This post is a condensed version of episode 99 from the Equipped for Purpose podcast. To hear the full version, listen to the link above.

In this post, we’re tackling some big questions: Have you ever considered the future of your business? More importantly, have you thought about your legacy? These questions aren’t just for entrepreneurs—they’re vital for every leader. Where do you see yourself and your organization in five, ten, or even twenty years?

For us as followers of Jesus, legacy goes deeper than success. It’s about building something of eternal value, stewarding the influence and people God has entrusted to us. I’ll be discussing these leadership topics in upcoming posts under the Mining Merit pillar of my leadership program. This pillar is all about equipping, developing, and empowering your team at a foundational level. While my mission is to blend deep discipleship with impactful leadership, Mining Merit is where the rubber meets the road.

We’ll explore the biblical call to invest in others and turn it into practical steps for building powerful, future-ready leaders and teams.

Why Create Future Leaders?

So, why is developing future leaders so critical? Simple: If you don’t invest in your people, you won’t progress. Your business, or any team you lead, could plateau. Ask yourself: Do I want to stay where I am forever? I’m betting you want growth, a flourishing organization, and to be a fruitful leader.

Spiritually, this is about stewardship. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows a master entrusting resources to his servants, expecting them to multiply what they’re given. As leaders, our team’s potential is a treasure we’re called to steward. Stagnation isn’t the goal, faithful multiplication is.

Over the coming weeks of leadership-focused posts, we’ll unpack the four sub-pillars of Mining Merit: Creating Powerful People, The Future Leader, Serving Your Team, and The Practice of Feedback. Today’s post gives you a sneak peek at each.

Mining Merit: The Core Concept

At its core, Mining Merit is the intentional process of developing the next generation of leaders. It rejects the “one-size-fits-all” approach to leadership development. Sure, a group can learn new skills, but applying that knowledge requires tailored growth for each person. We all see the world differently, so we must develop the individual.

What You’ll Gain

• Strategies to draw out the best in your team, helping them think and execute at a higher level.
• Tools to build powerful, confident, autonomous individuals.
• Ways to cultivate a thriving team culture that embraces risk-taking, learning from failure, and continuous growth.

How It Helps You

• Secures Your Legacy: Investing in others ensures you don’t stagnate, paving the way for your growth.
• Fuels Progress: It keeps your leadership and business moving forward, countering the myth that younger generations aren’t worth the effort. They’re the future, steward them well.
• Builds Succession: A pipeline of capable leaders lets you grow or transition to new ventures.

Sub-Pillar 1: Creating Powerful People

First up: Creating Powerful People. This is about transforming your team into individuals who own their work, the team’s work, and its culture.

Here’s the kicker: You’ve got to be powerful first. As Christian leaders, our power isn’t from titles, it’s from our unshakable identity in Christ. When you show up secure, purposeful, and humble, your team follows suit. Confidence is contagious. When you’re comfortable in who you are in Christ, your people believe the confidence you have in them.

You’ll learn to foster a “failing forward” mindset, celebrating failure as discovery. Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Leaders see progress where others see waste. This echoes Romans 5:3-4: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” James 1:2-4 adds, “Count it all joy… when you meet trials… for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

This makes you a leader who removes barriers to growth, building a fearless culture where creativity thrives.

Sub-Pillar 2: The Future Leader

Next, The Future Leader. This is about intentionally building leaders within your organization because if no one can replace you, you’re stuck.

Think 2 Timothy 2:2: “What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” That’s generational leadership.

You’ll gain:

• Intentional Evaluation: Focus on potential, not just current performance.
• Clarity on Delegation: Responsibility stays with you; accountability is what you delegate. If a task fails, it’s still your burden; more on that later.

This creates a clear process for nurturing leadership, fostering resilience and growth.

Sub-Pillar 3: Serving Your Team

Now, Serving Your Team. Servant leadership is central to our faith, but it’s misunderstood. It’s not excusing poor performance or burning out, it’s empowering.

Jesus said in Mark 10:42-45: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” It’s influencing your team with direction, purpose, and motivation to succeed.

You’ll learn to:

• Provide clear “why” behind actions.
• Motivate and protect your team.
• Celebrate their wins.

This frees you to grow while building trust and engagement.

Sub-Pillar 4: The Practice of Feedback

Finally, The Practice of Feedback. Without it, growth stalls. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Feedback is God’s sharpening tool.

You’ll learn to invite and deliver feedback effectively, no more “annual ambushes.” Regular, actionable input builds a culture of continuous improvement and safety.

Conclusion

Mining Merit, through Creating Powerful People, The Future Leader, Serving Your Team, and The Practice of Feedback, is foundational for growing yourself, your team, and your business. You’ll walk away with empowered people, a leadership pipeline, a supported team, and a feedback-rich culture. That’s a legacy of stewardship that honors God.

Thanks for reading.