7 Characteristics of Influential Church Leaders
Every pastor wants to lead their church well. They want to influence their community and change lives for Jesus. But what characteristics do the most influential church leaders possess?
Real guidance for pastors navigating the challenges of everyday ministry.
Leading a small or midsize church comes with unique pressures. From burnout and soul care to church strategy and team development, our articles and podcast guides address the issues church leaders face every week.
Every pastor wants to lead their church well. They want to influence their community and change lives for Jesus. But what characteristics do the most influential church leaders possess?
Conflict is inevitable. It’s just one of those things. As imperfect people interact, disconnect occurs, and it’s up to us whether we allow that disconnect to transform itself into deep-rooted frustration, or even resentment.
I have to be up-front and honest about something I see too often… Way too many spiritual leaders have a mistress called ministry. In this interview, Mark and Jill Savage share some of what they’ve learned in rebuilding their marriage.
A healthy church values both the growth of current leaders and the development of new leaders. Young people are craving the opportunity to make a serious difference, and you have the opportunity to continually raise the ceiling and push us further than we think possible
Often we think communications is about getting the news and announcements to people in our congregation or community. But what if you want to really inspire people to connect through your church?
The health of a leader directly impacts the health of a church. We say that a lot around here, and I hope you agree. But, let’s be honest, it’s really difficult to consistently grow as a leader.
I love to collect books. But if I’m honest, I really just keep them because I’ve always kept them. Believe it or not, many churches do the same thing with church programs…
If you are a church leader, you know very well what it’s like to feel pulled in a thousand directions. In the same way, have you ever considered the fact that your church’s vision can get pulled in a thousand directions as well? Here’s one question every church should ask:
Sometimes a church needs to die before it can live. Check out this conversation with John Orr, Lead Pastor of The Stone Church in Cartersville, GA.
Millennials have been all the talk for quite some time now. But for many leaders the questions still remain…
This experience reflects an issue that is more widespread than many churches are willing to acknowledge: lack of follow-through for new volunteers. Here’s the story:
“Humble voices always carry the furthest.” – Bob Goff

Discouraged. It’s how every leader has felt at one point or another when we want to be somewhere we’re not. Dale navigated his own experiences of disappointment in himself and uncovered key truths about leadership in ministry that can anchor and guide us today.
Dale Sellers of 95Network believes this trend is largely due to discouragement among our pastors. Many church leaders begin ministry with dreams of making an eternal impact. But years of striving, stress, and strain have left them feeling defeated, disillusioned, and stalled.
Thankfully, there is hope that ministry can turn around for the discouraged pastor. As a former minister who’s been in the trenches, Dale Sellers reveals that:
In STALLED, you will discover your sweet spot and realize you are closer to being “there” than you know.
All episodes will be posted here on the website, and are also available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Hosted by Caralee Culpepper and Dale Sellers, our executive director, and a former small church pastor, our 95Network podcast is a wealth of information specifically for small-church pastors—delivered in a candid, kind, and concise way. We cover pressing topics in modern ministry, annual trends, and more.
Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
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Equipping can’t be reduced to a weekly performance; it requires presence, relationship, modeling, and shared life.
“If you got a pulse, he’s got a purpose for you.” Retirement isn’t the end of ministry; it’s a new season with fresh opportunities to serve, mentor, and impact the kingdom.
Self-awareness protects leaders from self-deception. Honest feedback is a guardrail for character and culture.
Build discipleship around practice, not just information. People grow through doing, feedback, and repetition in relationships.
Prayer is the engine, not the accessory. Easter effectiveness is not primarily about production, but about God’s presence.
Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
Have the Conversation Before There’s a Problem. You can’t wait for something negative to happen before talking to volunteers. Schedule regular check-ins not just about their area of service but about their lives.
The personal God gets personal with us. Biblical counseling explores the active, desiring heart beneath behavior and connects it to Christ’s finished work and the Spirit’s present ministry.
We regularly share practical insights for pastors leading small and midsize churches. If you’d like our latest articles, podcast episodes, and resources delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for the 95Network newsletter.
