2025
Leaders Following Christ Newsletter
Leaders who follow Christ bring Him their biggest ideas, trusting that God can shape them, grow them, and use them for His glory. When we surrender our influence to Him, He turns bold vision into meaningful impact—strengthening churches, transforming communities, and advancing His Kingdom in ways only He can.
This newsletter celebrates leaders who offered God their creativity, calling, and courage—and the remarkable impact He brought through their leadership this year.
2025 MAJOR GRANT RECIPIENT: FOUNDER'S TABLE NETWORK
In 2025, LFC made a major investment in entrepreneurs—partnering with the Founder’s Table Network to disciple business leaders and help them live out their God-given calling as Kingdom-builders.
The Founder’s Table Network is a small-group discipleship curriculum for entrepreneurs, run by the local church, and designed to help business leaders integrate faith, work, and influence for lasting Kingdom impact.
The Alignment of Missions: How OUR Origin Story Prepared Us for Partnerships Like Founder’s Table NETWORK
OUR BEGINNINGS:
In 2010, Leaders Following Christ began when founder Dan Babcock helped bring a Franklin Graham crusade to his hometown of Binghamton, New York. Local churches were eager to host an evangelistic event of that scale but lacked the resources and infrastructure needed to partner with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to make it possible.
Leaders Following Christ was formed to help bridge that gap—connecting local ministries with local business leaders who could provide the logistical support, leadership, and resources necessary to bring the event to life. As entrepreneurs offered their God-given gifts, resources, and influence to this mission, a community committed to high-impact Kingdom work began to take shape.
The crusade was a catalyst for unprecedented spiritual growth across Upstate New York. God worked through the unity of ministry leaders and business leaders to reach members of every corner of the community. That moment clarified something we’ve carried ever since: when entrepreneurs are invited into God’s mission, their influence can accelerate the work of the gospel in powerful ways.
CONNECTING WITH FOUNDER'S TABLE NETWORK:
That same conviction is what led us to award our 2025-2026 major grant to Founder’s Table Network. When we encountered their ministry, it felt like watching our origin story unfold again—this time in churches across the country. We saw entrepreneurs who love Jesus, carry real influence, and long to use their gifts for something more than success, yet weren’t sure how their calling and career intersected.
We also saw pastors praying for more leaders and deeper engagement, often unaware that God had already placed builders, creators, and problem-solvers in their congregations—men and women uniquely equipped to serve, lead, and multiply impact beyond the church walls.
Founder’s Table creates the space where those two longings finally meet. It gives entrepreneurs a place to be discipled as whole people in the local church—integrating faith, work, leadership, family, and community—while helping churches recognize, develop, and release the leaders God has already entrusted to them.
For us, this partnership isn’t new territory. It’s a return to the very heart of why Leaders Following Christ exists: to bridge the gap between calling and opportunity, and to invite entrepreneurs into the Kingdom work God has been preparing them for all along.
WATCH CO-FOUNDERS DAVID MILLS AND AMY ALEXANDER SHARE THEIR VALUES AND VISION FOR FOUNDER'S TABLE NETWORK:
Founder’s Table is a small group discipleship experience designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Rooted in Scripture and built for community, it helps entrepreneurs integrate the gospel into their work, leadership, and everyday decisions—within the life of the local church.
In 2026, the Founder’s Table will be fully funded for 100 churches through this grant. This funding removes common barriers and equips churches to launch with confidence. Participating churches receive facilitator training, a guided kick-off dinner, an 8-week small group curriculum, and journals for every entrepreneur—everything needed to disciple business leaders well.
If you’re a pastor looking for a practical way to invest in entrepreneurs in your church—or an entrepreneur eager to bring faith-centered community and purpose to your peers—we invite you to explore bringing Founder’s Table to your church.
IMPACT REPORT:
FOR MINISTRY RESOURCES
Behind most stories of spiritual growth, there’s a faithful leader in a local church—someone who opened the Scriptures with us, listened to our questions, prayed over us, and helped us learn to see the world through God’s eyes. These leaders shape lives in ways that ripple across generations.
That’s why Leaders Following Christ launched For Ministry Resources in 2016. We exist to equip and encourage pastors and ministry leaders with free, Bible-based curriculum—so time, energy, and limited budgets aren’t barriers to discipleship.
Our prayer is simple: that by making messages on God's Word free, simple, and applicable, leaders would be freed to focus on what matters most—loving people, making disciples, and reaching their communities with the gospel.
