Are They Called? Spotting and Sending Lay Leaders

Do you know how to spot the next generation of leaders in your church—and equip them to step up? In this episode, Hunter Melton sits down with Roger Severino and Matt Purdom to explore what it looks like to raise up lay leaders with intentionality, clarity, and care. They unpack how to define calling, identify emerging leaders, and create a culture that equips the whole church to serve. You’ll hear real stories of leadership development across Brentwood Baptist’s campuses, learn practical tools for building a leadership pipeline, and discover why developing people is discipleship at its core. Whether you’re building a team, discipling a future pastor, or wondering how to take the next step in your own leadership journey, this episode is for you. Episode Guests: Hunter Melton: Campus & Teaching Pastor, The Church at Woodbine Roger Severino: Minister of Leadership Development, Brentwood Baptist Matt Purdom: Executive Pastor, South Region, Brentwood Baptist Timestamps: 00:00 – Why equipping leaders is everyone’s job 03:30 – What does it mean to be called? 07:00 – What to look for in a potential lay leader 10:30 – The importance of modeling, clarity, and feedback 15:00 – Building sustainable, ongoing leadership development 18:00 – Why programs exist to develop people, not the other way around 20:00 – How Brentwood Baptist develops leaders: Residency, seminary, and more 24:00 – Lessons from mentoring the next generation of leaders 27:00 – Practical advice for leaders exploring a call to ministry 30:00 – Encouragement for anyone ready to take the next step Resources Mentioned: The Multiplication Effect by Mac Lake The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni Ministry Residency Program (Brentwood Baptist) Middle Tennessee Leadership Institute (MTLI) – brentwoodbaptist.com/mtli 2 Timothy 2:2 Ephesians 4:11–13 Mark 3:13–15 Elevate Church Conference | September 9, 2025 Join us for the Elevate Church Conference at Brentwood Baptist in Nashville, TN. Learn from seasoned church leaders, grow your ministry team, and