Is it too early to start talking about summer vacation? This year my gracious wife is accompanying me on The Power Tour. Never heard of it? It is a cross-country road trip with thousands of horsepower hungry, speed-loving, hot rod fanatics. I’m pumped. When the big day comes we are loading up the `66 Cutlass and heading for Ames, Iowa (the start of the tour). The trip is going to be a blast, but if I don’t tackle a few maintenance issues before I go, I’m going to regret it when I return. A couple of weeks with no maintenance and my yard will be an overgrown jungle or a parched desert. The pool will turn from a crystal-clear oasis to a green algae infested swamp. Weeds will begin their frontal assault on the lawn. A maintenance vacuum leaves the neighbors ticked and the burglars feeling like I just put out the welcome mat—for them.
A leadership vacuum is to the church what a maintenance vacuum is to my yard—costly. Without leaders tending to God’s field weeds appear, people are left with parched souls, and spiritual burglars take notice. So let me ask you a question: Are you leaving a potential leadership vacuum? Let me put it another way. Is there someone you are grooming to take your place? The apostle Paul understood the dangers of a leadership vacuum. Writing to Timothy, his young protégé, he said:
Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. (2 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)
Did you hear Paul say it? "Timothy, don't leave a leadership vacuum. Find someone who is reliable and train them to do the things you are doing right now! There is no success without a successor."
What's your work for God? Are you teaching a Sunday school class, leading a Bible study, organizing a youth group, carrying out some behind-the-scenes work, preaching, teaching, giving, serving the poor or doing some other ministry? Make sure you are not leaving a leadership vacuum. Success begins when a successor is found, trained, and serving.
FOCAL POINT: Take some time to jot down your responsibilities for God. Next, write down a trustworthy person or two to whom you can teach and pass on your role. Then make a call, set an appointment and begin the process of passing on to others what God has taught you. Let's work together to prevent a leadership vacuum in our church.
Copyright © 2010 Tommy Kiedis