Equipping Leadership through Servanthood at Abounding Grace Church

Abstract

This project was designed to equip biblical servants for ministry at Abounding Grace Church (AGC). The training process involved assessing and increasing the knowledge of participating members in regard to the biblical qualifications and practice of servanthood. Included at the end of the initial training process was a personal growth plan for engaging future ministry leaders at AGC.

Chapter 1 introduces the ministry context of AGC, along with the rationale, purpose, goals, research methodologies, definitions, and delimitations of the project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological basis for leadership with a mindset of servanthood. Foundational to the design of the equipping curriculum are five biblical passages: Luke 22:14-27, Philippians 2:5-8, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, Romans 8:26-39, and Hebrews 10:11-39. Together, these passages explicitly teach the participating members that God has provided biblical leadership with a mindset of servanthood in a covenantal relationship with him through his Son, his Word, his Spirit, and his Church. Chapter 3 explains that transforming biblical servants to Christlikeness can be done through spiritual disciplines in light of the theoretical and practical foundation for leadership through servanthood. Contrary to non-Christian leaders, servants of Christ are to be exemplary leaders that give glory to God and not to self-aggrandizement. Chapter 4 details the process and the results of this project. Chapter 5 concludes with an evaluation of the project, and suggestions for improvement and further development.