Leadership Vision

We realize that leadership development is essential for the future health of our churches, and therefore we want to be intentional about our efforts to resource our churches to that end. Our vision for leadership development in our region is simple: Every pastor and church systematically and continually recruiting, developing and deploying leaders for church and kingdom.

We encourage our churches to use one of the many following Leadership Development Tools designed to develop and equip existing and emerging leaders for church and Kingdom.

Leadership Tools

Levels below indiciate amount of time needed to utilize each tool well.

Level 1

Receive a monthly email from NAB Dr. Executive Director Rob McCleland helping you develop specific leadership skills in just 15 minutes per month! Sign up here
Click here to see past emails



Level 2

Recommended Reading List

• 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis
• Good To Great
• The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive
• Breakout Churches
• Comback Churches
• Leading Out of Who You Are
• Drive
• The Five Temptations of a CEO
• Talent Is Overrated
• The Three Signs of a Miserable Job
• Why Men Hate Going to Church
• Winning On Purpose
• Silos - Politics and Turf Wars



Level 3

Leadershift
Author Don Cousins points out the stark differences between God’s definition and understanding of leadership and the world’s. Spiritual leaders are called to equip others for the work of service. This role as an equipper of others is life and ministry changing. Follow God’s blueprint for leadership and ministry and experience faithful, fruitful and fulfilling service that makes God famous. Click here to purchase

Leadership Essentials
12 unit training curriculum addressing the following issues: leader's character, posture, developing a leader's vision, and the on going development of the leader him/herself Click here to purchase

Center for Christian leadership
4 unit study guide provided by Dallas Seminary addressing community, identity, integrity, and ministry issues. Click here to download

Level 4

iEquip Ministries
Multivolume workbook curriculum used to train over 3 million leaders

Check out the curriculum overview and then contact Tim Blackburn for more information if you would like to access this material

Live 2:6
Developed by Sonlife Ministries and used in a small group setting addressing the issues of the character and priorities of Jesus.

For information accessing this resources contact Tim Blackburn.

Level 5

Vantage Point 3
Vantage Point 3 is a unique spiritual formation and leadership development journey for adult believers in your church/organization which invites life transformation, shared authentic community, re-visioning of leadership and influence and Kingdom empowerment of people’s lives

To find out how this resource is being used in a local church, contact Pastor Dave Dryer

Leadership Team

• Tim Blackburn - UMR Regional Minister
• Doug Harsch - Illinois (Northwest Fellowship, Chicago)
• Jason Unzicker - Iowa (Crossroads Community, Burlington)
• Bill Gould - Minnesota (Apple Valley Baptist, Apple Valley)