This is a session from the Practical(ly) Pastoring Conference. Chad Williams, lead teaching pastor at Building 28 in Clearwater and former church planter and Chick-fil-A leader, argues that many churches accidentally build discipleship like a corporate ladder. The result is efficiency without formation, status without maturity, and a system where people feel stuck. Using the 1911 South Pole race as a vivid illustration, Chad reframes disciple making as lanes, not levels: same destination, different pace, different proximity, different responsibilities. He grounds the model in Jesus’ own practice with the 72, the 12, and the 3, then offers a practical framework for churches to clarify the destination, define disciple focuses, identify lanes, and implement resources at different speeds.

Key takeaways

1. A shared destination does not require identical movement

2. Levels organize people, lanes develop people

3. Levels unintentionally create status and shame, Jesus’ leadership is about carrying, not climbing

4. Jesus discipled in concentric circles, 72, 12, 3, same mission, different proximity and pace

5. The goal of discipleship is not a position, it’s a person, Christlikeness

6. Build a clear destination language, then choose a few disciple focuses for everyone

7. Lanes let people change pace without feeling demoted, seasons change, lanes can too

8. Potential is found in the gap between vision and execution, most churches do not have a vision problem, they have an execution problem