Last evening, millions of us watched a historic moment, not just the election of the first African-American to become President of USAmerica, but a literal changing of the guard. The last of the Viet Nam generation giving way to a younger generation. Being older, there is a certain bitter sweetness in seeing this occur. Over the last few years, I have become more and more concerned that the youngers in the church, who have the passion to reach their own generation have had the olders stand in their way, not willing to give an inch. It has become my own passion to right this ship in my neck of the woods in some way. In my own chosen church group to fellowship with, (may not be in everyone’s group of churches) I have watched a younger generation be sit on the sideline, many not willing to hear that the youngers see and think differently, not trusting that they could be the new leaders, forgetting that once those who hold the reigns now were once “them” and were allowed by olders to flourish in their own youth. Sure, there are some rays of hope, but it is still sad to see what amounts to an older generation wondering why there are few following them. To this task: finding, equipping, and releasing the youngers to do the work of ministry in a way that God has called them for their generation has become my greatest passion in life. I only realized it again last night as I saw the changing of the guard.
