Lifting The Lid For The Next Generation
Hey Friends,
Part of our job as leaders is to make room or lift the lid for the next generation. If you have spent any time attempting this you already know it is not nearly as easy as it sounds. Finding leaders is not that easy but locating the younger ones makes it twice as hard. I am 49 and probably now in the middle-aged category. Many of you may want to fight this but I probably won’t be here at 98 years old – you get the point. Many of us have either given up on the next generation or we are selfish with our “Power” and don’t want to give any away. If you want your organization, especially the church, to continue on then we must prepare the next generation. What can we do?
1. Make room for young adults. Look around you, do you see any? If not, then this is a problem. Most churches are sadly empty of youth and young adults.
2. Don’t be selfish. Give away some of your authority. Moses did it to the elders and to Joshua. Remember it is not all about us! I am watching churches and denominations die that are ignoring this issue.
3. Do some things to attract the next generation. If you are a church leader this can be difficult because so many churches are selfish and refuse to change. That is the death rattle you hear in the pews.
4. Raise up some young adult leaders.
5. Spend some time pouring into them. You might like it.
6. You must be willing to take a risk; someone did it for you. Even if you try and they don’t pan out, there are some awesome leaders that are young.
7. Don’t give up on the whole generation. I was upset with some young adult leaders and wanted to do just this. WRONG! We must lift the lid for them because heaven and hell weigh in the balance.
I believe this is the will of God for us as leaders to do. It is the only hope for the Church and we know Jesus cares! What is your next step?
Yours to count on,
Pastor
1 Comment
Some things I have had to learn, some the hard way…
I believe sometimes leaders do not want to give up ‘hands on’ control for either selfish, pride or confidence reasons, BUT when a leader moves from just ‘the leader’ role and into the ‘mentor of many leaders’ role, that is when a new generation of leaders are born, developed and let loose, THEN the now successful mentor has so much more to be proud of, I would rather be the mentor of many leaders than just a leader.
I have had to learn to be unchanging in principle but
be willing to change in how I relate principles to others
Yes we must take risk as we bring up leaders, I have done a lot of training in my career, It is much easier to develop someone trying hard, doing something, moving forward, willing to make mistakes and learn, have you heard the saying ‘you can’t steer a parked car’?
By the way, my opinion of what are indicators of a future leader are: they financially support the ministry in tithes and offerings and ask to help without being asked first. Why, because both require offering up the two most valuable assets we possess, TIME and MONEY,