BECOMING A HEALTHY LEADER: True Spiritual Leaders Still Grow

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of counseling and encouraging many pastors and church leaders regarding the growth of their churches and ministries. Many of them often complain that their ministries are stagnant, not expanding, or not reaching the level they desire. My response is always the same: “Every genuine growth begins from the head — the leader.” If a spiritual leader does not grow — whether spiritually, ministerially, relationally, or personally — their ministry will not grow either.

One servant of God went on a personal prayer retreat, sincerely seeking the Lord for explosive growth in his ministry. After much prayer and fasting, the Lord spoke clearly to him: “You have not developed the capacity to handle what you’re praying for. Go and grow — spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and in leadership. Then you will see the growth you’re asking for.” In essence, your spiritual and leadership growth is the foundation upon which ministry expansion is built.

A. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

Scripture References:

2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved…”
1 Timothy 4:16 – “Take heed to yourself and the doctrine…”
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 – “Be enlarged in heart…”
Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”
Malachi 2:5-7 – “The lips of a priest should keep knowledge…”

Personal growth in ministry means spiritual development, character building, broadening of heart, and consistent preparation. Church leaders are at the forefront of the Lord’s army, and people look to us for direction, strength, and spiritual leadership. You can only effectively lead others if they see something in you that they aspire to.

Every pastor and church leader must keep growing, because:

If you don’t grow inwardly, you won’t grow outwardly.
The growth of your ministry mirrors your own personal growth.
The capacity of your ministry is limited to your own capacity.
The pace of your growth sets the pace of your ministry.
When the leader grows, the whole church benefits.
The future of your ministry depends on how much you’re growing now.
As you grow, your ministry’s hidden potential is unlocked.
Anointing without growth leads to inefficiency and disorder.
Growth is the antidote to spiritual and ministerial stagnation.

For those in spiritual leadership, growth is not optional — it is like breathing. It must happen continuously, even while doing the work of ministry. Good leaders are lifelong learners. They invest in knowledge and seek wisdom. As the saying goes, “We cannot become tomorrow what we are not becoming today.” The more you grow, the more God can entrust to your hands.

B. DANGERS OF STAGNANT LEADERSHIP

When a leader stops growing, both the leader and the ministry begin to decline. Without continual self-development, your calling will become routine and ineffective. Here are the signs and dangers of a stagnant spiritual leader:

Stagnant leaders may attract people by their gifts but lose them by their bad character.
They lack spiritual depth and can’t nurture or disciple others properly.
They handle problems the same old way — never improving their approach.
They become petty, harsh, intimidating, and overly controlling.
They misuse the pulpit — turning it into a platform to vent, criticize, and attack others.
They drive away gifted people who could help them.
They become mechanical and repetitive — stuck in old, worn-out methods.
They remain spiritually immature and easily overwhelmed by pressure.

Such leaders operate under the dangerous illusion that once they have the title, anointing, and gift, they don’t need to learn anymore. They wrongly assume that people will just follow them automatically. This is why many churches led by such leaders begin to decline spiritually and numerically.

C. WHY PERSONAL GROWTH IS A MUST FOR LEADERS

Scripture Reference: Exodus 18:19–21 — Moses had to raise leaders with capacity.

No one should be more intentional about growth than those called to lead others spiritually. Here’s why church leaders must pursue personal development:

Leadership exposes your weaknesses. What is hidden in private becomes visible in public.
Behind every current leader are future leaders with great potential — don’t be a stumbling block.
If you fall, the work of God continues. God always has a backup.
Your leadership becomes the limit of your church’s growth.
You can only raise others as far as you’ve grown yourself.
God will not give you more than you are prepared to handle.
Fulfilling your ministry destiny depends on your willingness to grow.
It’s the only way to properly handle success when it comes.
It’s the key to staying fresh, useful, and relevant in the kingdom.

Every spiritual leader must grow in five core areas:

Character – Integrity is the backbone of spiritual authority.
Capacity – Expand your spiritual, emotional, relational, and leadership capacity.
Competence – Develop the skill to solve problems and deliver results.
Contribution – Make lasting impact in people’s lives and leave a legacy.
Connection – Build, nurture, and keep strong ministry relationships. Ministry is not solo work.

D. DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP STYLES IN MINISTRY

As Mother Teresa once said: “I can do what you can’t do, and you can do what I can’t do. Together, we can do great things.” In ministry, you won’t be able to lead everyone the same way. You’ll need a team of gifted, anointed, and skilled leaders around you, and you must know how to lead each one accordingly. Here are ten ministry leadership styles. No leader can master all, but a growing leader knows which ones are theirs and who to assign to the rest.

Visionary Leader – Sees what others can’t see and seizes divine opportunities.
Directional Leader – Gives clear guidance and keeps the church on God’s path.
Strategic Leader – Analyzes where things stand and plans effectively for advancement.
Managerial Leader – Understands priorities and puts the right people in place.
Motivational Leader – Encourages others, values their efforts, and models passion.
Shepherding Leader – Offers pastoral care and spiritual support with love and example.
Team-Builder Leader – Recognizes people’s gifts and places them in the right ministry roles.
Entrepreneurial Leader – Has initiative, takes godly risks, and increases kingdom resources.
Re-engineering Leader – Fixes broken systems and restores order with wisdom and boldness.
Bridge-Building Leader – Builds relationships, networks, and collaborates across ministries.

Only leaders who are consistently growing can identify which styles they operate in, raise others to cover what they lack, and release them to lead effectively.

E. HOW TO KEEP GROWING AS A SPIRITUAL LEADER

Scripture Reference: 2 Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord…”

Spiritual and personal growth must be intentional. Here’s how:

Maintain a teachable spirit – Keep learning about yourself, others, and your ministry field.
Be a reader – Read books, biographies, blogs, articles, and scriptures deeply and widely.
Listen to impactful messages – Audio and video teachings that stir your spirit and sharpen your mind are widely available.
Enroll in training – Take courses, both formal and informal, to sharpen ministry skills.
Invest in resources – Don’t hesitate to buy materials that will stretch and equip you.
Develop your devotional life – Daily quiet time with God, Bible study, fasting, and prayer are your lifeline. Let the fire from the altar never go out.
Attend quality conferences – Go for deep, spiritually enriching conferences at least twice a year.
Seek godly counsel – Let mentors, spiritual fathers, and accountability partners speak into your life.
Obey the Holy Spirit – Develop deep intimacy with the Spirit of God and follow His voice.
Surround yourself with sharpeners – Move with those who inspire you, challenge you, and stretch you toward greatness.

Remember, when a leader grows, everything around them grows too. Personal growth is the mother of all other growths. A stagnating leader is a declining leader.

If You Don’t Want to Grow, Do These Instead:

If you want to remain stagnant, then:

Neglect your spiritual life
Only associate with people who are just like you
Never take risks or leave your comfort zone
Always pat yourself on the back, thinking you’ve arrived
Chase trends, shortcuts, and gimmicks

IN CONCLUSION

If you are a spiritual leader, don’t ever stop growing. Growth is the oxygen of leadership and the lifeblood of ministry. Let your fire keep burning and your spirit remain teachable. When the leader grows, the church blossoms. When the leader is stagnant, the ministry plateaus.

Grow the man of God, and the work of God will grow!