Establish a plan of succession
By Mark Lubbock
“But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.”
––Luke 22:26
At the commission, we frequently use the phrase “growing in Christ.” That growing process involves three steps:
- Learn
- Understand
- Apply
Men who want to grow in Christ need skilled and trained leaders to help them through these steps. But, such leaders are in short supply.
One of the reasons for this leadership shortage is the absence of a leader-in-training process where every leader has an understudy.
As you see in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus, they were mentored and trained before they were given assignments. Even when they were far away, Paul continued to provide guidance.
If we followed the practice of Paul, we would create understudies who would do much of the core work, which would prepare them to take the lead one day.
Like Timothy and Titus, these understudies would learn by engaging in ministry under the tutelage of an experienced leader.
If you want to revitalize and strengthen your organization, then consider implementing this concept right away.
If you don’t know how to implement this succession plan or how to select men for the role of understudy, contact Jim Boesch, a certified men’s ministry specialist, or me. Any of us can lead you through a gifts-discovery process, coaching, and ministry placement.
We can bring this training experience to your church or district. Let us know how we can help you develop a leader-in-training process for your ministry.
Mark Lubbock is a certified men’s ministry specialist and a deployed staff member of the General Commission on UM Men