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By investing himself in other leaders through monthly meetings, daily devotionals and ongoing email contact, Senior Pastor Joe Wittwer is raising up a new generation of Foursquare leaders.

David Lewellyn, a speaking pastor at Life Center (Spokane Foursquare Church) in Spokane, Wash., recalls how the church’s lead pastor recruited him, when he was just 19 years old, to serve as the high school pastor.

“I wasn’t ready,” David says. “I think Joe knew that, but he gave me the opportunity anyway. He walked alongside me so I could be the best I could be. I think what he sees is what God can do through ordinary people.”

Joe exemplifies what it means to be a leader who can raise up other leaders, says Mike Meade, lead pastor at Life Center North (Spokane North Foursquare Church), a Life Center church plant that is now 15 years old.

“I think, for a lot of us, we need to see that,” Mike says. “We need to believe that’s something we can do.”

Recalling how Jesus chose 12 men and spent quality time with them, Alex Skachkov, a Foursquare license applicant and church planter, says that is exactly what Joe does.

“We can’t wait to be mentored by him,” says Alex, who plans to plant a church in Russia. “He leads by example. He’s the one who transformed our lives.”

When Joe agreed to mentor a group of leaders, he insisted that each person turn around and mentor someone else in the next two years. He says investing in the next generation of leaders is essential to the denomination’s future.

“Where are these guys going to come from?” Joe asks. “If not from us, where do they come from?”

See Life Center’s leadership model in action. Meet Joe, David and Mike in the inspiring video that debuted at Foursquare Connection 2014.

To see more from Connection 2014, click here.