Development and Deployment: Key Priorities in Disciple-making

By Joel Comiskey, check out Joel’s latest book, Living in Victory , fall 2020

Tradition says that the pastor must do the work of the ministry. Many pastors have been trained with this mentality. They fail to decentralize and release leaders. The ministry is all about them: their preaching, their leadership, their control. Cell church ministry, on the other hand, is organic and decentralized.

I’ve noticed that some leaders understand the why (the biblical base) for cell ministry. They are passionate about the idea. Yet, they don’t take the next step. They fail in the area of development and deployment.

Those who make it in cell ministry are developers rather than controllers. They develop and deploy others. They love the equipping track and coaching. They willingly release new leaders, build a strong leadership team, and allow others to preach. They see their main role as coach—rather than preacher. Pastors and leaders who excel in cell ministry practice releasing, risking, and trusting others to do the work of the ministry.

I’m talking about a very subtle shift. I’ve seen pastors fail in cell ministry if they don’t grow in this area of development.