Leadership Focus is a training program for candidates in the Church of God credentialing process. There are now sixteen states that are using Leadership Focus to train their candidates. In addition, Church of God Ministries has developed a partnership with Indiana Ministries and the School of Theology so that all SOT students headed for ministry in the Church of God can go through Leadership Focus at no cost to the student while they are concurrently pursuing their master’s degree. This is not only a financial advantage to the SOT student, but positions them for ordination within a short time following their graduation from the SOT and accepting a ministry position.

In addition to partnering with the seminary, Church of God Ministries is also partnering with the Hispanic Council (Concilio Hispano) and will be offering Spanish-speaking clusters resourced with Spanish materials for all six of the LF modules. The first Spanish-speaking modules will launch in the summer of 2016.

The advantage of Leadership Focus is the strong and consistent quality of training that can now be accessed anywhere in the nation and around the world through an Internet connection. This spring, forty-seven coaches from all over the nation are guiding and facilitating monthly cluster meetings where candidates are gaining competencies in people skills, life-cycles, team building, conflict resolution, ethics, healthy boundaries, sound financial principles, theology, missional leadership, and a number of other practical skills.

This training supports and assists the state and assembly credentials committees as they seek to equip their candidates and prepare them for effective and impactful ministry. Local credentials committees continue to be responsible to oversee the candidate’s progress, readiness for ministry, and build productive and meaningful relationships with their candidates as they determine credentialing decisions.

For the candidates, it is exciting to watch them grow and develop skills and understandings that unlock effectual ministry potential. Here are a few quotes from some of our candidates and coaches.

If you would like more information about Leadership Focus, or how to become part of this training program, please contact Jeannette Flynn at JFlynn@chog.org.

“This process is allowing me to learn that ministry is a wide scope of serving others, as well as knowing yourself. This process has opened my eyes to the servant leaders and what that means…”—MM from Florida

“Everything is so practical. It has helped to make me a better father, husband, and pastor. Better preacher and better with time management and more intentional in everything….”—CL from Northern California

“I love the freedom and flexibility. I was able to participate while on two separate mission trips…”—DM from Ohio