The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 776 | Small Church Dysfunction: David Ashcraft Talks about Growth at LCBC, Succession and Growing the Global Leadership Summit
66 snips
Dec 30, 2025 
David Ashcraft, a longtime senior pastor who transformed LCBC into a multi-site congregation of 22,000, chats about the challenges of small church dysfunction. He shares insights on scaling a congregation, including adopting a multi-site model and the importance of a clear vision. David also discusses succession planning for leadership transitions, emphasizing transparency and emotional preparation. As he takes on leadership with the Global Leadership Network, he reflects on the value of live events and the importance of authenticity in fundraising.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Create Honest Accountability Relationships
- Build a trusted, transparent close relationship that can call you out, starting with your spouse or a small peer group.
- Travel with someone and be accountable about risky situations rather than going solo.
Start Succession Decades Early
- Start succession planning early and develop an internal candidate over years.
- Use time to identify gaps and intentionally train the successor rather than picking someone ready-made at the last minute.
Step Back So Successor Can Lead
- Put the organization first during transition and step away fully to let the new leader lead.
- Stay out of staff meetings and avoid informal office influence; take a formal break (Ashcraft chose 12 months).
