Here is our A3 formula:
Christlike leaders + the A3 process + the right time + the right place
= Changing the few who change the many...
Let's talk about... "When is the 'Right Time'?
The simple answer is "when God can change the leader."
But in terms of A3's contribution to the change process, there are actually two aspects to the right time...
1. The right timing for each leader
As they say, "Timing is everything." It can be the difference between buying that house or new car or deciding to wait. It can be how a relationship just takes off or sputters and breaks apart. In the same way, timing is key in regard to when a leader is truly ready for further development.
Take a young leader at age 23. He or she might want personal development but may lack enough ministry experience to benefit from the A3 program. In this case, mentoring might be more effective in developing the ministry skills of a young person with 5 years of ministry experience.
Instead, we have found that a person with 10 years of ministry experience could be ready for the A3 program. By that time, they have been involved in a lot of ministry activities and learned enough about themselves to know what they are good at (and what they are not), as well as what they are truly passionate about. These are essential prerequisites for someone to take full advantage of the A3 leader development program.
Another key factor is putting the individual pieces of a cohort together. If the majority of the group is mid-forties, adding a 29-year-old may not fit. Or if the bulk of the group is comprised of leaders in their early thirties, adding a member who is 52 may cause chemistry issues. So the composite ages of the membership of a cohort impact who might be accepted into the program at that time.
2. The ideal duration of time for the learning community
Generally speaking, this is a two-year process. In some places it's two; in others, it might be three. Program duration depends on the local context and the local ownership team making these types of decisions:
- When can everyone in the cohort meet together? How often? Usually, it's about 8 quarterly retreats spaced apart over two years.
- When are the busy ministry seasons in that locale?
- When family obligations don't interfere with the cohort taking a retreat.
- How many retreats will it take to adequately cover the 14 topics?
So timing is a significant factor in making the program effective—the right leaders going through the right process at the best time for them individually and collectively. This is how we can change the few who change the many.
More Information
- What does "Changing the few who change the many" really mean?
- Who are the leaders A3 selects?
- What is the A3 process?
- When is the right time?
- Where is the right place?
Image credit: Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
