5 Key Leadership Practices of Flourishing Christian Workplaces

What makes a Christian-led workplace not only healthy—but truly flourishing?

In a special episode of the Flourishing Culture Leadership Podcast, we brought together just three of Best Christian Workplaces’ senior consultants—Tara VanderSande, Cary Humphries, and Doug Waldo—to highlight leadership best practices from 18 standout ministries, schools, and businesses named to our 2024 list of Certified Best Christian Workplaces. With 280 Certified organizations this year, these few examples provide a glimpse into the spiritual clarity, intentional leadership, and courageous action that define top-performing cultures.

Here are the key takeaways from their stories—along with a powerful research insight: when one employee moves from neutral to engaged, it adds nearly $20,000 in value to the organization. That’s the tangible power of a flourishing culture.

1. Flourishing Begins with Spiritual Clarity

In every thriving organization we discussed, leaders start by anchoring their team in clear biblical purpose.

At First Baptist Orlando, Executive Pastor Danny De Armas and the senior team prioritize spiritual formation alongside excellence. Tara VanderSande shared how their commitment to Christ-centered leadership has helped First Orlando move from healthy to flourishing since 2018. They’ve created a leadership culture that sees staff as whole people—focusing not just on results but on calling and growth.

Life Christian Academy, under the leadership of Dr. Stephanee Tolbert, is another example. Doug Waldo highlighted how their simplicity of mission—"providing academic excellence while developing Christlike character"—creates extraordinary clarity. Their staff scored in the 100th percentile for alignment around goals, showing that spiritual purpose drives strategy.

2. Leadership Consistency and Courage Fuel Long-Term Health

Several organizations have journeyed with BCW for nearly a decade or more. Miracle Life Family Church in Zambia, led by Walker and Haley Schurz, was described by Cary Humphries as a model of leadership courage. Even in challenging seasons, their consistency in surveying and acting on feedback has moved them from unhealthy to thriving.

At Pathway Church in Kansas, Pastor Todd Carter returned to BCW after an initial pause and has now led the church to flourishing by modeling humility and continuous learning.

The message is clear: culture health is not a one-time initiative—it’s a leadership habit.

3. Flourishing Leaders Build Healthy, Trust-Based Teams

Wheaton Academy (IL), led by Steve Bult and a rockstar team including Kori Hockett and Steve Carlson, showcases what happens when strategic clarity and team unity align. Doug Waldo shared that 76% of their staff are fully engaged, and the leadership team credits this progress to regularly measuring and acting on cultural health.

Doug quoted Corey Hockett's powerful insight:

“It is leadership malpractice to fail to measure the cultural health of the organization.”

This is echoed by Apartment Life, a BCW partner since 2003. Cary noted how CEO Pete Kelly leads a culture of fun, deep care, and Gospel-centered mission—proving that trust and results can go together.

4. Intentional Investment in Talent Makes a Lasting Impact

One of Doug’s standout stories came from Logos Preparatory Academy in Sugar Land, TX, where Tammy McIlvoy and her team have embedded flourishing into their DNA. Their “Flourish in Faith” strategic plan prioritizes highly engaged Christian educators and mission-aligned decision-making.

Their culture of affirmation includes "ICNU" notes—simple, heartfelt messages of encouragement (“I see in you...”)—which reinforce recognition and connection across the team.

Doug emphasized the measurable impact:

“Every time one employee becomes fully engaged, our research shows that it adds nearly $19,800 in value to the organization.”

In a school with 100 staff, moving just a few employees into full engagement unlocks the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars in added capacity.

5. Collaboration and Cross-Team Unity Defy Silos

Logos Prep also stood out for cross-departmental collaboration. While many schools suffer from siloed teams, Doug reported that Logos scored in the 97th percentile for team-to-team collaboration—a nearly unheard-of number.

Similarly, Compass (NE), a family services nonprofit highlighted by Cary, is thriving because of high trust and team unity—even in a high-stress environment. Their leadership team includes Ryan, Kelly, and Alyssa, who are modeling how healthy cultures can flourish even amid adversity.

Final Thought: Flourishing Isn’t Accidental. It’s Intentional

Each story—from Calvary Christian Academy in Florida under Dr. Jason Rachels, to ACR Supply led by Troy Meacham, to Northwestern College (IA) under Greg Christy—underscores the same truth: leaders who commit to culture, listen to feedback, and act with courage and clarity create workplaces that reflect God’s Kingdom.

If you're ready to discover where your culture stands, build on what’s working, and grow toward flourishing—let’s take the next step together.

Visit workplaces.org to learn more about how you can measure what matters most and join the movement of flourishing Christian workplaces.