop and care for their leaders, so they can do the work God called them to do in the local church. We firmly believe churches confirm a pastor’s and church planter’s call to ministry; we firmly believe churches plant churches. Individuals, networks, denominations, and organizations (like Leaders Collective) cannot confirm or deny an individual’s call to ministry; they do not plant churches either. That is the work Jesus gave to his Church and her leaders.

As detailed in our story below, it was a love for pastors and commitment to Jesus’ Church that lead Pastor Elliot Grudem to start Leaders Collective.

Our Story

When I replanted a church, I would have killed for a cohort of peers to consistently encourage me along the way and a couple of older pastors to give me wisdom and perspective. In addition, I needed friends.

As the years passed both church and life got busier and more complicated. Friendships required more intentionality than either I or my friends could give. Meals with peers turned into times to talk shop. The list of mentor-pastors kept growing shorter.

I eventually left that church and served as the director of the Acts 29 Network. While there, I realized my story wasn’t unique. The toll of ministry left some pastors competent, but emotionally detached. I watched others burnout or fail out. None of those options are good for Jesus’ Church; the health of the church is tied to the health of the pastor. Healthy pastors lead healthy churches; unhealthy pastors lead unhealthy churches.

So, I started the Leaders Collective with a dual purpose: Develop the right men to plant churches and help the right men continue to lead churches. I love pastors and their families. I take great joy in watching pastors succeed. I believe God wants me to give my life to developing and pastoring pastors.

God designed a church to be lead by a local pastor. The local church is God’s chosen vehicle to bring the gospel message to the entire world. It is “through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10). I don’t believe there is a better, more God-honoring place to give my life than developing and pastoring pastors.

I’ve also found tremendous joy in doing that. “I will most gladly spend and be spent” for their souls (2 Cor. 12:15).

Elliot Grudem
Founder, Leaders Collective

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