Unseen Leadership

Unseen Leadership Episode 82: Spence Shelton on Blending Humility and Courage in Leadership

Oct 4, 2023

Spence Shelton, lead pastor of Mercy Church, discusses his mistakes in church planting and offers advice for leaders. He emphasizes humility, courage, and listening, drawing on his business background. Topics include equipping the saints, trusting others, leadership roles, mentors, learning from failures, deep work, sermon preparation, delegation, hiking trails, and book recommendations.

38:58

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Episode guests

Spence Shelton

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Developing humility and courage is crucial for effective leadership, allowing leaders to take risks with wisdom and avoid ego-driven decision making.

The transition from a church plant to a planted church requires leaders to trust and empower the leaders who have joined the ministry, while releasing control and retaining responsibility for the overall vision and mission.

Deep dives

Developing Humility and Courage in Leadership

One of the main insights from the podcast episode is the importance of developing both humility and courage as a leader. The speaker emphasizes that having humility allows leaders to take courageous risks that are surrounded by wisdom. By listening to others and being willing to fail, leaders can avoid ego-driven decision making and save themselves from unnecessary pain. The advice is to be willing to take risks, but always with humility and a willingness to listen to others.

Introduction

4min

Leadership Roles and Journey

21min

Leadership Book Recommendations, Misconceptions, and Daily Routines

4min

Deep Work and Sermon Reviews

5min

Sermon Preparation, Delegation, and Hiking Trails

2min

Powerful Notes App, Bold Football Statement, and Book Recommendations for Leaders

3min

In this episode of the Unseen Leadership Podcast, Chandler Vannoy and Dan Iten are joined by Spence Shelton, the lead pastor of Mercy Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shelton discusses the challenges and mistakes he has made as a church planter and shares valuable insights and advice for leaders in the church and ministry context. He emphasizes the importance of humility, courage, and listening to others in leadership, drawing on his background in the business world to inform his approach to ministry.

QUOTES FROM EPISODE 82

“Working in the marketplace really helped me to not only know the experience but also think well through the programming of our church and how are we equipping the saints for ministry where they are.” – Spence Shelton

“There is a level of professionalism that I want to bring to our ministry, but not for the sake of looking polished. Rather, I want them to feel like they can trust their church and there’s a level of professionalism that communicates trust.” – Spence Shelton

“Find a relationship where there’s somebody who’s got some experience and let them call out what they see God doing in your life.” – Spence Shelton

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn in my leadership as well as my character development is having to take my hands off of more and more things and trust the people that God has called into leading alongside me and under my leadership.” – Spence Shelton

“Your job is to equip the saints for ministry and if you try and control the saints instead of equip them, that vision is never going to become a reality.” – Spence Shelton

If I don’t keep my fingers off what my staff is doing, they’re going to feel like they’re being micromanaged, and they can’t lead. Plus, young leaders can’t be developed if old leaders are gripping their ministry.” – Spence Shelton

“Empower your people, equip them, and release them for ministry. Don’t try and micromanage them and control them.” – Spence Shelton

“A little bit of experience is way worse than no experience. A little bit of experience is way more dangerous than no experience.” – Spence Shelton

“Be willing to fail because if you don’t, you’re not going to risk anything. People need vision and vision is a risk so be willing to fail. But, in all things, have humility.” – Spence Shelton

“If you have humility, then you will take courageous risks that will be surrounded by wisdom because you’ll be listening to others and everything else.” – Spence Shelton

The biggest misconception I had about leadership was that my ideas would be enough. If I just had good ideas, that’d be enough. Now, ideas are important. Vision is important. But relationships matter. You will not get far just on an idea. Especially in ministry, you’re not going to get far as a leader unless you’re a servant leader.” – Spence Shelton