References

LDR Recommendations From Denominations, District, and Networks

“In my estimation Mel Ming has influenced more leaders and organizations than any person I know. He is an outstanding thinker and communicator and coaches others toward excellence. Mel is able to break down complicated principles and systems to simple steps anyone can understand. He can take you or your organization from where you are to where you want to be, and to new levels of leadership you may not have even imagined.”

Don Detrick, Secretary Treasurer, Northwest Ministry Network

“Dr. Mel Ming is one of the most insightful church leaders I have had the privilege of meeting.  He and Steve Mills have developed the best church revitalization process I have seen in my forty years of ministry!   Leadership Development Resources truly helps churches become healthy, effective, growing congregations.  I use their materials in the Potomac District Assemblies of God and highly recommend them.”

J. Gary Butler, Assistant To the District Superintendent For Church Health and Revitalization, Potomac District

“If you are looking for a quick-fix, one-size-fits-all formula for church growth, you will not be happy with LDR. However, if you are looking for a vehicle to help you develop a healthy church and a winning team, LDR is just the ticket. I would describe LDR as a process of discovery, design, and implementation in which a church leadership team rethinks the functions of a New Testament church within a twenty-first century context. It is a process that is thoroughly anchored in the Word and intentionally committed to missional principles. At the end of the two year journey, a church that works the process will end up with a “playbook” for effectively advancing Christ’s mission in their local context and around the world.”

Boyd Powers, Secretary Treasurer, Oregon Ministry Network

“We have found LDR  to be a tremendous catalyst for our churches to redefine their role in the Missio Dei as it relates to their community.  The process helps a church learn how they can passionately engage the un-churched with an intentional strategy prayerfully developed by a strong leadership team.  While not a quick fix, the entire LDR process does help the church’s focus, intensity, health, purpose, and effectiveness to rise exponentially.”

Phil Wall, Georgia Missions Director

“The Alabama District of the Assemblies of God is using the materials developed by Mel Ming and Steve Mills.  Their material is proving to be a great tool for helping our pastors focus on the issues that matter in leading churches.  I recommend you investigate these excellent concepts and ideas for your churches.”

Billy Glover, Alabama former District Superintendent

LDR Recommendations From Pastors and Peers

“Over the last several years Leadership Development Resources has been a critical part for training of our core leadership team.  Through the process they laid out for us, we have taken major steps in defining who we are and what we should do as a church in regards to style of ministry.  I can’t imagine where we would be without their assistance. Leadership Development Resources isn’t for everyone. If you don’t want to reach your community, if you don’t want to see your church family spiritually mature, and if you could care less about leadership development then LDR isn’t for you. But if there is passion for the lost, passion for spiritual growth and for leadership development for the next generation then LDR is for you.”

Mike Axton, Lead Pastor, Brooklake Community Church, Federal Way, WA

“Our team has been thrilled with the results of working with Mel and Steve.  They brought expertise, tools, and a plan that was customized to fit who were are and the mission God has called us to.  We are now working smarter in order to reach our kingdom potential.”

Doug Heisel, Senior Pastor, New Life Church, Alamo, CA

“Allow me to say a few words about the benefit we received from Mel Ming and Steve Mills’ process and teaching. Like many of your churches, Life Center has a proud history. After 90 years of ministry under seven pastors we felt like it was time to take a good look not only at what we were doing, who we are now and how we were going to reach our community. Mel and Steve were thoughtful, provocative and encouraging every step along the way. The process made us a better pastoral team and gave us more clarity as a church. It also gave me more confidence as a leader and I am grateful.”

Dean Curry, Senior Pastor, Life Center, Tacoma, WA

“It has been a great process for the church I pastor.  I have been in cohorts for nearly two years and it has revolutionized the way we do church.  I have an amazing team of lay people who have been a part of the process and they have really stepped up to “the plate”.  We have more teams and more people involved in ministry than at any other time in my previous 11 years of ministry.  People are finally starting to get what ministry looks like as well as the process in taking an unchurched person from non-believer to serving Christian.  While we have not seen huge numbers coming to Christ, our numbers last year were higher than the year before.”

Terrence King, Faith Assembly, Lexington, VA

“The process that the team from LDR led us through gave us the tools we needed to develop and sustain the unique vision God has for us. I believe it is a vital component to our 10 years of consecutive growth.”

Cal Carpenter, Lead Pastor, Sound Life Church, Tacoma, WA

“Mel Ming is a gifted consultant and coach. His understanding of organizational systems is unsurpassed. Add to it his grasp of what essentials a leader needs to achieve excellence and I guarantee you will not be disappointed after working with him.”

Sam Farina, Trainer, Trainer for the Assemblies of God Coaches Network

“Dr. Ming has worked with our staff on several occasions and has helped us overcome hurdles in our strategic development. I highly recommend his services as a coach and consultant.”

Mankins Kent, Pastor Valley Assembly, Spokane, WA

“Mel is a superior executive and organizational coach. His mastery of the current trends, authors, and published works on leadership, organizational development and other related topics is relevant and lends itself to his exceptional value as a resource in these areas. In addition to excellence in marketplace leadership and organizational performance, Mel is a leading authority on the healthy church and effective pastoral leadership. For more than a decade, I have trusted Mel’s counsel and benefited from his astute executive and organizational insights. The resources produced by Mel’s company have provided significant value to the organizations I have led. Without reservation I highly recommend Mel Ming.”

Dr. Tim Hager, Certified Behavior Specialist, Summit Leadership Group, LLC

LDR Recommendations From Business and Higher Education

“Mel is a brilliant processor of information who has the capacity to communicate huge concepts in bite-sized pieces. His committment to leadership development, his tireless dedication and his incredible capacity to give of himself and his knowledge to others makes him a very rare and treasured resource.”

Ron Kuest, Principal, The Institute for Spiritual Leadership Training, MBG Management Services, Inc.

“Mel Ming is, in my estimation, one of the most knowledgeable people on the planet regarding personal and organizational leadership and their relationship to the church. No one I know is more well-read on these subjects, nor speaks about them with such insight and wisdom. If you have a chance to sit in on any of Mel’s teaching sessions, you will be much better off having done so.”

Dr. Randy Walls, Director of Continuing Education, AGTS

“Mel Ming is extremely competent and delivers advanced training in organizational leadership. He is thorough and always well prepared. He is exceptional to work with, highly ethical and very much a team player. Mel is a visionary as well as strategic – two traits that are not often paired in one person. In addition, Mel has outstanding social skills – he can adapt to any type of environment or people group easily. Anyone fortunate enough to work with Mel will be greatly enriched.”

Dr. Ava Kate Oleson, Doctor of Ministry Program Coordinator, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

“Dr. Ming has been a friend and mentor for a decade now assisting me with personal leadership development, as well as, organizational leadership development. He was personally involved in assisting our church leadership team double the size of our congregation in 1-2 years. He was also a professor of mine in the Doctor of Ministry program at AGTS. His insights and personal mentoring have had a dramatic positive impact on my life and leadershp. I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today without the excellent mentorship that Dr. Ming and his wife have given me over the years. I highly recommend Dr. Ming to your organization, confident that he will be a value-added partner to your leadership endeavors.”

Dr. Steve Smallwood, Theology Professor, Evangel University

“J. Melvyn Ming is a gift to organizational development, restructuring, and strategy for both secular and church organizations. His sense of timing, knowledge of healthy versus unhealthy companies/churches, as well as how to implement healthy change is unique in this challenging day.”

Dr. Wayde Goodall, Dean, Northwest University