Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I am glad to hear that you and your family are engaging the broader Christian community around you without any sense of elitism. You once told me “The calvary ain’t coming” to ubf house churches. So I am excited about how God is using you in contexts never before imagined or even possible.

On an admin note, I corrected the picture and settings for the article so that it shows up as “featured”.

At first I was put off from your article by your plethora of demands and excessive use of imperatives. But as I took time to process your thoughts, I see much that I can connect with. Especially:

“To all you older Christians, you are not as “in the know” as you think you are. There have been advances in technology that I am not even aware of. The younger people had constant access to their smart phone. If we were having a conversation, it was a matter of seconds before the correct information was accessed on their phones.”

Your point here resonates with me in many ways. Indeed, all leaders must eventually step back or else they will be put back or overthrown if they hold onto power and authority too long. I was once told it was a sin to use a computer to look up bible verses and print out bible study notes. It was apparently more spiritual to use a typewriter, glue and scissors to construct “holy” notes stored in white 3 ring binders!

“There are seasons even in your life in ministry. You may not think that you are on the way out…but you are. In one sense we are on the way out in a certain season in our lives, but entering another season. We tend to think that we will always be the leaders blazing the path. But we are being phased out of certain areas of ministry to become engaged in another. That is good news actually. Be aware of what season of life you are in and serve God accordingly.”

Yes indeed! We cannot deny the seasons of our life in general, nor can we deny the mini seasons that we go through month to month. Not all people are in the same season all at once. The roles of leaders anywhere changes as time passes.

“Don’t just groom a young person so they can be just like you to take your place of leadership in your idea of ministry. They do this in countries like Cuba. Let the young people be who they are. The world is different place than when you were a young Christian leader. The culture is changing. The younger Christian knows how to navigate the culture, without compromising the gospel, better than you can. They are coming onto the scene with a whole bunch of skills that the mission desperately needs. (That you can not even conjure up.)”

One of many questions every leader must ask himself or herself is this: Am I a multiplier or a diminisher? Am I an accidental diminisher of the intelligence, faith and hope of those around me? How might my good, noble intentions be harmful? Is it possible that we do our most harm with our most glorious intentions?

Thanks for sharing Kevin. Your article gives us much to process, and I would hope ministry leaders in numerous contexts would take the time to process your thoughts here.

It is very important to read (hear) that as we get older we must step back and be a very essential protective aspect of not only the dynamic but also for the environment. The thing is younger people do want to learn from older people, but as you said it must be authentic (sincere). You illustrated well both your struggles throughout the article but more importantly where you were flexible. You wanted to share even though habit may have caused you to retreat to yourself in isolation.

When we are “stuck” in one type of mission, how can we remain graceful when things do not go our own way (or lead to our vision)? You articulated well about personal experience. It is one of my dilemmas with my present situation. I am not graceful because I am tired of the predictable routine and expectation. I just can’t get excited anymore. One big reason has been all the crisis’ in my life to this day – they have in themselves caused me to grow in so many ways and just simply trust in God. It is impossible to become excited about an inflexible mandate for mission that has scripted when to cough and sneeze.

You enjoyed the grace of a journey with people from different callings and I doubt that anything was predictable about the experience. I believe that you took away fresh and new feelings and insights about others, mission, yourself and God…maybe more.

Thank you very much for this refreshing read. I am speaking honestly from my heart. I do miss seeing you – even though it has been a rare opportunity anyway!