Become a Gospel Community Leader

Thanks for taking the time to show your interest in becoming a Gospel Community (GC) leader. Please take a moment to consider the qualifications and get a brief overview of some of the responsibilities.

Qualifications of a GC leader

At Hillcrest, the role of a Gospel Community leader carries a weight of responsibility.

We view our Gospel-Community leaders as shepherds over a small flock, serving in an elder-like capacity. This means that men who desire to lead in this context will need to have the character qualifications of an elder as mentioned in 1st Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9.

Stepping into leadership without the proper character and maturity can harm both the church and the individual. Giving authority, responsibility, influence, and power to someone of weak character is a recipe for disaster. This doesn’t mean mature men won’t make mistakes or don’t have room to grow — far from it. But if a man isn’t yet ready, we want to provide time, training, and encouragement so he can grow into further leadership down the road.

Please take time to prayerfully consider the qualification lists found in Scripture. If you are married, involve your spouse in this process. If you are single, ask a trusted friend to walk alongside you.

Recognize that there will likely be areas of weakness. Be willing to confess these early, so others can be aware and help you grow. The goal is not to say, “I meet every qualification perfectly,” but rather to ask, “Even in the areas where I am weak, am I being faithful, and am I living in a way that others can follow?”

Leaders are not perfect, and we must be the first to admit our faults, confess our sins, and pursue growth in maturity if we plan to lead others along that same path.

Responsibilities of a GC leader

As a Gospel Community leader, you will help keep the group focused on the mission God has given us. You’ll guard against false doctrine and ensure the group is being well cared for. But of course, you can’t do this alone! You’ll need support, which will come in several key forms:

Delegation, empowerment, and shared responsibility

The entire Gospel Community should take ownership of caring for the group. Just as a family has many members with different gifts and responsibilities, your GC will flourish when each person contributes according to how God has equipped them.

Maybe someone in your group is organized and detail-oriented — they could help schedule meetings and meals.
Maybe someone is a gifted musician who enjoys leading worship — they could prepare songs for the group to sing together.
Maybe there’s a man in your group showing leadership potential — you could begin developing him by giving him small leadership tasks. Eventually, he might help co-lead or even start his own group.

The point is this: you are not meant to carry the weight of the group’s success on your shoulders. First and foremost, it is God who brings growth and success — so rely on Him. Secondly, it’s the whole group working together, loving one another like family, that will make the group thrive. One of your primary tasks will be helping people discover their gifts, find their place, and be empowered to serve.

Regular check-ins and support

Leadership is hard. There will be moments of frustration, confusion, and even failure. No leader should feel they’re fighting the battle alone.

When you encounter challenges or situations you’re unsure how to handle, we want you to have clear avenues to reach out for help. The team overseeing GC leaders will be available to offer encouragement, wisdom, and support. We’ll also have regular check-ins to see how things are going with your group and offer help when needed.

Discipleship comes with both wins and losses, and when things aren’t going as hoped, we want to walk alongside you and help however we can.

Ongoing training and resources

Growing as a leader is a lifelong process. There’s always more to learn, and God is always shaping us. A healthy leader wants to keep growing and becoming better equipped to serve and love others.

We will offer classes throughout the year designed to build you up in Christ and equip you for ministry. We’re also committed to providing helpful resources — whether that’s books, media, articles, or other tools — so you’re well-prepared for the work at hand.

Each leader will bring unique gifts, strengths, and weaknesses, which means each will lead slightly different. That’s a good thing! Leaders should feel free to approach things in ways that best fit their group’s context and the leaders particular wiring — as long as they keep the main thing the main thing: Being “A group of Christ-followers living on mission together.”

Time Commitment

We recognize that most of our leaders will be men who work full-time jobs and have families. Leadership responsibilities will look a bit different depending on the group, but our desire is that leaders spend no more than about one hour a week preparing and planning for meetings.

Next Steps

If you feel ready to take the next step toward becoming a GC leader, sign up below. We’ll follow up to schedule a time to meet, talk through what leadership looks like, and outline next steps.