On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Brian Coates is joined by Aaron Bryant to talk about one of the clearest markers of a healthy church: sending your best leaders, not holding onto them.
Together, they unpack the tension every leader feels: wanting to keep strong, capable people while knowing the mission calls us to release them. This conversation is part of our multiplication series leading up to the Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22.
If you're building a team, developing leaders, or wrestling with what it means to lead with open hands, this episode offers practical insight rooted in real ministry experience.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why churches instinctively hold onto leaders instead of sending them
- How to build a culture that values multiplication from day one
- What it looks like to develop leaders with long-term vision
- How to prepare your congregation for sending, not just keeping
- The real cost of sending leaders—and why it's still worth it
- Practical ways to coach, invest in, and release leaders well
- How humility shapes a multiplying leadership culture
Meet the Guests
Brian Coates, Senior Executive Pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church
Aaron Bryant, Campus and Teaching Pastor at The Church at Avenue South and North Region Lead Pastor