A Leadership Conversation - Pastor Derek Sanford

A Leadership Conversation - Pastor Derek Sanford

From Dents in the Darkness by The Northeast Collaborative

September 9, 2025 · 36 min · Season 1 · Episode 58

About this episode

Pastor Derek Sanford shares insights on leadership, team building, and avoiding burnout for pastors.

If you're a pastor feeling the weight of leadership, you’re not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Derek Sanford , lead pastor of Grace Church in Erie, PA , and founder of the Grace Leadership Institute , to talk about leadership. Derek shares practical, time-tested wisdom on multiplying leaders, creating healthy team dynamics, and leading for the long haul without burning out. This episode is packed with insight for pastors looking to build sustainable leadership structures, raise up others, and stay faithful over decades—not just seasons. In This Episode: Why teams matter (and how to build one) Building Leadership Longevity. How to identify, develop, and deploy emerging leaders Strategies for longevity in ministry and avoiding burnout The role of vulnerability and humility in healthy leadership Derek’s book: ⁠Untapped Church: Discovering the Hidden Potential of Ordinary People in Your Church Sign up for the Northeast Leadership Summit

People in this episode

Host: Derek Sanford

Guest: Pastor Derek Sanford

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • team dynamics
  • burnout
  • sustainable leadership
  • emerging leaders

Keywords

  • multiplying leaders
  • leadership longevity
  • vulnerability
  • humility

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Untapped Church: Discovering the Hidden Potential of Ordinary People in Your Church

Books & works: ⁠Untapped Church: Discovering the Hidden Potential of Ordinary People in Your Church Sign up for the Northeast Leadership Summit

Places: Erie, PA

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