I've been re-reading a great book that I have had for several years called, "The Future Leadership of the Church". It is a really good book but not because it is full of new profound concepts. Here is a brief synopsis:
The Problem:
The world is changing drastically, and the church is losing it's influence within the culture. To add to the problem there are drastically fewer capable and qualified men emerging into leadership roles within the body of Christ. There is a huge need for bold leadership, yet fewer people are rising to the surface and those in leadership roles are content with keeping their position rather than training others to take their place.
The Urgency:
One quote that stands out in this section; "great movements require, great leadership". The changing world is poised for change. The opportunities that are presented in this day are unprecedented. The world is getting smaller, cities are growing, and the culture is diversifying. The ability to effect global change is at our door, thus the need to address future leadership is perhaps the most critical issue that must be addressed within the church.
The Obstacles:
The need is great, and change must take place. However, there are great obstacles along the way. to pull an excerpt from the book; "The secular and materialistic spirit of the age is a powerful cause in diverting young men from entering ministry. All ages have been materialistic, but at no time in the past and in no part of the world have the allurements of material progress and success been so potent with young men as they are today in North America." Those who would enter in ministry are distracted by ambition and miss God's calling. The culture is absorbed in new forms of idolatry and pursuits.
The Favoring Influences:
The future leadership in the church is not only God's responsibility but it is the obligation of current leadership to pray and foster environments that causes the young to emerge. It requires more than "praying that the Lord would send more laborers into the harvest field". We must pray, believe, and cultivate. From the book; "We cannot impute the deficiency of workers to neglect on the part of Christ. God would not fail to answer the prayer dictated by Himself. The failure lies at our own doors."
The Propaganda:
From the book; "The minister is under obligation to exercise this recruiting function. He should be working not only on the present Church, but also for the Church which is to be." There is a huge need for direct appeals to the younger generation to pursue the heroic nature of Christ into ministry. A concerted appeal to follow Christ wherever He goes. This appeal is going by the wayside in many circles, and many are simply content. Ministers must have concerted intentional appeals and invitations to the young to follow their example.
I love the church. I have given my life in service of Jesus through His church. I have concerns about the future, but I am also filled with hope. These are current issues that must be met with determination and intentionality to pursue the future and raise a new generation of followers rise to take their place.
The most profound element of this book is not it's content. As you could find this stuff in most modern church leadership books/conferences or in conversations with pastors. What is truly profound is that this book that details current challenges and struggles was written in a completely generation and culture from ours. The book "The Future Leadership of the Church", by John Mott, was published in 1909. The challenges the books catalogs have greatly compounded 100 years later and I'm not sure that we listened very much.
We must change, we must make room, we must get out of the way for the Kingdom's call or else the Vision of the future will be lost totally. On another note this book was published by an organization who 100 years ago who had a vision for training young men in leadership and ministry, the YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, now known as the YMCA. Most would not even associate the YMCA with being an organization that fosters young men into Christian ministry. Staying focused on the vision is important, if not we will become something else altogether.
With no vision people perish and but before they do they get off track. A tragedy that Mott's legacy is of training for ministry is relegated to sports and fitness (not bad) not his original intent at all. I turn 50 in August and this year I am going to begin training not just the students and young families who move on from Mobile but the ones who feel called to stay and minister in FOI and our new church plant (All Nations Community Church). I will develop an internship for several young people to equip them to minister and as God leads take over what I am doing.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Mather | February 17, 2009 at 10:07 AM