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Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 5
By jason | January 15, 2008
The Benefits for Older Leaders
Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 1
Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 2
Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 3
Pastors Mentoring the Next Generation and the SBC pt 4
It should be clear at this point that there are many direct benefits for older leaders who would invest their lives in the next generation. Yes, there are clear and substantial benefits for younger leaders but I would contend there are benefits for older leaders who would take up this monumental task.
First and foremost it can’t be forgot that one of the greatest opportunities in mentoring the next generation is leaving an indelible mark on our world for good. When and if I take up the task of pouring my life into the next generation I have an opportunity to shape our world for years to come.
Like it or not the current generation will one soon be long gone and the next generation will continue on. The question is will we pass the baton or will they have to pick it up from our dead hand because we refused to let go? But we can be assured that one way or other they will take the reigns. So why not invest our lives for eternity’s sake? Why not pour ourselves into the next generation setting them up for success.
This isn’t about ensuring control for years to come. It’s about setting up this next generation up for success. It’s about helping them become all that God intends them to be. Again it’s not about manufacturing clones.
It seems another great benefit for older leaders rubbing shoulders with younger leaders is that it can help us stay in touch with our culture. In my experience younger generations are much more in tune with current culture. So if we will spend time with younger leaders we can learn from their experience.
With this one observation it seems odd that in many church ministries younger people have no true voice. Why is that? Sure, wisdom comes with age (although not necessarily so). But younger leaders do in fact have something to offer your ministry. And if you don’t recognize that they will no longer be there, I can guarantee that. They know they have something more to offer than lowering your average age. And if that’s the only thing they perceive you have them around for they will jet, no doubt about it.
Related to both of these I think we have to realize that the church exists for the next generation so if we value younger generations by investing in them I think we will have a continual impact in the next generation. You see if the church is not always seeking to communicate the unchanging gospel in ways that make sense to the next generation she loses her voice in society (sounds familiar). If she does not remain relevant, holding firmly to the truthfulness of the gospel and proclaiming it in culturally appropriate ways, she will die.
Now I know all about God’s sovereignty. I also know that God uses means to accomplish his purposes. So we aren’t to sit back and just think things will fall in our lap. Mini Rant: I know too many ministry people who seem to think God will just drop things in their lap. And then they blame their lack of effectiveness on the fact that they are “trusting God” and “relying on his sovereignty.” Don’t blame God’s sovereignty for the fact that you have little to no impact in your community. If you actually got out there and talked to people about Jesus you might see something happen. Just because you build it doesn’t mean they will come (whatever “it” might be in your mind).
So the point of that little excursion is God has sovereignly chosen to use means to accomplish his ends. You (and your church) are his means to reach the next generation.
Summing it up
So with all this why would we choose not to invest our lives in the next generation? We can leave an indelible mark for good on our world, we can stay sharp in ministry, and we will have impact in the next generation.
Final installment: An Open Letter to Leader
Topics: Leadership |
January 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Jason,
I said that comment about the apostle Paul showing us an example of becoming all things to all men that he might win them. I had also mentioned that we should follow that example even amongst each other that way we don’t break apart from each other. You had talked about being one of the youngest church planters and no one was interested in mentoring you or other people. I really did not know how passionate you felt about that. I’m glad that I went back to Micah’s website and saw your response to my comment. That makes me so sad that you had to experience that. The positive side of that is that it adds to your passion about mentoring other young leaders.
My husband was attending a penticostal church before we got married. The pastor owned the home next door to the church. He had five young men including my husband living in that home because he was supposed to mentor those young men. He didn’t really give them the opportunity to practice preaching. Instead he expected them to serve in everyday activities which wasn’t neccessarily bad but he neglected them of the opportunity to develop their gift.
It kind of worked out for good in the sense that my husband found out that he didn’t believe in the same doctrine that they did.
Right now we are attending an Assemblies of God Churh and we still don’t fit in as far as doctrine goes. We are calvinist/baptist in theology and charismatic in the sense that we love clapping and raising our hands during worship. We believe in the spiritual gifts but we haven’t seen them operated in an orderly fashion.
The only mentors we have right now are computors. Ministries like yours teaching us. We both need to be in a place where we could develop the gifts God has given us but we can’t find an up-to-date church.
God gave my husband and I the opportunity to lead two people to the Lord the other day. My husband said that the only way they will stand firm in their relationship with the Lord is if someone disciples them. So he has decided to start a Bible study this Saturday. So I guess we will see how it goes.
I am so thankful for your passion for young people being discipled or mentored. I love reading your guys’ posts because I’m learning so much. Thank you!
January 20th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Thanks for the comment. Hope you guys can find a place to plug in that fits for you.
Just wanted to clarify from my comment on the other post you allude to. I don’t know where my age fits in relative to other MBC church planters. Actually what I meant is that when I was employed by the MBC in collegiate ministry I was one of the youngest on the state staff (my 4 years with them I was the youngest state strategist).
Anyway, sorry for the confusion. Just wanted to clarify. Thanks again for your comment.