The blog below was chosen in response to this episode.
“This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more.” (Numbers 8:24-25 NKJV)
Most leaders in churches and Christian ministries stay on for too long, which leaves little room for new generational leaders.
Loren Cunningham, the late Co-Founder of Youth With A Mission, made a wise decision to step aside from his overall responsibility for the mission much earlier than one would have expected. He stayed involved and had significant influence until his death last year, yet the primary charge was passed on to younger leaders. He understood that most leaders learn by doing. Rising leaders need to be given the space to do it on their own. Seasoned leaders still need to provide, the encouragement, counsel, and at times words of correction, yet they need to let go of the reins so that new leaders can become the unique trailblazers God has designed them to be. If the present leader cannot let go, the emerging leaders will find a new venue for the freedom they seek.
Darlene Cunningham, the Co-Founder of YWAM, once said that they were going to go down in history as the mission that has made the most mistakes. It’s a fact that young leaders make mistakes, but these missteps are always the prerequisite for learning and success. Errors in ministry can be embarrassing, but what is even more discomforting is coming to the end of your time in ministry and having no one to continue your work.
The uncomfortable fact that many ministry leaders don’t want to entertain is that new generational leaders, though they may be less gifted and experienced, can often reach the next generation better simply because they are a part of that group. Frontrunners now need to be the cheerleaders for up-and-coming leaders, seeing them as exceeding their level of success in ministry. No ministry leader completes all there is to do; the old only succeeds with the emergence of the new.
2 Responses
Good revisiting as the effort that Loren even further initiated from leadership to eldership has being abuse by people defeating the aim and initiative. Leadership stsys long but eldership is 2 to 3 years giving room to raise leaders. May God help us not to dim or kill the light and for sight of Loren. Plead for your intervention
Thanks for reading and responding, Jonathan! I agree about the importance of revisiting (and revisiting and revisiting) visions/directions God gives; it can be so easy to slip out of alignment! It makes me think of a book called “Mission Drift”, that talks about when entities lose sight of what was once core.