The Difference Between Radical Mentoring and North Point’s LDG (Leader Development Groups)
Sometimes we’re asked, “What’s the difference between Radical Mentoring and Leader Development Groups?”
A couple of years ago, North Point Community Church (NPCC) recognized a need to do a better job of raising up and apprenticing leaders. While over 50,000 people attend each week (in person and online), group participation is the only thing that’s really measured. So, having wise, spiritually-mature leaders ready to step into a disciple-making role as a group leader is mission-critical.
Under the direction of Lead Pastor Clay Scroggins and Director of Men’s Groups Robby Angle, an advisory team began researching different approaches to developing lay leaders. After taking a deep dive into every program, curricula, and methodology they could find in “church world,” they landed on a leader development initiative focused on men’s small group mentoring.
Borrowing from Radical Mentoring’s time-tested system but making their process consistent with North Point’s language and culture, a beta was launched in September of 2015. Since then, the beta label has been removed and the program has been embraced into the core of the church’s apprenticing strategy. Groups are now being launched in February and September each year and the program has now spread to all five of North Point’s Atlanta area churches and to many of their North Point Partner churches.
We continue to be so proud of North Point and their focused efforts in the area of mentoring but wanted to share some of the biggest differences between their brand of small group mentoring (LDG) and ours (Radical Mentoring) . . .
- North Point wants each group to have a mentor and a co-mentor. Radical Mentoring emphasizes a mentor for each group but leaves the co-mentor option open to the individual church or mentor.
- Leader Development Groups meet for eight to nine months while Radical Mentoring groups meet longer for anywhere from nine months to one year (with available content to go even longer)
- Several books and topics used by North Point are unique to their church culture . . . things like the Sacred Pathways assessment and the requirement that each mentee leave his group with a Personal Ministry Plan. While Radical Mentoring presents more options and room for customization as each church develops a program that fits their culture and objectives.
The results of Leader Development Groups have been amazing. North Point’s fast-growing men’s groups ministry now has great leaders ready to go and even has some ‘bench’ strength for the first time. Stories of life change abound. The depth of leadership has grown and is yielding great results for North Point. Here’s an excerpt from an email the church received . . .
“After most people had cleared out of the kitchen, we 4 wives sat around the kitchen table discussing life. I asked them if they had noticed a change in their husbands since starting this group. It was an enthusiastic yes from each one of them! We went on to discuss this for another 15 minutes. We each shared how our husbands had become more attentive to our marriages, are spending more one-on-one time with Jesus, and [exhibited] an overall improvement in demeanor. Many of us shared how our husbands have become more insightful in our small group discussions as well. The intentionality of the Leadership Development Group ya’ll have provided has made an incredible impact! I just wanted to share this so you both can know how effective your group has been, and how grateful we 4 wives are for the leaders you have helped shape for our families. God is doing something great!
Sincerely . . . Thankful Wives”
And this one from a man with years of experience as a ministry leader . . .
“God has richly used this model as a breakthrough in my life. There were lots of years of spiritual wilderness, years of a Pharisaical mindset and clouded world view. The authenticity, transparency and depth that was a part of my year with this group has changed me in a powerful way!”
Churches of all sizes are adopting men’s small group mentoring. North Point wants and needs to raise up and grow lay leaders for its groups ministry. Other churches need a better system for making disciples. Still others are embracing Radical Mentoring as a way to start or restart their men’s ministry. Regardless of the need, we’re humbled by the opportunity we’ve been given to help meet all these needs in His church. And through the generosity of people who’ve been touched by Radical Mentoring, to offer all our stuff . . . our content and our coaching . . . without charge to the local church!
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