In 1990, the average age of a pastor was 41. Today, that average age is 55. Although there are several reasons you could identify for the cause of this, it is my belief that one of the main reasons for this shift is that we have lost our intentionality in leadership development. Too often, we forget that one of the big responsibilities we have as pastors given to us from Ephesians 4 is to equip the saints for the work of service. It begs the question: Where are our Timothy’s, our young potential leaders we are training to be the next generation of pastors? 

I can think of no one that can speak to this topic of leadership development better than today’s guest. Jessy Padilla is pastor of Eglesia Emanuael in Waukegan Illinois, and is also the founder and leader of the Hispanic leadership training ministry entitled “Forming Trustworthy Leaders”. Jessy has raised up dozens of young men and women who are now leaders, pastors and church planters in the Chicago area as well as around the country and Central America.  Jessy is also passionate for missions and has led many teams on trips to Mexico and other Central and South American countries. Best of all, I consider Jessy a friend, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have him on the show today. So Jessy, welcome to the podcast. 

·      Give me the two-minute Jessy Padilla Story  

·      “Leadership Development” can be a very overused term and lose some of its meaning. How would you specifically define leadership development in a church setting?

·      Ephesians 4 clearly identifies that we are to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Leadership development clearly is such an important part of that, but we often get trapped in even unconsciously thinking that it’s too much work, or I don’t have enough time. How do we think differently?

·      Is leadership development the role of the pastor, or all leaders?

·      How does Iglesia Emanuel focus on leadership development? Speak specifically to the Hispanic Leadership Training course?

·      A cool story of how leadership development has changed the trajectory of someone’s life in your church/ministry.

·      What’s a step our churches could take to do leadership development better?