On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Truett Ross hosts a conversation with Alec Beard and Amy- Jo Girardier about one of the most critical aspects of church leadership: developing healthy group leaders who can multiply your ministry's impact. Drawing from decades of combined experience, they share practical wisdom on identifying potential leaders, bridging the gap between calling and competency, and creating a sustainable culture of leadership development that strengthens the entire church.

Meet the Speakers:

Truett Ross: Groups and Care Minister at the West Franklin Campus, Truett brings multi-campus experience through his work at Avenue South and now West Franklin.
Amy Jo Girardier: Women's Minister at the Brentwood Campus for 23 years, Amy Jo oversees women's leaders and volunteers, previously serving in student ministry.
Alec Beard: Oversees small groups and missions at the Lockeland Springs Campus in East Nashville, navigating the unique dynamics of a smaller, more transient church community.

0:00 - Introduction to investing in healthy group leaders
2:00 - Identifying the biggest gaps in group leadership development
5:54 - Why developing leaders matters more than simply launching more groups
8:27 - Soul care resources for group leaders to prevent burnout
11:36 - Real examples of the right leader making a difference
17:27 - Essential characteristics to look for when identifying potential leaders
19:39 - Non-negotiables for training and equipping new leaders
24:47 - Effective methods for checking in with and encouraging leaders
30:01 - Creating a culture of leadership development within your church
34:20 - Building layers of leadership and delegating care to team members
40:41 - Practical first steps to strengthen your leadership pipeline
47:50 - Lessons learned about leadership development

Dwell Scripture App: A scripture listening resource provided to leaders
Soul Care assessment resources: soulcare.com for identifying burnout in leaders
The Five Gs framework: Give, Go, Groups, Gather, Gospel Conversations
Leadership Covenant: A formal document setting expectations for group leaders

Topics Discussed in This Episode:Resources Mentioned:Elevate Conference | September 9, 2025Join us for the Elevate Conference on September 9 at Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. This one-day event equips church leaders with actionable strategies for discipleship, growth, and navigating ministry challenges. Register today at https://elevatechurchconference.com/.Whether you're looking to start a leadership development process or strengthen your existing small group ministry, this episode provides practical insights for building healthy leaders who can multiply your church's impact.To learn more about the conference and for additional resources, visit https://elevatechurchconference.com/.