If there is one thing I’ve learned hosting the Church Residency Podcast, it’s that almost everyone jumping into leadership development feels like they’re building the plane in midair. Nobody feels like an export. That’s what we call normal.
In this episode, I sat down with my friend Alex Davis, the Teaching and Multiplication Pastor at Lakes Church in Central Florida. Lakes Church is a growing multi-site church with seven campuses, and over the past two and a half years, Alex has been leading their leadership development initiative for the Lakes Church Network.
We jumped straight into the real, gritty, and exciting journey of taking leadership development out of the academic ivory tower and rooting it right where it belongs: the local church.
The Spark: Asking the Hard Question
A few years back, while serving as a campus pastor, Alex went to his lead pastor, Pastor Aaron, with a personal burden to train leaders. Pastor Aaron had already been wrestling with the exact same conviction. As a multiplying church, they asked themselves: Are we being faithful stewards to train and equip people to serve the local church?. Their honest answer back then was that they were hardly doing anything.
That conversation birthed the Lakes Church Network. As Alex pointed out, having lead pastor vision and buy-in was non-negotiable. Without senior leadership backing it, any leadership development effort quickly runs out of steam.
It’s Not Another Bible Study
Right out of the gate, Alex made something very clear: their residency is not just another Bible study or systematic theology course. They use a thorough application, reference, and one-on-one interview process to filter applicants on the front end.
They look for people eager to be trained and sent, not folks who just want to sit on the couch with a bag of chips and passively consume information. The interview is intentionally designed to separate those chasing a stage or title from those who genuinely want to be servant leaders.
The Unexpected Sweet Spot: Bivocational Leaders
When Lakes Church launched the network, Alex expected college students to be their bread and butter. But along the way, high schoolers started asking for training, which sparked their Student Leadership Network. Then folks in their 40s, 50s, and 60s started asking, "What about us?".
That push led to their Bivocational Residency—a two-year pathway that has exploded into their largest group, with roughly 35 participants balancing full-time jobs, kids, and church life.
To make it workable:
The Rhythm: Residents prepare during the month using an online platform and meet once a month on Sunday for an engaging two- to two-and-a-half-hour cohort session.
The Tools: They customize the North American Mission Board (NAMB) Multiplication Pipeline, blending video discussions, spiritual gift surveys, personality profiles, and readings from books like Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper and The Conviction to Lead by Al Mohler.
The Budget: Participation is unpaid for bivocational adults, ensuring folks are in it purely for the mission. Second-year college residents receive a modest weekly stipend and a sponsored mission trip.
People Development Over Leader Development
My favorite part of our conversation was Alex’s emphasis on transformation over information. If residents finish the program with full notebooks but don't love Jesus and His church more deeply, the entire effort misses the mark. Character and spiritual formation take priority over mere gifting, reminding leaders that their identity as followers of Christ comes before any church title or role.
Key Takeaways
Start Small and Keep It Simple: Don't get paralyzed trying to launch an intricate seminary-level program. Alex started with three guys, coffee, and snacks in his office.
Filter Hard on the Front End: It is far better to have tough conversations during the initial interview than down the road. Look for faithful, active servants rather than passive consumers.
Don't Overlook the Pew: Ordinary church members working 9-to-5 jobs are often eager for challenge and intentional discipleship if you build a flexible format that respects their schedules.
Character Trumps Gifting: Ministry skill without spiritual health leads to burnout and heartbreak. Focus on developing the human being before assigning them ministry tasks.
Lead Pastor Alignment Is Essential: An effective residency cannot run in an isolated silo; it must flow directly from senior leadership's conviction and pastoral vision.