Joel leads Church of Christ the King, Brighton, and leads the team that runs Newday and Mobilise. We have known one another a long time, and I always enjoy catching up with him. CCK is an interesting animal – home church of Terry Virgo (yes, that’s Joel’s dad) and at the moment the largest Newfrontiers church in the UK. Not many people would have been man enough for the job, but Joel is that man…
Who is your leadership hero? Why?
My Dad stands out for me. I know his walk with God as well as his consequent wisdom and courage from up-close. I guess a hero is someone about whom you catch yourself thinking ‘what would he do here?’ I’ve been doing that for years with my Dad in mind.
How long have you been in leadership?
Since my late teens in one way or another. I left my teaching job to join the staff of a church in 2001. I was 26
What was your first leadership role?
Leading people to pray together for our 6th form friends to get saved. 2 of the guys I prayed with are still great friends – and pastors.
How long have you been in your current role?
Nearly 3 years
How long has your church been established? Did you start it?
Since the late 70’s. Yes, I was one of the 38 who helped start it. I was 4.
What has been the growth curve of your church?
Fast in the first 6 or 7 years. Reached about 800. Then hung around there a while. We’ve been growing a little more in recent years. We now have 1200-1300 on a Sunday.
What has been your biggest leadership challenge?
My biggest challenge is me. I know that is a cliché but it is just true.
I guess learning to make painful decisions and living with them while they keep hurting is another challenge.
What has been your greatest leadership success?
Bagging a truly great wife (and I don’t use that word often).
How are you developing new leaders?
I meet weekly with a dozen different guys for 10 weeks each term. We talk about character, theology, mission and I get them to read stuff before we meet so we can discuss. I also intend to develop a preaching component to this as we need to develop preachers for the zones (congregations) we are planting across the city.
One of the blessings of being in a relatively large (though we are still much too small) church is that leaders are more able to specialise and play to their strengths. I am learning to look at leaders in different ways and sense their aptitude for certain roles as opposed to others.
How are you continuing to develop your own leadership gifts?
I guess I am eager to learn from leaders I admire. I get time with such people as much as I can. If I can’t (for example if they are dead) I read their books instead. I ask for input from guys who are wiser than me and I try to listen carefully.
I look for guys in my church who are advanced in certain skills and ask for their help in them. One guy helps me prepare key talks for leaders meetings as he has experience in training and management, another helps me with researching key areas of study as I know I would not be as proficient so I lean on his support.
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