A Lasting Legacy
Though many factors contribute to the leadership pipeline problem, fundamentally it’s an issue of discipleship. The future of the church depends on today’s leaders investing in the leaders of tomorrow, giving them the gift of time, money and opportunities. Will today’s leaders steward the gifts and resources they’ve been given to prioritize raising up the next generation?
Bennett has reason for hope that church leaders will step up to the plate and meet the moment: “I think churches today are more aware than ever that if they’re growing, they’re already thinking, Who’s the next leader? How do I raise up leaders? How do I disciple them? And I think we’re entering into a moment where the attractional church model [and] consumerism is really going to die off in some ways in this generation. Discipleship and development is moving rightly back to the forefront in the American church.”
For Gregory it boils down to a question of legacy: “[A leader’s] legacy doesn’t matter more than the legacy of Jesus Christ, so I am going to take the time it takes to pour into the next people who are going to come do what I am [doing].
“Honestly, it was because I had somebody in my life who saw the ministry potential in me and continued to urge me, and more than that pray for me, without me even knowing,” Gregory reflects. “If we’re doing what Scripture is calling us to do. If we are creating Paul and Barnabas type relationships or Paul and Timothy type relationships in our churches, then we’re not going to have a [leadership pipeline] problem in 10 years.”
Who is your Hayden Gregory? Your Timothy? Who is the next leader you can pray for and invest in today?