I'm excited to announce that I'm now a certified coach and consultant for Natural Church Development (NCD), adding a powerful new compass to guide churches on their journey toward organizational flourishing.

NCD brings over 25 years of global research and proven methodology to help churches assess their health across eight vital quality characteristics—from empowering leadership and passionate spirituality to loving relationships and gift-based ministry. This research-based approach has helped over 90,000 churches worldwide identify their unique strengths and growth areas, resulting in an average 50% increase in growth rates.

This certification deepens my toolkit for guiding faith communities through their organizational landscapes. Just as every expedition benefits from both a skilled guide and reliable navigation tools, NCD provides the proven framework to help your church not just reach a destination, but become the kind of vibrant community that naturally creates conditions for ongoing spiritual flourishing.

Whether your church is navigating familiar valleys or ready to explore new summits of ministry impact, NCD's assessment and development process illuminates the path forward—turning your church's greatest potential into lived reality.

Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ with Duke University

Earned Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ certification through Duke Corporate Education (ranked among the Financial Times' top three university programs for custom executive education for 19 consecutive years).

Built on decades of research, the Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ framework encompasses 38 competencies defining the behavioral skills required for organizational success across all levels — a globally validated system that has transformed leadership effectiveness in more than 92,000 leaders worldwide.

This certification equips me with advanced tools for talent management — from identifying differentiating competencies to recognizing career stallers and developing targeted strategies for behavior change. For the churches, nonprofits, and businesses I serve, it means access to a research-backed framework that aligns talent strategy with mission in powerful, practical ways.

Completed the Aligning Work with Strategy certification, which develops the mindset and skills necessary to think and act strategically at every level of an organization. The program focuses on two mutually reinforcing abilities: translating broader organizational strategy into your own work, and architecting targeted strategies for execution. Participants also develop a strategic frame of reference that keeps strategy, work, and people in alignment — enabling teams to move from vision to effective, real-world results.

Completed the Murdock Trust Board Leadership and Development Program, a comprehensive six-month training designed to strengthen nonprofit board governance and organizational capacity. The program included intensive sessions covering the four pillars of high-performing boards, board-executive director relationships, strategic planning, and organizational sustainability metrics. Through dedicated coaching and collaborative learning with fellow nonprofit leaders, I gained practical tools and frameworks to enhance board effectiveness and advance organizational mission.

Joshua P. Stelly is a strategic leadership consultant and organizational change expert with over 20 years of experience helping churches, nonprofits, and businesses navigate complex transitions and build sustainable, mission-aligned systems. As a Lead Pastor, certified Natural Church Development coach, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architect™ through Duke University, he brings research-based methodologies together with hands-on operational wisdom.

Joshua's extensive board experience — spanning educational institutions, denominational leadership, and university governance — gives him rare insight into both high-level strategy and ground-level execution. His expertise spans strategic planning, change management, leadership development, and organizational health, helping organizations move from surviving to thriving.