Summary of "The SECRET to Keeping Your Church GROWTH On Track with Ashley Woolridge"
Key Wellness Strategies, Self-Care Techniques, and Productivity Tips from Ashley Woolridge on Church Growth and Leadership
- Shift Focus from Pastor to Gospel & Team
- Avoid making the pastor the "product" of the church; instead, emphasize Jesus as the main focus.
- Build and empower a strong teaching team to share preaching responsibilities and reduce reliance on one individual.
- Constantly point people to the team and God’s work rather than personal accolades.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Over IQ
- Success in leadership depends more on Emotional Intelligence than just intellectual ability.
- Key components of EQ include:
- Deep self-awareness (often gained through feedback from others).
- Self-regulation (controlling impulses and managing one’s behavior in different settings).
- Empathy and social awareness (understanding others and investing in teamwork).
- Cultivate humility and a posture of dependence on God to maintain grounded leadership.
- Leadership Culture & Team Empowerment
- Culture is more important than strategy ("Culture eats strategy for breakfast").
- Create a culture where the best ideas win, not where hierarchy or tenure dictates decisions.
- Invest heavily in reinforcing core values and fundamentals regularly (e.g., weekly video messages about values).
- Delegate decision-making to empowered leaders to avoid bottlenecks and enable growth.
- Maintain a high-feedback culture where honest, constructive feedback is encouraged and valued.
- Handling Growth and Transitions
- Understand that as organizations grow, leaders must delegate more and avoid micromanaging.
- Leadership transitions should be clean and timely to avoid confusion and maintain momentum.
- Avoid prolonged transition periods where outgoing leaders remain involved in ways that can create mixed signals.
- Use a "taper" approach to transitions, gradually shifting responsibilities to the new leader.
- Community as a Core Value
- Prioritize creating physical and social spaces that foster community, not just delivering content.
- Invest in weekend environments that encourage lingering and relationship-building (e.g., food courts, open spaces for families).
- Recognize the spiritual importance of table fellowship and shared meals as a place for deep connection.
- Adapt facilities and campus models to emphasize community over seat turnover or efficiency.
- Communication & Influence Skills
- Structure messages and presentations to lead people gently toward difficult truths rather than confronting them head-on.
- Use influence and Emotional Intelligence to help people see new perspectives.
- Practice continual improvement by inviting and embracing feedback on sermons and leadership.
- Personal Discipline & Accountability
- Regularly pray for humility and for God to use your words rather than relying on personal ability.
- Admit struggles openly with your team to maintain accountability and receive support.
- Lean on close relationships (e.g., spouse) for honest grounding and reality checks.
- Avoid "drinking the praise"—acknowledge that transformation comes through God, not personal effort.
- Cross-Disciplinary Learning
- Learn from leadership principles in the corporate world and adapt them to church leadership.
- Emphasize biblical leadership principles that transcend organizational type.
Presenters / Sources
- Ashley Woolridge – Lead Pastor, Christ Church of the Valley
- Carrie Newhoff – Host, Carrie Newhoff Leadership Podcast
- Jamie Woolridge – Ashley’s wife (featured in part two)
- Mentioned Influences:
- Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence)
- Peter Drucker (Culture eats strategy)
- Simon Sinek (Community definition)
- John Maxwell (Self-awareness insights)
- Steve Row (Mentor at Intel)
Category
Wellness and Self-Improvement
