unSeminary Podcast: From 300 to 2,500—Building a Leadership Pipeline That Fuels Growth with Chris Vaught
Host: Rich Birch
Guest: Dr. Chris Vaught, Lead Pastor of Connection Point Church
Date: September 25, 2025
Theme: Practical strategies for building a robust, scalable leadership pipeline to drive church growth and develop kingdom leaders.
Episode Overview
In this episode, Rich Birch sits down with Dr. Chris Vaught of Connection Point Church—one of the fastest-growing churches in the U.S.—to explore how his team moved from 300 to over 2,500 weekly attendees in 14 years, including the launch of a thriving multi-site campus. The conversation dives deep into how Connection Point has structured a solid leadership pipeline, prioritized internal development over external hires, set high standards for volunteers, and established their own Leadership College. Chris provides actionable advice for churches of all sizes seeking to multiply leaders, avoid burnout, and keep momentum through challenging seasons.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Church Context & Growth Story
[03:18–08:48]
- Demographics and Community: Connection Point is located in growing, family-oriented Jackson, Missouri.
- Growth Trajectory:
- 2011: Church at 300 attendees, split between traditional and contemporary services.
- 2012: Rebranded to Connection Point Church with a focus on authentic connections and relationships.
- 2019: Moved into a new campus with 800 attendees.
- Post-COVID: Attendance dipped but quickly rebounded and doubled from 1,100 to over 2,500 by 2024.
- Quote:
“God has blessed that little campus... largest church in the county since day one. They're running about 350 in a town of 1,700.”
—Chris Vaught [08:09]
- Multi-site Launch: Opened a second campus in a county of just 10,000, quickly becoming the largest church in that area.
2. Moving from Staff Reliance to Leadership Pipeline
[09:58–14:27]
- Challenges: Hard to find external hires; budget constraints; need for local, sustainable leadership development.
- Strategy:
- View volunteers as “non-paid staff” with real roles and high expectations.
- All staff required to “find their Timothy”—intentionally train up at least one person who could run the ministry if the staffer were absent.
- Quote:
“If on Saturday night something were to happen and you catch COVID... could this ministry run the next day because of the person you personally equipped?”
—Chris Vaught [11:49]
- Cultural Shift: Set a high bar, clear expectations, and detailed job descriptions for every volunteer role.
- Volunteer Value:
- Volunteers want to rise to meaningful challenges when given clarity and purpose.
- Assigning responsibility and providing growth opportunities increases engagement rather than deterring it.
3. Framework of the Leadership Pipeline
[15:19–18:39]
- Pipeline Defined:
- Framed as a “pathway” for maturing, developing, and equipping people for long-term fulfillment in their calling.
- Discipleship is ongoing; leadership maturity doesn’t end at conversion.
- Quote:
“A disciple knew they had arrived when they were mistaken for their rabbi out in the community.”
—Chris Vaught [17:16]
- Metaphor:
- Developing leaders to be the “shadow of their rabbi”—instilling Christlike character and practical ministry skills.
4. Structure & Practical Systems for Leadership Development
[18:39–23:20]
- Onboarding Newcomers:
- "Starting Point" is the first step, orienting people to the church’s DNA and offering paths toward either serving or life groups.
- Serve Teams & Equip Workshops:
- Serve Teams: Entry point for leadership development; emphasizes leadership alongside discipleship.
- Equip Workshops: 10-week modules teaching leadership and spiritual influence, offered 2-3 times a year.
- Kingdom Circles: Members are encouraged to identify and leverage their everyday spheres of influence for ministry impact.
- Leadership College (CPLC):
- 10-month program, open to both those called to vocational ministry and laity.
- Offers both on-campus internships and a hybrid online track for working adults.
- Partnership with Evangel University for college credit.
5. Unique Approaches: High Bar, High Return
[23:35–27:58]
- Leadership College Details:
- Not an “easy” entry; requires initiative, application, interview, intentionality, and a $500 commitment fee.
- Full-time interns rotate through ministries, receive classroom/theology instruction, then specialize within a department.
- Practical ministry experience is integral, with real responsibility and exposure.
- Diverse Profiles:
- Not just for young adults—recent years have seen growing interest from mid-career and even 50-something adults.
- Shows broad appeal of deep, stretching discipleship and leadership expectations.
- Quote:
“We’re not here to convince you what your calling is. We're here to equip you for whatever God calls you to do.”
—Chris Vaught [25:57]
6. Identifying & Deploying Leaders
[29:10–32:07]
- Application Process:
- Prospective interns are carefully screened for maturity, commitment, and character.
- Leadership Styles Observed:
- “Big L” Leaders: Grow ministries, energize teams (“Tom Sawyer effect”—can motivate others to join and feel appreciated).
- “Shepherds”: Provide steady care, operate best within systems, spiritually deep, beloved by their teams.
- Both types valued and developed accordingly.
- Quote:
“Can they make people paint the fence for them and thank them for it when they're done?”
—Chris Vaught, quoting Larry Osborne [30:57]
7. Metrics for Healthy Leadership Development
[32:09–34:33]
- Ownership: Ministries are healthy if volunteers "self-recruit," replicate, and grow teams independently.
- Key Metrics:
- Volunteer-to-staff ratio, especially in high-growth areas like media and kids ministry.
- Ensuring volunteer teams are large enough for members to serve without sacrificing their spiritual nourishment (“serve one, sit one” model).
- Department heads empowered to hand off leadership for breaks, signaling robust leadership bench depth.
8. Practical First Steps for Other Churches
[35:10–37:07]
- Actionable Advice:
- Encourage staff/volunteers to invest time, not just tasks, into up-and-coming leaders.
- Simple “huddles” are powerful: 15-minute team gatherings before serving covering:
- Care (prayer, personal support)
- Communication (updates for the day)
- Competency (bite-sized leadership training/theme)
- Layer this system as teams grow—don’t overcomplicate early on.
- Quote:
“The number one gift they can give that person is time investment... then lead into a competency. And it could be 15 minutes.”
—Chris Vaught [35:10]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Staff & Volunteers:
“If I hire you to develop and coach others to do, if I catch you doing, you're fired.”
—Chris Vaught, quoting Bob Russell [13:02] -
On Raising the Bar:
“People will rise up to the level of expectation.”
—Chris Vaught [14:28] -
On Replication:
“If I have a ministry that’s self-recruiting, constantly growing ... that’s a marker of health.”
—Chris Vaught [32:47]
Key Timestamps
- 03:18 — Chris describes the context and unique flavor of Connection Point Church
- 08:09 — Multi-site launch success and focus on authentic relationships
- 09:58 — Shift toward internal leadership development and viewing volunteers as staff
- 13:02 — Philosophy of leadership: Train others or move on
- 15:19 — The discipleship “pipeline” metaphor and process
- 18:39 — The nuts and bolts of onboarding, serve teams, equip workshops, and Leadership College
- 23:35 — Details of the Leadership College, including intentional selection and commitment requirements
- 29:10 — How leaders are identified, profiled, and equipped for the right fit
- 32:09 — Metrics for measuring pipeline health and team sustainability
- 35:10 — Practical coaching for churches just starting on this path
Tone & Language
Chris Vaught shares in a warm, humble, and candid style, emphasizing practical wisdom and transparency about challenges and successes. Rich Birch’s questions are energetic and affirming, drawing out actionable steps and concrete examples.
For Further Connection
- Website: yourcpchurch.com
- Contact: info@yourcpchurch.com
- Social: @yourcpchurch on all major platforms
Rich, relevant, and replicable: this episode provides a roadmap for any church leader serious about building a leadership pipeline that powers exponential growth and sustainable ministry impact.