1. What kind of leaders do you look for and what are the requirements?
Step 1: Community We believe that life change happens best through community. Our hope is that all those who attend Fusion take a next step and get connected as a result of engaging in this environment. Therefore, since they will be leading others in the same direction, we ask all of our Fusion leaders to be involved in one of our small group experiences.
Step 2: Membership We ask all of our leaders to be members of our church. If they are not currently members and are interested in membership, we help them begin the process simultaneous to becoming a leader. See the membership page to learn more about our process of membership at our membership site.
Step 3: Fusion Leader Application If they already know that they are interested in leading a Fusion gathering, we direct them to go online and complete the Fusion Leader Application.
Step 4: Interview Once they complete the online application, our Fusion Director initiates a time to meet with the applicants. This is an opportunity for us to get to know the potential leaders better to ensure that this leadership role is a good fit for them. This gives our staff the opportunity to filter out those who either might not be ready, may not have enough experience, may be in an unhealthy place personally, etc. We are looking for leaders who (1) demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to our mission and vision, (2) whose personal lives demonstrate commitment to sexual purity, being wise with their finances, and discretion with alcohol and, (3) leaders we believe have the ability to create an environment that both attracts and inspires people to connect deeper into community in our church.
Step 5: Fusion Dates We ask that our leaders attend at least four of the five gatherings, the mid-cycle event, plan at least two socials, and meet with a staff member and their coach once during the cycle. When we meet with a leader we can discuss all of these requirements and address any concerns regarding the commitment.
2. What is the difference between the role of a leader and the role of a volunteer?
Leaders are responsible for managing and overseeing the overall gathering. Volunteers are delegated to and empowered by the leaders to execute all of the logistics involved in creating a great Fusion experience.
3. How do you recruit, train, and develop leaders?
Our primary avenue for recruiting new leaders is through our current leaders. We lean into them to identify potential leaders and then invite them to a Q&A lunch we host. At this lunch, we give them more information and an opportunity to become a Fusion leader. In the past, we have also asked for recommendations from other staff within the church for key volunteers looking to step up into a leadership role.
We do a lot of different things to develop leaders, but the primary development tool is one- on-one face time with leaders . . . not about their gatherings, but about their lives. We’ve also held events with special guest speakers on leadership or spiritual development, led book discussions, and provided other resources for their personal exploration.