We have a new federal government in Australia. There are several things which are similar between the two main parties, but the most common chorus from both sides has been generational change. The ALP has spoken about the youthfulness of its ministry, and the new opposition leader keeps declaring a new generation for the Liberal party.
It’s not just in politics that generational change is essential. In our churches we must constantly work to raise up the next generation - pastors, evangelists, and people for the myriad of Christian ministries that make up our congregational lives. There are at least four good reasons for doing this.
1. We won't be around forever, and unless we raise up people to replace us, there will be problems in the future
2. If we recruit and train people while we are still around, then they should be able to help our congregations better than we can. John Chapman keeps telling me that the new generation of evangelists should be better than him, as they have been launched off his shoulders.
3. We need to multiply gospel ministers as the Kingdom of God advances, not just replace them but for the sake of expansion. There should be at least two replacements ready-trained for every ministry as we seek to move forward.
4. If we don't prepare for generational change we will become the bottle-neck to growth. A friend of mine calls this the ex-prime ministers syndrome. (The tag never seemed so relevant)
I have noticed that most people agree with what I have just written, and excitedly look around for who is available to replace them, and come back stoop-shouldered and crest-fallen after discovering no-one available or willing to take up the challenge.
The problem lies not in the unavailability of people, but in those who want to raise up the next generation. It is just wrong to look around for someone who can replace me. They are just not there. Our task is not merely to enlist the willing, but under God, create the team who will grow the gospel into the next generation.
Our task of executing generational change is much like that of raising sons. You don't wait until they are as competent as you to work with them. It starts at birth. Larry Crabb, in his book on raising sons says that the father's task is to:
“Go in front of your sons so they can see how to do it ... Stand behind your son and help them as they do it… Walk behind your son so they can do it on their own.”
I think that is good advice as we raise up the next generation. But each aspect has its own problems.
The problem in ‘going in front’ is that it takes confidence, assurance and persuasive power to have someone follow you. You need to be convinced of what you are asking people to join up for. All the more when you consider that they may be uncertain themselves.
The problem with ‘standing beside’ is that it takes a lot of man-power. Two people are doing the task of one person, and even with two people doing it, the product in the short term may be inferior because you are distracted from the task of doing while engaging in the task of teaching.
The problem in ‘walking behind’ is that we find it so difficult to give up what we know we can do better than the next generation.
It is not easy to create the next generation, but it is worth it for the sake of the glory of Christ.
Here is a simple suggestion of what to do.
Invite three people to train with you in the ministry you do. Why three? One to replace you, one to multiply the ministry and one who will not continue in this particular ministry. (Do not worry about the one who does not continue for, if you have done your training properly, they will be trained to serve but the area of service will be different to what you had hoped.) Through your example the three that you have worked alongside God in training as ministers will be prepared not just in the task, but more importantly in how to create new servants through training.
