“LDQ” stands for “Leader Development Quotient,” similar to IQ or EQ.

The LDQ Model provides a simple framework for understanding the evaluation of leader development work, and in fact, all Christian ministry work.

The fundamental purposes of the LDQ Model are to demonstrate that robust evaluation should be done before, during and after the leader development work, and to provide some simple tools to do so.

These tools are not intended to be followed rigidly and mechanically, but instead they present ways of thinking that can adjusted according to the local context, culture and needs.

According to the LDQ Model, there are three main components of any ministry work:

• The goal – what you hope to accomplish. This includes both short-term results or “outcomes” as well as the long-term “impact.”
• The process – the means by which you hope to accomplish your goals.
• The design – the plan you hope to put into action along with your fundamental capacity to successfully do it.

For example, in a training program for emerging Christian leaders these might play out as:

• The goal: to build Christian leaders who know God, have strong character, and are effective in their ministry work.
• The process: a one-year training program integrated into the life of a local church.
• The design: the specific set of learning experiences, relationships and teaching curriculum you plan to use.

Another way to think of these three components is:

• Destination (where you hope to go),
• Journey (how you will get there from where you are now) and
• Map (a plan for the Journey along with a packing list of everything you’ll need for the Journey).

We can, and should, rigorously evaluate all three components.

The New Testament basis of this model is found in Appendix 1.

The remainder of this document is a series of models and tools that, together, make up the LDQ Model. We hope they are useful to you!