2025 IMPACT To CELEBRATE:
MINISTRY LEADERS
including pastors, youth pastors, church planters, bi-vocational pastors, Sunday school teachers, volunteer Bible study leaders, volunteer small group leaders, Christian school teachers, prison chaplains, and homeless outreach ministers
FROM
COUNTRIES
every country represents real people being discipled, prayed for, taught, and encouraged by leaders who use FMR’s free resources to guide others toward Jesus
DOWNLOADED
RESOURCES
including sermon scripts, Bible study booklets, small group discussion guides, youth games, graphics, discipleship classes, and more
PARTNERSHIP TO HIGHLIGHT: CHURCHAPPS
Churches around the world spend an estimated $800 million every year on church management software. But what if that number could be $0—and those resources could be redirected toward discipleship, community outreach, and sharing the gospel?
That question is at the heart of our partnership with ChurchApps.
Founded by tech entrepreneur and longtime church leader Michael Byrd, ChurchApps exists to provide high-quality, open-source church software—completely free. This ministry empowers churches with tools that save time, reduce costs, and free leaders to focus on what matters most—people, discipleship, and kingdom impact. Instead of funneling limited budgets into software fees, churches can reinvest those resources directly into their communities.
After decades of experience in both ministry and the tech industry, Michael sensed a clear calling: to use his God-given skills to remove financial barriers that prevent churches from fully living out their mission.
This partnership reflects a core conviction we share: When entrepreneurs steward their gifts for God’s glory, entire communities are transformed. As Michael reminds us, these are “Romans 12 entrepreneurs”—leaders who see unmet needs and innovate solutions that bless people and advance the gospel.
We’re grateful to partner with ChurchApps by providing Youth Ministry Curriculum from For Ministry Resources as they help churches reclaim resources, time, and energy for the work God has called them to do.
LFC’s founder, Dan Babcock, sat down with Michael Byrd to learn more about his journey on the Leaders Following Christ Podcast. Watch the episode to see how free, open-source technology can help churches reclaim resources for greater gospel impact.
IMPACT REPORT:
THE PASTOR CIRCLE
As we spent years building For Ministry Resources, our team had the privilege of countless conversations with pastors around the world. We talked about sermon prep, teaching calendars, and discipleship tools—but over time, a deeper need kept surfacing.
Many pastors weren’t just looking for curriculum.
They were exhausted, isolated, and carrying ministry pressures without a healthy support system.
We realized that providing resources alone wasn’t enough. Pastors needed people—trusted relationships, encouragement, and space to process the unique weight of ministry leadership. So we built something specifically for that need: the Pastor Circle.
The Pastor Circle exists to care for the leaders who care for others. Through a dedicated pastoral support team, monthly small-group gatherings, and one-on-one coaching and mentoring, pastors are given space to be known, encouraged, prayed for, and strengthened in their calling.
2025 IMPACT To CELEBRATE:
PASTORS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY
Pastors from a wide range of denominations, nationalities, and experience levels gather on the first Monday of every month for wisdom, encouragement, and support. This is where we explore scripture to strengthen our faith, leadership, and relationships.
PASTORS ARE RECEIVING 1-on-1 MENTORSHIP & SUPPORT
THE PASTOR CIRCLE'S 2025 LEADER OF THE YEAR: KENNEDY OWADE
At Leaders Following Christ, we celebrate leaders who faithfully follow Jesus wherever he calls them. This year, we’re honored to recognize Pastor Kennedy Owade of Ruga Village, Kenya as our 2025 Pastor Circle Leader of the Year.
Kennedy is a powerful example of the kind of God-honoring leadership every follower of Christ can learn from. He approaches ministry in a deeply holistic way—sharing the hope of Christ to transform souls, while also meeting the physical needs of his community through clean water and education. Every part of his work points back to one thing: giving God the glory.
Kennedy’s life and ministry are a powerful reminder that when leaders follow Christ with faithfulness, God brings transformation far beyond what we can see.
BE A LEADER.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
BE A LEADER FOLLOWING CHRIST.
As we reflect on these stories, we’re reminded that lasting impact is never the result of our own strength or strategy—it flows from leaders who continue to place their trust, influence, and obedience in God’s hands.
Thank you for being part of a community committed to following Christ with faithfulness and humility. We look forward with expectation to all God will continue to do through leaders who are willing to say yes to his call—wherever he leads next.