Why The Alliance Arete Leaders Matter

Arete Leaders Create a Legacy of Excellence

In the world of leadership development, there’s a difference between teaching someone to manage and identifying someone who is already demonstrating arete leadership. Arete is the Greek concept of excellence, virtue, and the pursuit of one’s full potential.

In honor of Christian Leadership Alliance’s 50th Anniversary, we celebrated the launch of the Alliance Arete Leader Awards at the Outcomes Conference. It is exciting for our member organizations to pause and take a closer look at their younger leaders. It is even more exciting when they find the evidence of Arete leadership in them!

The Alliance Arete Leader recognition is built on the belief that the future of the Church doesn’t just need more staff; it needs a new generation of Christian leaders who are intellectually grounded, spiritually resilient, and culturally savvy.

Here is why investing in this specific group of young leaders is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Complexity Requires Deeper Roots

Today’s young leaders are navigating a world that is more pluralistic and technologically complex than any generation before them. Surface-level answers won’t cut it. Recognition and support provide the theological depth and philosophical “why” behind the “what,” ensuring that when the storms of culture hit, their leadership is anchored in something unshakeable.

Bridging the Gap

There is a massive “hand-off” happening as veteran leaders approach retirement. Without intentional investment, decades of wisdom can be lost. The Alliance Arete model focuses on identifying leaders and investing in them early. There is value in connecting seasoned veterans with emerging voices. This isn’t just about passing a torch; it’s about making sure the flame is stronger when it changes hands.

Excellence as Evangelism

The term Arete reminds us that Christians should be the most excellent workers in any room. By investing in the professional and personal development of young leaders, we are showing the world that faith isn’t an escape from reality—it’s a commitment to making reality better. When a Christian leader excels in their field, it opens doors for the Gospel that words alone cannot.

Cultivating a Long-Game Perspective

We live in an “instant” culture, but leadership is a slow-cook process. Investing in the next generation is an act of faith. It says we care more about the health of the Church twenty years from now than we do about our own immediate comfort.

The Bottom Line

The Alliance Arete Leaders are more than young leaders advancing Christian nonprofit ministry; they are the architects of the future. When we invest our resources, time, and prayer in them, we aren’t just identifying leaders to be recognized—we are securing a legacy of excellence for the Kingdom.

Meet the Class of 2026

Christian Leadership Alliance presents the 2026 Arete Leader Award recipients!.

• James Bloedel, Chief Strategy Officer, Historic Agency
• Maci Flood, Marketing Specialist, Fervor
• Alli Goss, Director of Enterprise Growth, Masterworks
• Natalie Loos, Director of Ministry Advancement, IHS Global

• Paula Mendoza, Chief Administration and Mobilization Officer, Global Trust Partners
• Joshua Midgley, Director of Marketing and Communications, Reaching Souls International
• Loyce Nelson, Campus Director and Staff Trainer, The Navigators
• Emily Reis, Digital and Ministry Service Project Manager, BBS and Associates

• Zack Wilson, CEO, Sightline, a ministry of Cru
• Jordie Winstead, Director of New Initiatives, Integrus

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Philippians 1:9-10

Learn how to steward well those God has called to serve in your ministry!