unSeminary Podcast Who’s the Next You? Building a Gen Z Residency Pipeline with Dave Miller
Sep 11, 2025
Dave Miller, leader of Leadership Pathway and an advocate for young church leaders, discusses the importance of developing future ministers through two-year residency programs. He emphasizes that Gen Z is distinct and must be treated as an 'unreached people group,' requiring a fresh approach to leadership. The conversation highlights the need for churches to slow down and prioritize meaningful relationships over productivity. With a focus on nurturing young talent, Dave shares insights on innovative leadership development and the transformative impact of investing in Gen Z.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Treat Gen Z As A New Cultural Group
- Gen Z is like an "unreached people group" that churches must sit with and learn from rather than force into old systems.
- Dignify their contributions, learn their customs and language, and lead with relational investment rather than transactional demands.
Small Churches Can Develop Leaders
- Dave recounts shifting from thinking only big churches could develop leaders to seeing hundreds of smaller churches succeed.
- The change taught him to ask whether the senior pastor is a developer, not just whether the church is big.
Slow Down To Develop Leaders
- Slow down: prioritize presence and face-to-face coaching over rushed check-ins or airport FaceTimes.
- Invest time in real conversations because leadership development requires sustained proximity and listening.
