When my former pastor asked me to chair our education board, I thought, Why me? I'm a stay-at-home mom. I don't have a seminary degree. I might be able to lead at PTA, but I can't lead at church.

Still, my pastor said he saw gifts in me. He praised me for my dedication. And most importantly, he created a leadership environment where I knew I'd be equipped, encouraged, and given the freedom to fail.

I said yes—not because I thought of myself as a leader, but because I knew other leaders around me would help me grow into what I needed to be.

At the Church of the Resurrection, we're developing leaders by creating the same kind of supportive atmosphere. We want stay-at-home moms, college students, retirees, and even the terminally shy to become leaders in the church.

For years our church's biggest leadership training event was the annual leadership retreat. But as the church grew, and as our need for leaders grew, we found few leadership candidates willing to attend our "Leadership Summit." Too many were intimidated by the word "leadership."

"I'm no leader," they would say, just like I had.

When we changed the name of the retreat to simply "The Summit," attendance boomed.

We've since launched other leadership training initiatives, but we don't refer to them that way. We call them "Coach Camp" and "Up-Word Bound University." These programs teach necessary leadership skills, from developing a vision to pastoral care, but they are presented simply as opportunities for growth. Many who would cringe over "leadership training" participate each year.

Call me "teammate"

Even the most dedicated people often shy from being called into "leadership." So instead, when one of our current leaders (we like to call them "servants" or "coaches") sees someone passionate about a ministry, he or she approaches that person with an invitation:

"Beverly, I've watched you get passionate about God's purposes. And I've seen you display gifts of caring and evangelism. I'd like to invite you to serve with me on this missions project."

First, we affirm their gifts and give specific reasons why we think they might be right for a particular ministry. Then we offer them opportunities to accompany current leaders as apprentices.

Eventually, if a leadership candidate shows continued passion and faithfulness, we invite him or her to join the team that oversees that ministry. At every step, our candidates have someone who has gone before them and who serves as a support system. We never ask new leaders to step out on their own. Don't Call Me "Leader"

You can encourage reluctant people to grow into (shh!) leadership.

Beverly Lopez accepted the invitation. She found fulfillment through serving an urban mission, and she is now on a team that oversees a health care clinic downtown. But don't call her a leader. "I'm not a leader," she would say, "I'm just trying to let God grow me."