October 1, 2026
It seems that everywhere I look for information and inspiration, the emphasis is on leadership. Books on the subject continue to roll off the press. Leadership blogs, podcasts, and seminars abound. A recent Facebook post laments: “The church is desperate for good leaders.” I’m sure that’s true, yet I’ll make the claim that the church stands in greater need of good followers.
I realized I was onto something recently when discovering this quote from Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy: “To excel at leadership, you must first master followership.” Cathy’s long-time associate and former president of the company, Jimmy Collins, crafted what he learned into a book titled, Creative Followership. With that in mind, I believe that “followership” must take precedence over leadership if the church expects to maximize its influence and growth. Carefully ponder these four reasons why.
Jesus emphasized following far more than leading - He called out to His first disciples, “Come follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). Later, Jesus proclaimed, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Three years of followership prepared the disciples for leadership.
Too many people are in positions of leadership who don’t belong there - Factors such as notoriety, likeability, and personality often take precedent over faithfulness, dedication, and obedience when it comes to leader selection. Desperate to fill positions, churches choose deacons and fill committees with members who attend services sporadically and are often uninformed about what’s really going on.
I heard about a cartoon that showed a man chasing a mob, while crying out, “I must hurry and catch up to the others, for I am their leader.” While it’s worth a good chuckle, it illustrates a serious issue.
Tightening budgets mean volunteer followers will fill the void created by fewer paid leaders- While there are churches and other ministries around whose coffers are overflowing, most are not in such a position. Unless the trend changes, paid full-time staff positions will shift to part-time or even volunteer.
Actually, this presents a great opportunity, as 21st-century American congregations begin to look more and more like the church of the first century (which is actually what most churches across the globe look like now, especially in Third World countries).
Generations Y, Z, and Alpha are drawn to a different model - While the Silents, Boomers, and Xers are more apt to respond to what we hear, those in the younger generations would rather see the gospel in action, especially beyond the walls of the church. Followership facilitates this paradigm much better.
The story is told of a young man who entered the office of John D. Rockefeller, looking for a job. “Young man, are you a leader?” Mr. Rockefeller asked. The applicant, a simple, honest sort of fellow, replied, “I can’t really say, but I can tell you this. I’m a good follower.” Grinning, Mr. Rockefeller responded, "I’ve got a raft of leaders out there already. I sure can use one good follower. You’re hired.”
Of course, society in general and churches specifically will always be in need of good leaders. Yet, what good is it if there’s no one there to follow? Exciting days are ahead, as “followership” begins to take on an increasingly significant role.
___
Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
Share with others
